GE STS Notes for Prelim:

Science, Technology and Society -is an essential course in the General Education curriculum for tertiary
education.
 Was conceptualized to develop deep appreciation and critical understanding of the role of science and
technology in the development of people and society.
 It deals with the interactions between science and technology in social , cultural , political and
economic contexts.
 It is an interdisciplinary course whereby students are engaged in meaning myriad of scientific issues
and technological developments.
Competencies:
At the end of the module 0, 1 and 2,
1. Learner’s should be able to develop critical thinking and creativity as they utilize science in
understanding various human conditions and social issues, explore the role of science and technology
in nation building ,analyze scientific ideas , theories , innovations , research , and practices and
discover technological advancements brought by science to society.
2. Learners are expected to broaden their theoretical and practical understanding of STS as a course and
as a field of study.
3. Learners should be able to acknowledge that science and society are inseparable and contribute to
intellectual development as a Filipino.

The STS course has 3 terms Pre-lim, Midterm, Final

Prelim
 Include the analysis of the concepts, theories, principles, historical events in science and its
development in various civilizations and the role of science in nation building with emphasis on
government programs and projects for the advancement of science and technological capability of the
country.


Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of the natural world and gained through the scientific
method it was originally called “philosophy of the natural world” since it stemmed from the ancient Greeks
desire to name about nature.
Technology- has been taken together, the term has come to mean “practical applications of what we know
about nature”. This course also seeks to instill reflective knowledge to the learners so that they are able to live
the good life and display ethical decision making in both social and scientific dilemmas.
Society - it is to described human being together (collective, the sumsum of their social network & social
interactions)
Science, Technology & Society is an essential course in the General Education curriculum for tertiary
education.
Ancient Times -during this period people were too concerned with transportation and navigation,
communication and record keeping, mass production, security and protection as well as health, aesthetics and
agriculture.
Transportation was significant during this time because people were trying to go places and discover new
horizons. They travelled to search for food and find better locations for their settlements they also travelled to
trade their surplus goods in exchange for the things that they are lacked
Navigation assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It allowed them to
return home after they discovered a new place or completed an important trade with another group of people.
Communication- was also essential in their endeavors to discover and occupy new places. They need a way to
communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts.
Record-keeping was also important in this time since they needed to remember the place as they had been
and document the trade they made with each other.
Weapons and amours were important as well in the discovery of new places and establishment of new
alliances with other tribes.
Sumerians civilization -
Sumer is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia, Sumerian are known for their high degree
of cooperation with one another and their desire for real things. They are not content with the basic things that
life can offer,\. This desire pushed them to develop many things connected with science and technology.
Cuneiform- One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is the development of the first writing system
known as CUNEIFORM.. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols which are curved on
clay using a wedge instrument and left to dry. Cuneiform allowed the Sumerians to keep records of things with
great historical value in their everyday life.
Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of Uruk. It's a great wonder not only because it is
considered to be the first true city in the world but also for the way it was created.
Another engineering and architectural feat of the Sumerians is the Great Ziggurat of Ur. The ziggurat also
called the mountain of God was built in the same manner that they constructed the city of Uruk.
Irrigation and dikes- as the population increased so did the demand for food. Sumerians were challenged to
mass produce food items but the elements in the environment seemed uncooperative.
Sailboats- another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation, at that time the wheel was not yet invented;
the main mode of transportation was through waterways such as river and seas. And the boats were used to
carry large quantities of products and were able to cover large distances.
Wheel- In the latter part of their history, the Sumerians were able to invent the wheel since the specialized
tools needed to create it were ready available.
The Plow- this is another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians.
Roads- in order to facilitate faster and easier travel the Sumerians developed the first roads. With this work, the
flow of traffic became faster and more organized, they made roads with the same technology they used in
making the sun- baked bricks that they laid down on the ground.
Babylonians civilization- emerged in Tigris and Euphrates, Rivers. This civilization had great builders,
engineers and architects, the hanging gardens is one of their major contributions to Babylon. One of the seven
wonders of the ancient world.
Egyptian civilization- another early civilization famous for its “Legacy”, which is located in North Africa.
.
Paper or Papyrus-one of the earlier contributions during the Egyptian Civilization.
Ink- when the Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper engraving ceased to be used in writing. AS the
result Egyptians invented “INK” by combining soot with different chemicals to produce inks in different colors.
Hieroglyphics-the Egyptians also developed a system of writing using symbols.
Cosmetics- This was made by the Egyptians, and used to improve and highlight the facial features of the
person, their functions were for both health and aesthetics reasons.
Wig- is another invention of ancient Egyptians and used to enhance the appearance of people who are building
or those who want to try new hair trends.
Water Clock- another Egyptian contribution , this device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one
vessel to the other where the amount of water or its height depending on the method used and the remaining
in the device determines how much time has elapsed since it is full in the process , time is measured.
Greek Civilization- Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe known as the birthplace of
western philosophy, some of the major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on philosophy and
mathematics.
Alarm Clock- is one of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by the ancient Greeks.
Watermills were also considered as one of the most important contributions of the Greek civilization to the
world.
Roman civilization - the Roman Empire - was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the
west.
Newspapers are the major contributions of the Roman. The first newspaper known as gazettes, contained
announcements of the Roman Empire to the people.
Bound books or Codex- with the invention of paper it became easier for the civilizations to write down
everything that happened in their time.
Record-keeping was much easier since paper did not easily break.
Roman architecture- is one of the most visual contributions of the ancient Roman Empire to the world.
Roman Numerals- although the number system had already been established before the Roman numeral,
these old systems could not meet high calculation requirements due to the increasing rate of communication
and trade among nations.
Chinese civilization- is considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia if not the world, Also known as the middle
kingdom, China is located in the far east of Asia. And became famous among the ancient civilization because
of “SILK TRADE”. And it was produced by silkworms. The Chinese were the ones who developed the
technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce pares and clothing.
Silk production resulted in the creation of products for trade.
Tea - is a beverage produced hot or boiling water over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves. And it was
believed that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese Emperor.
Great Wall of China- the only man-made structure that could be seen from outer space and is said to be the
largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built.
Gunpowder- is one of the most interesting inventions in China and originally was developed by Chinese
alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality. Mixed with charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate but instead of
creating an elixir of life, they accidentally invented a black powder that could actually generate large amounts
of heat and gas in an instant.

