2.
“the practical, especially industrial, use of
INTRODUCTION TO STS
(NATURE AND
RELATIONSHIP OF
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY
AND SOCIETY)
Definition of Science
1. “the systematic study of structure and behavior of
the physical and natural world through observation
and experiments”
2. “the careful study of the structure and behavior of
the physical world, especially by watching,
measuring, and doing experiments and the
development of theories to describe the results of
these activities”
3. “sometimes means a special method of finding
things out. Sometimes it means the body of
knowledge arising from the things found out.”
4. Science is the “organization of our knowledge in such
a way that it commands more of the hidden potential
in nature.”
Definition of Technology
• Comes from two Greek words, techne and logos.
o Techne means art, skill, craft, or the way,
manner, or means by which a thing is gained.
o Logos means word, the utterance by which
inward thought is expressed, a saying, or an
expression.
1. “the application of scientific knowledge for
practical purposes.”
scientific discoveries”
3. “... the new things you can do when you have
found something out, or the actual doing of
things”
4. “... the aggregation of capabilities, facilities,
skills, knowledge, and organization required to
successfully create a useful service or product.”
Figure 1 Oil Refinery
Definition of Society
• Derived from the French société. The French
word, in turn, had its origin in the Latin societas,
"a friendly association with others," from socius
meaning "companion, associate, comrade or
business partner.
1. “The aggregate of people living together in a more or
less ordered community.”
2. “The community of people living in a particular
country or region and having shared customs, laws,
and organizations.”
3. “people in general living together in an organized
way, making decisions about how to do things, and
sharing the work that needs to be done.”
Definition of Economic Growth
1. “the expansion of the output of an economy usually
expressed in terms of increase of national income”
2. “an increase in the ability of the economy or business
to produce goods and services” since national
income may fluctuate from one period to the next
depending on temporary factors.
3. “a structural transformation of the economy, from
agriculture to manufacturing, from rural workforce
to an urban one.
The backbone of the Philippines economy is through
agriculture.
Definition of Economic Development

1. “An economic transformation of a country or region

that leads to the improvement of well-being and
economic capabilities of its residents.”
2. “... the need and the means by which to provide
better lives for people in poor countries. It includes
not only economic growth but also human
development, providing for health, education and a
clean environment.
3. “the planned increase of a country’s industry and
and wealth”
4. “the combination of mental and social changes
among the population which decide to increase its
real and global products, cumulatively and in
sustainable manner.”

Two global programs have since been launched to

address inequality and sustainability:

1. Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015)

2. Sustainable Development Goals (2016-2030)

In the Philippines,

• Philippines Development Plan (2017-2022)

LESSON 2: Historical
Antecedents in the
Course of Science and
Technology
ANCIENT CIVILIATION

• People in ancient times were able to discover

and invent things that would impact the lives of
the modern people.

SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION

• Sumerian civilization emerged in the

southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia.
• They had an unusual flair for technological
invention.
• They invented wide range of technology and
perfected the large-scale use of existing ones.
• Cuneiform – first writing system that utilizes
word pictures and triangular symbols
 • City of Uruk - Considered as the first true city in
the world.
o The Sumerians used sun- baked bricks —
mud or clay mixed with reeds — to build the
city.
• Wheel - Sumerians constructed the first wheels
by inserting rotating axles into solid discs of
wood.
• Irrigation and Dikes - Sumerians created dikes
and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands
and at the same time control the flooding of the
rivers.
• Plow - The plow was invented to dig the ground
where seed would be planted.
o This tool helped them to mass produce food
without taking so much effort and time.
BABYLON CIVILIZATION
• Babylonian civilization flourished near the Tigris
and Euphrates Rivers.
• Astronomy - Babylonians introduced the use of
constellations to determine the weather,
climate, and seasons.
o They also studied the use of celestial bodies
such as the moon, the stars, and the sun to
predict future events.
o They also mapped the position of
astronomical bodies, which currently
known as horoscope, to foretell their daily
lives and those of their kings.
• Hanging Garden of Babylon - The Hanging
Gardens of Babylon are considered one of the
seven wonders of the ancient world.
o They were fabled gardens built by King
Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife, Queen
Amytis.
o According to historians, this structure was
made up of layers upon layers of gardens
that contained wide variety of plants, trees,
and vines.
Egyptian Civilization
• Egyptian civilization is located in ancient North
Africa.
• This civilization built many engineering feats
such as the pyramids, temples, and tombs.
• Paper or Papyrus and Ink - Paper made from
papyrus was the main writing material in ancient
Egypt.
o Papyrus (cyperuspapyrus) was a plant which
once grew in abundance, along the Nile River
in Egypt.
o They also invented ink by combining soot
with different chemicals.
• Hieroglyphics - The hieroglyphics, also called the
holy writings, was one of the writing systems
used by ancient Egyptians.
• Cosmetics - Egyptians wore kohl as a cosmetic to
darken their eyes and to prevent and even cure
eye ailments.
o It was created by mixing malachite with
mineral galena.
• Wig - During the ancient Egyptian times, wigs
were worn for health and wellness rather than
aesthetic purpose.
• Water Clock or Clepsydra- The water clock or
clepsydra invented by Amenemhet, was an
ancient device for measuring time by gradual
flow of water.
Greek Civilization
• The Greek civilization has contributed much to
the world especially in the fields of science and
technology.
• Its origins were in the land of Greece and the
islands of the Aegean Sea.
• Alarm Clock - The ancient Greek’s alarm clock
used water or sometimes small stones or sand
that dropped into drums which sounded the
alarm.
o Plato was believed to have utilized an alarm
clock to signal the start of his lecture.
• Water Mill - Watermills were used in agricultural
processes like milling of grains which was a
necessary form of food processing during that
time.
• Archimedes' Screw - Invented by Archimedes.
o The Archimedes' screw was an efficient way
to move water up a hill.
• Biology - Aristotle introduced the idea of
classifying animals according to their different
characteristics.
o He is often referred to as the father of
zoology.
• Cartography - Cartography is the study and
practice of making maps.
o Anaximader was one of the first pioneer
cartographers to create a map of the world.
Roman Civilization
• Roman civilization emerged from the city of
Rome in modern day Italy.
• Newspaper - Romans introduced the first
newspapers known as gazettes.
• Bound Books or Codex - With the papyrus pages
bound together and covered by animal skin, the
ancient Roman civilization was able to produce
the first books or codex.
• Roman Architecture - Roman government was
able to implement projects such as large
churches (cathedrals and basilicas), aqueducts,
coliseums, and amphitheaters.
• Roman Numerals - Romans devised their own
number system to address the need for a
standard counting method that would meet
their increasing communication and trade
concerns.
Chinese Civilization
• China is located on the far east of Asia.
• The Chinese civilization is the oldest civilization
in Asia.
• Silk - The Chinese were the ones to who
developed the technology to harvest the silk
which is naturally produced by silkworms and
process it to produce paper and clothing.
• Tea Production - Tea production was developed
when an unknown Chinese inventor created a
machine that was able to shred tea leaves into
strips.
• Great Wall of China - The Great Wall of China is
said to be the largest and most extensive
infrastructure that the nation built.
• Gunpowder - The gunpowder was developed by
Chinese alchemists by mixing charcoal, sulfur,
and potassium nitrate.
Middle Ages
• The start of the middle ages was marred by
massive invasions and migrations. Wars were
prevalent during this time.
• Printing Press - Johann Gutenberg invented the
printing press.
o He uses wooden machines that extracted
juices from fruits, attached to them a metal
impression of the letters, and pressed firmly
the cast metal into a piece of paper, which
then made an exact impression on paper.
• Microscope - Zacharias Janssen developed the
first compound microscope.
• Telescope - The invention of the telescope, an
optical instrument that helps in the observation
of remote objects, was a great help for
navigators during this time.
o The telescope was first patented in 1608 by
Hans Lippershey.
• War Weapons - Cross bows, long bows, and
chainmail were invented during the Middle Ages.
Modern Ages
• The Modern Period covers human history from
the creation of a more global network to present
day.
• Pasteurization - Louis Pasteur, a French
biologist, microbiologist, and chemist, invented
pasteurization.
o It is the process of heating dairy products
such as milk to kill the harmful bacteria that
allow them to spoil faster.
• Petroleum Refinery - Samuel M. Kier invented
kerosene by refining petroleum.
• Telephone - The first telephone was invented by
Alexander Graham Bell in 1876. ▪He made the
first call on March 10, 1876, to his assistant,
Thomas Watson.
• Calculator - The creation of modern calculators
did not only pave the way for easier arithmetic
calculations, but also resulted in the
development of more complex processing
machines like the computer.
Philippine Inventions
• Philippines also contributes to the global
advancement of science and technology. Many
of the discoveries and inventions made by the
Filipinos were built from indigenous materials to
adapt to the harsh tropical environment.
• Salamander Amphibious Tricycle - H2O
Technologies headed by Dominic N. Chung and
LambertoArmada, together with Chief Designer
Victor “Atoy” Llaveinvented the Salamander, an
amphibious tricycle that can cross flooded
streets, rivers, and lakes.
• SALt Lamp - A young Filipina inventor named
Aisa Mejino invented a lighting system that
utilizes saltwater.
o She invented the Sustainable Alternative
Lighting (SALt) lamp, an environmental-
friendly light source that runs on saltwater.
• Medical Incubator - Dr. Fe del Mundo, a Filipino
pediatrician and the first Asian woman admitted
into Harvard Medical School, invented a medical
incubator made from indigenous and cheap
materials.
• Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System -
Department of Science and Technology-
Industrial Technology Development Institute
(DOST-ITDI) introduced a trap system made of
natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitos
but safe for humans and environment, known as
the Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap System
(OL Trap).
• Ejeepney - This modern type of transportation
uses electricity instead of the more expensive
diesel.