UNIVERSITY OF ILOILO

Rizal Street, Iloilo City, Philippines

THE ROLES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT

A Research Paper

presented to

SERNIE JOHN RODRIGUEZ

Instructor

In partial fulfillment of the subject

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY

GEN 003

ANGELO C. CATALUÑA

JOSEPH J. DIGNOM, JR.

BS Criminology I

OCTOBER 2022
 INTRODUCTION

Science is a branch of knowledge that is concerned with the observation and

classification of facts and formulation of general truth. Science suggests ideas and technology

operationalizes them. Science clarifies and justifies how an objective may be achieved. The

"how" is translated into practical realization and from here, technology takes over and

complements science (Williams, 1998). This therefore shows that there is a symbolic

relationship between science and technology. Science which is a systematic search for truth

provides the basis for technology. Without technology, science becomes impotent, and without

science, technology does not exist.

However, it is the technology, the application of techniques and not science that leads to

increase in production. In the past, science and technology constituted distinct traditions,

maintaining separate identity paths of process and activities. But around the 19th century, there

was a development of closer relationship between the two. The narrowing of that gap of

separate identities culminated in the birth of the concept of science and technology.

Technology is an application of knowledge for practical purpose. It is used to improve

human condition, natural environment or to carry out other socio-economic activities. It could

also be defined or refers to all processes dealing with materials and their end products. One

important attribute of technology is that it does not just happen; it is developed and learned

whether in the farm of manual skills or as an applied science. It is the systematic application of

collective human rationality to the solution of human problems through the assertion of control

over nature; technology is the engine of growth.

Technology can be traced historically to the beginning of time to be man's quest to

improve his way and quality of life. According to Egbogah (2012), Technology is the total and

complete application of man's knowledge, skills, tools and materials. It is the use of scientific

knowledge to develop and produce goods and services useful to man. It is practical problem-

solving enterprise, which is propelled by scientific discovery or by societal needs. The

components of technology that must be present for meaningful benefits according to Obibuku

(1983) include knowledge (i.e. science, education, skills and know- Anaeto et al. 39 how),

organization (i.e. institutional, aspects of methods of production, co- ordination, relationship to

the environment) and techniques (i.e. ways of doing things, production process, the combination

of human and material resources). Technology therefore can be broadly classified into two

major categories namely: (a) Material Technology- where knowledge is embedded into

technological products such as tools, equipment, agro-chemicals, improved plant varieties or

hybrids, improved breeds of animals and vaccines. (b) Knowledge-Based Technology- such as

technical knowledge, management skills and other processes which are needed to successfully

produce products or grow crops. A technology may be appropriate or inappropriate depending

on the nature and capable of use of such technology. An appropriate technology is a form of

technology which makes use of available resources in a given economic environment. It

concentrates on tools and techniques which are carefully tailored to their needs. It is a

technology that is accessible, manageable, transferable and within the reach of the people

(Obibuaku, 1983). According to Canadian Hunger foundation in Obibuaku (1983), appropriate

technology is the technology which is most suitably adapted to the conditions of a given

situation.
WHY IS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IMPORTANT?

Science and technology are important parts of our day-to-day life. We get up in the

morning from the ringing of our alarm clocks and go to bed at night after switching our lights off.

All these luxuries that we can afford are a resultant of science and technology. Most importantly,

how we can do all this in a short time are because of the advancement of science and

technology only. It is hard to imagine our life now without science and technology. Indeed, our

existence itself depends on it now. Every day new technologies are coming up which are

making human life easier and more comfortable. Thus, we live in an era of science and

technology.

Essentially, Science and Technology have introduced us to the establishment of modern

civilization. This development contributes greatly to almost every aspect of our daily life. Hence,

people get the chance to enjoy these results, which make our lives more relaxed and

pleasurable.

HOW DOES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AFFECT SOCIETY?

The essence of how science and technology contribute to society is the creation of new

knowledge, and then utilization of that knowledge to boost the prosperity of human lives, and to

solve the various issues facing society. By drastically changing our means of communication,

the way we work, our housing, clothes, and food, our methods of transportation, and, indeed,

even the length and quality of life itself, science has generated changes in the moral values and

basic philosophies of mankind.

Many people wonder about how society and technology will mesh; this concern is only

amplified when it comes to children. Children are being exposed to screens at an early age,

spending time in front of laptops, televisions, and other technology. This has changed how kids
interact socially. Children today can text or message their friend online to communicate rather

than just going and knocking on their door. Research done by the University of California, Los

Angeles, found that kids are spending more time in front of screens than ever, which may be

affecting their ability to empathize and recognize someone’s emotions. The study found that

sixth graders who went five days without exposure to technology were significantly better at

reading human emotions than kids who had regular access to phones, televisions, and

computers. One group of kids was allowed the use of their electronic devices over a five-day

period, while the other group was not. The study concluded that children who had no access to

their electronics over the period were better at picking up emotions and nonverbal cues of

photos of faces than the group that had access to their electronics. The increased face-to-face

interaction that the test group had made students more aware of distinctive facial expressions.