Medieval/ Middle ages- marred by massive invasion and migrations. Wars are prevalent during this time as
such great technology was needed in the fields of weaponry, navigation, mass food and farm production and
health.
Printing press-this has developed woodblock printing, Johann Gutenberg was able to invent this, a more
reliable way of printing using a cast type.
Microscope-another inventions in the middle ages.
Telescope- was also known as the “age of exploration”, this invention is an optical instrument that helps in the
observation of remote objects, and was great help for navigators during this time.
MODERN Times- the blooming world population during the 19th century onwards demanded that more goods
be produced at a faster rate.
Pasteurization- as people were able to develop better means of production to meet the needs of the
population, food preservation and food safety became an issue. The challenge to keep manufactured food
from deteriorating was greater for dairy products, especially milk, since they usually spoiled faster. These
goods needed to be consumed almost immediately after production or they would cause illness such as
diphtheria, food poisoning and typhoid fever. Since transporting these products would also take time, it would
be impossible to trade them.
Louis Pasteur- a French biologist, microbiologist, and chemist found a way to solve the problems. And
invented pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow them to
spoil faster. Through this process milk could be stored and consumed for a longer period.
Petroleum Refinery- in the modern times demanded better means of powering homes and transportation. In
the first place people used animal oils for generating light to illuminate their homes.
Telephone- the more people got connected by trade and exploration, the more they needed a way to easily
maintain theses connections and communicate each e=other in real time. Governments likewise needed some
kind of communication system which would allow then to administer states well. The development of the
telephone by Alexander Graham Bell was one of the most important inventions at that time.
Calculator- although an earliest version of the calculator had already been developed, circumstances in the
modern times required a faster way to compute more complicated equations. Computing devices must also be
easy to carry since they would be utilized on a day to day basis. The creation of modern calculators but it
resulted in the development of more complex processing machines like the computers.
Philippine Inventions-As developing country, the Philippine also contributes to the global advancement of
science and technology. Even Though we lack resources , The Philippines is known to be one of the most
vulnerable countries inventions made by Filipinos were therefore built from indigenous materials or which were
created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.
Salamander amphibious tricycle
This comes as an ordinary for Filipinos to convert transport vehicles into something more useful. An example is
the conversion of American military jeep used in world war II into jeepneys. Another Filipino innovation is the
addition of a sidecar to a motorcycle, transforming it into an article to accommodate more passengers.
This technology is headed by Dominic N. Chung and Lamberto Armada together with chief designer Victor
``Atoy” Llave were able to invent the salamander, an amphibious tricycle that can cross not only flooded
streets but also rivers and lakes. And this can travel also from island to island. Since the Philippines is an
archipelago, the salamander is a useful invention that has a lot of potential
Salt Lamp- one of the major needs in the Philippines as a developing nation is electrification. Electricity powers
various types of machines including light resources. In many rural areas in the country activities would ecase
when it gets dark. And it is more dangerous to travel. Filipinos have resorted to using candles and kerosene
lamps but they carry certain risks as they are fire hazards.
Solar power is also welcome development but like rechargeable batteries, solar panels are too expensive for
ordinary Filipinos, Fortunately a young Filipina inventor Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a lighting system that
utilizes a material abundant in the Philippines saltwater. She invented the Sustainable Alternative Lighting
(SALt) lamp, an environment-friendly light source that runs on saltwater. This kind of lamp is safer as it poses
no risk of fire and emits no toxic gases. Aside from people who live in coastal areas, it may also benefit
those who live in far-flung areas because they can make their own saltwater by mixing 2 tablespoons of salt
and a glass of tap water.
Medical Incubator
A common problem in the Philippines is the high mortality rate of newborn babies. One reason for this
problem in the 20th century was a lack of available incubators especially in the far-flung areas due to lack of
resources and electricity. Dr. Fe del Mundo a , Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian asian woman admitted
into Harvard Medical School, devised a medical incubator made from indigenous and cheap materials which
did not run on electricity. Dr. Fe del Mundo’s incubator was made by placing a native laundry basket inside a
bigger one. Hot water bottles were inserted between the baskets to provide warmth and makeshift hood to
allow oxygen circulation then its main purpose was to maintain conditions suitable for a newborn, usually a pre
-term baby. And she include her works on the immunization and treatment for jaundice and the BRAT diet for
curing diarrhea.

