SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY *STS provides a context for science study and

thereby becomes more appropriate for all

Science
*Systematic, organized, knowledge based on
facts.
*This systematic nature sets science apart from
other types of understanding.
*Concerned with evidence and theories.
*Science is said to be dynamic, constantly
moving, the knowledge changes.
*What you know yesterday and today may not
be an acceptable fact tomorrow.
learners (Yager, 1992).
*STS is the teaching and learning of science in
the context of human experience.
*STS is a form of integrating knowledge from
the various sciences.
*STS takes you into consideration because you
live in the society.
The Importance Of Science And Technology In
Contemporary Society

Technology
*Technology is the product of science.
*Technology is the practical application of
scientific and other knowledge to meet the
needs of the society.
*Technologists are scientists.
*Scientists produce or generate knowledge and
technologists turn it to important products and
devices such as computers, aircraft carriers,
spacecraft, etc.
Society
*Society is a population that occupies the same
territory, subject to the same political authority,
and participates in common culture.
*The society is made up of community of
people. Among these people are scientists and
technologists.
*What proceeds from the work of the scientists
and technologists are used up by the society.
*Society, itself, is not stagnant. Society is
dynamic.
Military Significance
*The outcome of the World War II depended
heavily on the superior scientific and
technological capabilities of the United States
and its allies.
*Today, those technical resources remain vital
to the national security of many governments.
Econonmic Significance
*Played a major role in increasing productivity.
*Science and technology companies were
leading companies in the industry.
I*ncreasingly important factor in national
economic competitiveness for the future.
Medical Significance
*Advances in medical diagnosis (X-rays, CT scan,
*MRI, etc.)
*Surgery
*Vaccines
*Therapeutic Drugs
*Prosthetic Drugs
*Rehabilitative Apparatus

Science, Technology and Society or STS?

Ethical Dilemmas
*STS is an abbreviation for Science, Technology
and Society. *Euthanasia
*Refers to the study of science and technology *Stem-cell Research
in society – that is, the study of the ways in *Exploitation of Laboratory Specimens
which technical and social phenomena interact *Teratogenic Drugs
and influence each other. *Nuclear Research
The Rise of Concern Over Science and
Technology in Society: Historical Perspective
World War II
*Manhattan project culminating in August 1945
in the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
*Participation of many German scientists and
engineers in the Nazi war effort.
*These raised the issue of the social
responsibility of scientists and engineers to a
new level of awareness, at least among
technical practitioners.
1945 - 1960
*The emerging affluence of concerns following
World War II was made possible in part by
technology and science during this period.
*The government funded scientific and
technological researches.
*These served effectively to suppress public
consideration of these issues.
*However, the development of H-bomb and its
deployment for possible use in war in USSR or
China kept the embers of concern from being
completely extinguished.
Precipitating Factors: Twin Crises of War and
Environment
Public awareness of environmental degradation
began to increase.
The awareness was due to the following:
*Toxic chemical waste disposal
*Oil-rig and tanker spillages
*Strip mining
*Anti-personnel bombs
Response of the Academic World
*Emergence of programs devoted to study the
social relations of science and technology.
*STS courses provided an innovative form of
liberal education appropriate for technological
era.
*These courses imparted needed skills to
different sectors of the undergraduate student
body.
*The study of STS would help tomorrow’s
decision makers in medicine, law, business,
education, etc.
The 1970’s
Interest in STS matters increased fuelled by a
series of controversial scientific and
technological developments
*Nuclear power
*Computers
*Genetic engineering
*Human reproduction and life prolongation
*Birth of the world’s first “test-tube baby”
1980 to Present
In the first half of the 1980s, there was little
opposition in society or in academia to
technology and science.
In the mid 1980s, STS concern received new
impetus from philanthropic foundation efforts
to promote a basic grasp of scientific,
technological, and mathematical thinking and
methods among nontechnical college and
university students.
1980 to Present
“Technical literacy” is seen by some as a
precondition for enhanced public understanding
of technology and science.
Also, it is something essential for realizing
meaningful participatory democracy in the
contemporary era.
The late 1980s witnessed the emergence in
academia of small but growing number of
programs and departments devoted to study of
STS at the doctoral level.