Abstract

Environmental issues, particularly pollution, represent significant global challenges. It is essential to develop a thorough understanding of the various types of pollution and promote sustainable environmental attitudes and behaviors. This study aims to identify the conceptions of students from the southern suburbs of Beirut regarding the environment and pollution. A total of 127 students from grades 10 and 11 at a private school participated. The students completed a questionnaire assessing their conceptions across three dimensions: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Additionally, they were engaged in socio-cognitive debate sessions, providing insights into their conceptions of the environment, and pollution. The results revealed that many students held misconceptions about pollution, including soil, noise, visual, light, electromagnetic, and radioactive pollution. Furthermore, many exhibited inappropriate environmental attitudes and behaviors. This study highlights the need for targeted educational interventions to promote sustainable positive environmental attitudes and behaviors among students.

Keywords:Pollution; Sustainability; Misconceptions; Socio-cognitive debate; Environment