Introduction: Augmented Reality (AR) has been widely applied in science learning, its potential to integrate local wisdom into biology education remains underexplored. In the Bugis culture of South Sulawesi, the Mappacci ritual embodies values of purity, togetherness, parental respect, and readiness for a new life. Methods: this study employed a qualitative descriptive design with an ethnographic approach. Fieldwork was conducted in Bone Regency, South Sulawesi, involving traditional leaders, community figures, and biology education students as preservice teachers. Data were collected through participatory observation, in-depth interviews, documentation, and open-ended questionnaires. Data analysis followed the Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña model, with triangulation of sources and techniques to ensure validity Results: findings revealed that the Mappacci ritual is not merely a pre-wedding tradition but a medium of internalizing moral and social values. Symbols such as henna leaves, rice, jackfruit leaves, and candles were interpreted as cultural representations with educational relevance, particularly in plant ecology and life cycle topics. Preservice biology teachers expressed positive perceptions of integrating these values into AR-based learning, emphasizing its potential to create interactive, contextual, and culturally grounded experiences that strengthen scientific literacy and cultural identity Conclusions: this research highlights the potential of combining ethnographic exploration and digital technology to enrich biology education. Embedding Bugis local wisdom into AR-based media provides a holistic learning model that enhances cognitive understanding while fostering cultural awareness and character development
Veryani et al. (Fri,) studied this question.