Technology can make our lives easier, but with each benefit comes a potential cost. We

can still advance technologically without impacting society too immensely by understanding

these costs and minimizing them. There is a balance that needs to be found between correctly

using technology but knowing when to turn it off. Finding this balance is in the hands of the

people though and will ultimately influence our society for generations to come.

BENEFITS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

If we think about it, there are numerous benefits of science and technology. They range

from the little things to the big ones. For instance, the morning paper which we read that

delivers us reliable information is a result of scientific progress. In addition, the electrical devices

without which life is hard to imagine like a refrigerator, AC, microwave and more are a result of

technological advancement.

Furthermore, if we look at the transport scenario, we notice how science and technology

play a major role here as well. We can quickly reach the other part of the earth within hours, all

thanks to advancing technology.

 In addition, science and technology have enabled man to look further than our planet.

The discovery of new planets and the establishment of satellites in space is because of the very

same science and technology.

Similarly, science and technology have also made an impact on the medical and

agricultural fields. The various cures being discovered for diseases have saved millions of lives

through science. Moreover, technology has enhanced the production of different crops

benefitting the farmers largely.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

By discovering science, scientists can create something that can immeasurably improve

the quality of life; for example, computers, telephones, televisions, planes and the list go on.

With the discovery of these inventions, people can achieve their aspirations much more easily.

As we know, science has helped our country a lot. It can turn a small, poor country into a

progressive country. Science is the only hope of man against diseases. Without the inventions

of science and the ceaseless efforts of scientists, many diseases and diseases such as the

malaria, the cancer etc. were considered incurable diseases and diseases in the past would be

defeated. The technology is so popular and economically profitable that benefits are published

regularly. These include his ability to improve education and communication.

Technology is the practical science. With the use of technology, you can make your daily

work easier. To know the use and technology, you need to read on every department of life like,

business, education, health, and communication etc. For example, in case of education; know

that Teachers use multimedia for teaching instead of chalkboard and graphics, saving time in

the classroom. In business, a computer has information about all his clients. Science has

brought many unique benefits to humanity. The vast progress made in the field of medicine has

made it possible to extend our life expectancy and reduce the infant mortality rate. The

discovery of mechanization, better seeds, better irrigation techniques and pest control has
helped to increase farm productivity levels. In transportation, railways, modern liners, jets and

motor vehicles have made our lives more comfortable and have offered great opportunities for

modern commercial development and industrialization. The invention of the computer helped

the process of calculation in the laboratories.

If on the one hand, science and technology have brought us a lot of wonders, on the

other hand, there are also disadvantages of science and technology. First, he has increased

anxiety in our lives. Second, when technology falls into the wrong hands, it can have a negative

impact on society, such as the rising rate of cyber criminality, hacking, theft of personal

information and pornography websites.

Third, technology has also increased alternatives and opportunities for terrorists. In

addition, technology has removed our physical efforts and we are getting more luxurious and

comfort living. Economies lagging in the integration of new technologies are seen as poor

economies and their progress in the world is hampered. Science has been responsible for

pollution and given us the nuclear bomb that threatens our very existence. But in this also the

fault lies not in science, but rather in the intention of man to abuse the discoveries of science.

Science is not intrinsically good or bad. It is a way to acquire knowledge in a systematic way.

The disadvantage of new mobile phones is too many can communicate with us all at the

same time. He can create scams and spam in many ways. Young people have also been very

addicted to gadgets that they can spend too much time with him. A disadvantage of production

is the energy it uses. It consumes a lot of energy to run the machines. And so, we need more

fuel, and that will leave a lot of waste and pollution to our environment. This is the most

destructive price for the technology of our time. We cannot avoid the inconveniences that come

with the benefits of technology.

HOW SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CAN BE USED TO SOLVE SOCIETY'S PROBLEMS

 Sometimes it might seem like technology only causes problems or complicates things.

People yearn for a simpler life, without cell phones beeping, traffic jams, and dangerous

weapons. But the truth is, science and technology have solved a lot of society's problems and

will continue to do so in the future.

In today's Western world, you no longer must grow your own food, or wash your own

clothes by hand. And, you don't have to worry as much about the prospect of getting sick and

dying. Agricultural technologies, like fertilizers (discovered by chemists), combine harvesters

(built by engineers), and selective breeding (worked on by biologists), have allowed us to

produce incredible amounts of highly nutritious food on relatively little land. This has led to a

huge boom in the population.

