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This program aimed to deliver practical environmental chemistry training to 30 students from SMAN 5 Cilegon, focusing on the analysis of water hardness levels in areas surrounding their school. Through this initiative, students gained hands-on experience and a better understanding of how chemistry principles can be applied to monitor and assess environmental quality in their immediate surroundings.

The students were taught fundamental techniques for conducting water hardness measurements, including how to perform analysis and draw conclusions based on their findings. This type of training not only enriches the collection of applied chemistry modules that schools can utilize, but it also offers a replicable model for similar activities in other educational institutions. Considering that Cilegon is an industrial hub, schools in the region have an important role to play in reporting environmental conditions and raising awareness about potential impacts caused by nearby industrial operations.

According to the Chief Coordinator of the event, Prof. Ir. Muhammad Ali Zulfikar, Ph.D., who also leads the Analytical Chemistry Research Group at FMNS ITB, this program plays a crucial role in helping students and educators appreciate the relevance and impact of analytical chemistry in evaluating environmental quality. Furthermore, it serves as an effective avenue to introduce and promote the Chemistry Study Program at ITB to prospective high school students in the Cilegon area.

The event also featured Dr. Muhammad Yudhistira Azis, M.Si., a faculty member from the same research group and the current Chair of the Indonesian Chemical Society's West Java-Banten Chapter. He commended the program for rekindling student interest in science, particularly chemistry, which has shown a decline in recent years. He emphasized that chemistry learning should go beyond theoretical knowledge and be complemented with meaningful, real-world applications that offer practical solutions. This kind of training, he added, helps students develop essential analytical and measurement skills that are highly valuable in scientific and industrial contexts.

In addition to the environmental chemistry component, the event provided laboratory safety education. Students were introduced to the correct handling of hazardous materials through chemical pictograms, proper lab attire, and precautionary measures to take in case of exposure. This early exposure is intended to instill safety awareness and establish good laboratory practices among students.

Apriyani Dewi Mayasari, M.Si., the chemistry teacher at SMAN 5 Cilegon, selected top-performing students to participate in the training, with the expectation that they will share the knowledge with their peers. She expressed hope that this initiative would become a regular activity, enabling high schools in the Cilegon area to make meaningful contributions in monitoring local water quality and encouraging greater enthusiasm for learning chemistry. She also stressed the importance of continued mentorship and university–high school collaboration to advance science education in the region.

Translator: Nabila Puspita (Bioengineering, 2022)