SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

AND
SOCIETY

AN INTRODUCTION
WHAT DOES SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIETY MEAN?

Science and technology studies, or science,

technology and society studies (STS) is the
study of how society, politics, and culture
affect scientific research and technological
innovation, and how these, in turn, affect
society, politics and culture.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY STUDIES
• STS is a relatively recent discipline, originating in the 60s and
70s, following Kuhn’s The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
(1962).

• STS was the result of a “sociological turn” in science studies.

• STS makes the assumption that science and technology are

essentially intertwined and that they are each profoundly
social and profoundly political.
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
• from the Latin word “scientia”
meaning knowledge.
• knowledge attained through
study or practice.
• refers to a system of acquiring
knowledge which uses
observation and
experimentation
• organized body of knowledge
gained using scientific method
or research.
 SCIENCE?
• The human attempt to understand the natural world,
with or without concern for practical uses
of that knowledge.
 NATURAL WORLD
• Plants and animals

• Atoms

• Volcanoes

• Gravity
Science will try to
discover facts and
relationships and then
tries to create theories
that makes sense of
these facts and
relationships.
 TECHNOLOGY
•from two Greek words
“techne” meaning art, craft,
or skill.

“logos” meaning to speak

of; to imply the practical
application of techne.
 TECHNOLOGY
•the application of scientific knowledge to the
practical aims of human life.

•Human attempt to change the world.

•Refers to methods, systems, and devices which

are the result of scientific knowledge being used
for practical purposes.
EXAMPLES OF TECHNOLOGY
Technology involves
•Tools

•Techniques

•Procedures for putting the findings of

science to practical use.
Interconnections between Science and
Technology
• Science explores for the purpose of knowing (which
is search for knowledge).

• Technology explores for the purpose of making

something useful from that knowledge (practical
application of knowledge).

• Science is THEORY and technology is PRACTICE.

 SOCIETY
• The term "society" came from the Latin word societas,
which in turn was derived from the
noun socius ("comrade, friend, ally"; adjectival
form socialis) used to describe a bond or interaction
between parties that are friendly, or at least civil.

• A society is a grouping of individuals, which is

characterized by common interest and may have
distinctive culture and institutions.
In Summary
• SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Science: knowledge about or study of the natural world
based on facts learned through experiments and
observation.

Technology: science or knowledge put into practical use

to solve problems or invent useful tools.
In Summary
• HOW IS SCIENCE USED IN TECHNOLOGY?
Science is the pursuit of knowledge about the natural world
through systematic observation and experiments. Through
science, we develop new technologies.

Technology is the application of scientifically gained knowledge for

practical purpose. Scientists use technology in all their
experiments
• STEPHEN COLBERT INTERVIEWS NEIL DE GRASSE TYSON in 2010 at
Montclair Kimberley Academy.

• Neil De Grasse Tyson is an astrophysicist and well-known for his work

with the Cosmos: A Space Time Odyssey mini-series.
• The interview is about science, society and the universe.