Another human problem is our susceptibility to disease. But thanks to science and

medical technology, our life expectancies have increased at a dramatic rate. We now have

antibiotics and other drugs to cure diseases (thanks to chemists), MRI scanners to take images

of the inside of the body (developed by physicists), ventilators to breathe for you, and

pacemakers to beat your heart for you. All these things are only possible because of what

scientists have learned over the last two centuries.

SOCIO-TECHNICAL COLLABORATION AND SECURITY

The creation and application of scientific knowledge plays an important role in how

societies aspire to maintain order and civility (Shapin, 1995). The production, stabilization and

diffusion of scientific and technical orders are closely entangled with, and mutually constitutive

of, the production of social order (Jasanoff, 1996, 2004). Technoscientific enterprises are coined

by specific cultural and political imaginaries that they in turn help to realize (Jasanoff and Kim,

2009, 2015), and STS has a rich history of engaging with the politics of co-production (Jasanoff,

1990; Miller and Wyborn, 2018; Polanyi, 1962; Shapin and Schaffer, 1985). Notably, it has also
sparked a reconsideration of the role that the social sciences should occupy within this

constellation.

Loosely gathered under the term ‘socio-technical collaboration’ (Fisher et al., 2015), a

broad body of literatures engages with ways we as scholars can work with communities we

research in the production of problems, relevant knowledges and innovations (Balmer et al.,

2015: 8; Downey and Zuiderent-Jerak, 2017). These literatures are not homogeneous, but

consist of a variety of different approaches, including the likes of applied ethics (Leese et al.,

2019; van Gorp and van der Molen, 2011), public participation (Chilvers and Kearnes, 2020;

Lezaun et al., 2017), ELSI/post-ELSI (Balmer et al., 2015; Fisher, 2005), responsible innovation

(Owen et al., 2012, 2013) and technology assessment (Hellström, 2003; Rip et al., 1995). A

major theme throughout most of them is the aspiration to render interaction between publics,

governing authorities, social scientists and techno-scientific experts productive in terms of

transforming professional practices and creating responsiveness to societal values (Fisher et

al., 2006; Owen et al., 2012).

Such values usually include social justice, inclusivity and democracy, and are linked with

issues of power and ethics (Fisher et al., 2015: 43). Often, however, the values with which

technoscience is supposed to correspond are not easily defined, and not easily turned into

concrete instructions for development or design. Rather, they are in themselves ambiguous and

contested, and they need to be filled with meaning in specific contexts. Instead of pointing to

predefined or generalizable criteria that should inform science and technology (and thereby

raise questions of who should be entitled to define and impose such criteria), the literature on

socio-technical collaboration tends to point to reflexivity, exchange and shared responsibilities

as intrinsic values that become enacted through close cooperation between the social sciences

and the natural and engineering sciences (Balmer et al., 2015; Chilvers, 2012). In the best-case

scenario, socio-technical collaboration would then lead to more socially responsible orderings of

knowledge and society. In the words of Balmer et al. (2015: 8), ‘the hope for such projects is
that “working with” scientists and getting further entangled could help to produce novel and

more diverse forms of objects and knowledge for all participants.

CONCLUSION

First and foremost, technology, science, and society are important in modern

contemporary society.

The understanding of how social, cultural and material elements influence the production

of new practices and new ways of understanding is vital in our understanding of society.

Knowing about technology and science provides us with insight into how different processes of

knowledge are implemented and how innovative technological processes are developed.

It also gives insight into the understanding and knowledge of technology and the

viewpoint of the humanities and the social sciences. It is vital to become familiar with social and

cultural analyses of modern science and technology in interaction with social, political,

economic, and cultural change. It is all connected.

We need professional qualified people to maintain normal activities of our society as well

as implementing changes and new discoveries when they arrive. Scientists have an important

role not only in avoiding inappropriate and dangerous decisions, but also advising policymakers

and other stakeholders about the best and wiser moves to make towards a human-centered

society, thereby fomenting scientific knowledge and enhancing cross-cultural connections and

joint research. They should also not forget the objective limitations of science, which is always

incomplete. With this purpose, we stress the importance of transferring knowledge among all

scientific disciplines, using a transdisciplinary cross-talks approach.

All stakeholders have to be conscious of the importance of investment in Science,

Technology and Society fostering scientific knowledge through the interconnections between all
its branches with an open mind, transdisciplinary approach, enhancing joint research and cross-

cultural connections, and providing funds not only focused on real life problems, but also on the

fundamental tenets that will underpin the future of a human-centered society.

If development of science is important, what is even more important is human

development, i.e., development of human beings themselves, which is all about “growing up

truly to human beings, capable of governing themselves and the universe through the well-

balanced development of science, art & religion” (Amemiya, 2017).

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