Intellectual Revolutions

The last topic that we have is about the historical antecedents which have affected the course of science and
technology. The discoveries and inventions in science and technology during each time period were due to
human needs and wants. So, many brilliant minds responded to the call of the time and created things that
make life easier for the people.as what we have observed that the advancements in science and technology
changed people’s perceptions and beliefs, Much/ of these events happened in the period now known as the
Intellectual revolution.

The development during the intellectual revolution showed how society was transformed by science,
technology. Thi aims to establish the interaction between science, technology and society cementing further
the relationship as mentioned.

Copernican Revolution
In these early times people question what created days and nights. They wanted to understand what heavenly
bodies like stars, moon and planets are. The invention of the telescope allowed people to take a peek at outer
space, but more importantly it intrigued them to know what actually out here was.

Claudius Ptolemy, a famous philosopher and astronomer stated that planets as well as the sun and the moon,
moved in a circular motion around the earth. The sun and moon revolution explain the existence of days and
nights. He believed that the earth was at the center of a concept known as GEOCENTRISM. Ptolemy’s
geocentric model was widely accepted by the people and was one of the greater discoveries at that time.
In the 16th century, Nicolaus Copernicus , a polish mathematician and astronomer challenged the Ptolemaic
model. He introduced a new concept known as heliocentrism, which suggested that the center of the solar
system was not the Earth, actually the sun.
Other works that supported this model started to emerge as well. And it was eventually accepted by the people
in a period which was called the birth of modern astronomy. This era began what was known as the scientific
revolution that resulted in the transformation of society’s thoughts and beliefs.

Darwinian revolution

Charles Darwin is an English naturalist, biologist and geologist, published his book on the origin of Species and
Darwin introduced the theory of Evolution which posited that population pass through the process of natural
selection in which the fittest would survive.
The Freudian Revolution the field of psychology was always classified under philosophy. Psychology was
considered more of an art rather than a science. So, in the late 19th century Sigmund Freud was able to
change people’s perception of [psychology with his revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis.
Science, technology and Nation-Building
The development of science and technology in the Philippines has come a long way. There are many
significant inventions and discoveries that have been accomplished by Filipinos.

Pre-Colonial Period
Scientific and technological development in the Philippines began in the pre-colonial period.
Even before the Spaniards came to the Philippines island,Filioinos had also developed different modes of
transportation , whether terrestrial or maritime.

Colonial period Colonization by the Spaniards provided the Philippines with modern means of construction.
Walls, roads, bridges and other large infrastructure were built using some of the engineering skills and tools
brought by the Spaniards. In addition to this the Spanish government developed a health and education
system that were enjoyed by the principalia class.

The American occupation modernized almost all aspects of life in the {Philippines . they established a
government agency. The Bureau of science for the sole purpose of nurturing developments in the field of
science and technology.

Post-colonial period

After achieving independence from the colonizers the Philippines under the administration continue to pursue
programs in science and technology. So, each leadership had its own science and technology agenda.
However it is very important to note than some Philippine presidents posted more developments in the field
than others.
One Of the presidents who ushered in the advancement in science and technology was former President
Ferdinand Marcos under his team the agencies in science and technology were established and strengthened
including the Philippine atmospheric Geophysical and astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)and
aside from that among others he saw that the key to nation Building is the continued development of science
and technology and by then the progress in science and technology even after the dictatorial rule and the
presidents after hi lift their own legacies in the field.