STEM ACTIVITY IN SOCIO-CULTURAL CONTEXT: DEVELOPMENT OF PLANTERS FROM BANANA PSEUDO-STEMS FOR COMMUNITY PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT TOURISM IN PHA TAEM NATIONAL PARK, UBON RATCHATHANI PROVINCE

Abstract

Students will play a key role in the future by helping to sustainably preserve and conserve the world's resources and communities. Therefore, Ban Kum School has the idea of organizing science learning activities using STEM education projects along with the BCG model concept, and implementing activities in the zero-waste school project. This initiative aims to develop products from natural materials within the community to mitigate issues stemming from garbage and leftovers. Additionally, this development promotes tourism and provides an alternative income stream. This research aims to investigate the proportions between banana pseudo-stems and suitable binding materials for molding with pre-made molds. It explores some physical properties of planters made from banana pseudo-stems and examines satisfaction with planters made from banana pseudo-stems. The study results indicate that the proportions between banana pseudo-stems and suitable binding materials for molding with pre-made molds can be successfully molded in all five experimental sets. The study results regarding some physical properties, including strength, indicate that all experimental sets perform well. Regarding water absorption and buoyancy, it was found that experimental set 4 has a higher water absorption rate than other ratios. As for heat absorption, experimental set 1 has a higher heat absorption rate than other ratios. The most suitable experimental set is set 4, which exhibits superior physical properties in terms of strength, water absorption, buoyancy, and heat absorption. Additionally, this experimental set has a lower binding material quantity. Overall, it received the highest level of satisfaction for planters made from banana pseudo-stems. The findings of the aforementioned study can address the community's requirements for managing agricultural waste issues, as well as the demand for novel and appealing products to offer to tourists visiting Pha Taem National Park. Moreover, it enables the analysis of the correlation between community products and the BCG economic model.