STS: SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY Science, Technology, and Society (STS)
AND SOCIETY  is a relatively young field that
Defining Science:
 Science comes from the
Latin word Scientia, meaning
‘knowledge’. It refers to a systematic
and methodical activity of building
and organizing knowledge about
how the universe behaves through
observation, experimentation or
both.
 According to the famous
American science historian, John
Heilbron, “Modern science is a
discovery as well as an invention.”
He considered science as discovery
of regularity in nature, enough for
natural phenomena to described by
principles and laws.
Defining Technology
 Technology it is the
application of scientific knowledge,
laws, and principles to produce
services, materials, tools, and
machines aimed at solving real-
world problems. It comes from the
Greek word techne meaning ‘art,
skill, or cunning hand’.
 During a live public Q&A in
December 2014, Mark Zuckerberg
was asked of what his definition of
technological tool is, and the CEO of
Facebook responded: “What defines
a technological tool - one historical
definition - is something that takes a
human’s sense or ability and
augments it and makes it more
powerful. So for example, I wear
contact lenses or glasses; that is a
technology that enhances my human
ability of vision and makes it better.”
HEAVY PLOUGH
 The heavy plough turned European
combines previously independent agriculture and economy on its
and older disciplines, such as the head.
history of science, philosophy of SPINNING WHEEL
science, and sociology of science.  A machine used for transforming
As an interdisciplinary field, the fiber into thread or yarn and
emergence of STS was a result of eventually woven into cloth on a
questions about science and loom
technology’s dynamic interaction GUN POWDER
with various aspects of society and  Chinese alchemists accidentally
was thus viewed as socially invented black powder or
embedded enterprise. gunpowder.
HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF PAPER MONEY
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY  Before the introduction of paper
ANTECEDENT money, precious metals, such as
 It is defined as a precursor to the gold and silver were used as a
unfolding or existence of something. currency.
Knowledge of the history of science MODERN AGES
and technology is useful in COMPOUND MICROSCOPE
appraising these innovations today.  A Dutch spectacle maker named
ANCIENT PERIOD: Zacharias Janssen is credited for
ANCIENT WHEEL the invention of the first compound.
POTTER’S WHEEL TELESCOPE
 A heavy flat disk made of hardened  Invented by Galileo Galilei that
clay which was spun horizontally on could magnify objects 20 times
an axis. larger than the Dutch perspective
PAPYRUS glass.
 It is made from pith of papyrus plant ENGINE-POWERED AIRPLANE
SHADOOF  Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright
 A hand-operated device used for are credited for designing the
lifting water. engine-powered aircraft.
ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM JACQUARD’S LOOM
 It is akin to a clock that has circular  His version of a loom in which a
face and rotating hands. series of cards with punched holes
MIDDLE AGES: automatically created complex
Between the collapse of the Roman textile designs.
Empire in 5th century AD and the colonial TELEVISION
expansion of Western Europe in late 15th  John Logie Baird is credited for the
century AD, major advances in scientific invention of TV.
and technological development took place.
INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTISTS:
E-JEEPNEY
 It is designed to be environment-
friendly, eliminating noise and air
pollution as they run on electricity.
MEDICAL INCUBATOR
 World-renowned Filipino
pediatrician, Fe Del Mundo, is
credited for the invention of
incubator.
ERYTHROMYCIN
 The Ilonggo scientist Abelardo
Aguilar invented this antibiotic out of
strain of bacterium called
Streptomyces erythreus.
MOLE REMOVER
 Rolando Dela Cruz is credited for
the invention of a local mole
remover that made use of extracts
of cashew nuts.
INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS
AND SOCIETY
Nicolas Copernicus and His Heliocentric
Model: COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
 Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543) is
Polish Mathematician who proposed
the theory for heliocentric universe.
 Opposite to Ptolemaic model
 Copernicus finalized his model and
published the De Revolutionibus
Orbium Cœlestium (On the
Revolutions of the Heavenly
Spheres).
 Copernicus system of planetary
organization was accepted by
others but received a huge
resistance from the church.
Heliocentric system was not fully
proven until Newton’s theories were
published in 1867.
Charles Darwin on the Origin of
Species: DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
 Charles Robert Darwin (1809-
1882) was born in Shrewsbury,
England. He is a well- known
English naturalist and biologist
because of his contributions in
science about evolution.
 Fixity of Species vs. Evolution
Critical points in the book On the Origin
of Species:
1. The fact that evolution occurs.
2. The theory that natural selection is
the driving force or mechanism
behind the process of evolution.
3. The concept of phylogeny, that all
forms of life are related to one
another genealogically, through their
pedigree or "family's roots."
Sigmund Freud :
Psychoanalysis/ Freudian Revolution
 is known to his big contribution in
modern psychology particularly in
the field of psychoanalysis.
 Psychoanalysis is a scientific
method of understanding inner and
unconscious conflict embedded
within one’s personality.
 He introduced the Tripartite Psyche
“WHERE ID WAS,
THERE EGO SHALL BE”
Science, Technology, and Nationbuilding
Science and Technology in Pre-Colonial
Times
 People used herbal medicine to treat
illness
 Filipinos made use of writing,
numerical measurement, calendar
systems
 Farming, fishing, mining were the
first livelihood skills developed by
Filipinos
 Banaue Rice Terraces
Science and Technology during Spanish
Colonial Period
 Science and technology developed
through the establishment of formal
education institutions and launching
of scientific organizations
 Filipinos were trained to use
innovative approaches in farming
 Engineering was introduced and
developed as well
 Schools were mandated to teach
religion, reading, writing, music, arts,
health, sanitation
 Medicine and biology were taught in
different educational and training
institutions
 Trade was prioritized due to possible
bigger profits.
Science and Technology during
American Period
 Institutions for science and
technology were reorganized
 Laboratorio Municipal was replaced
by Bureau of Government
Laboratories under US Department
of Interior
 In 1905, it became Bureau of
Science, main research center of the
Philippines

 In 1993, the National Research
Council of the PH was established.
 Developments in S&T were focused
on agriculture, medicine, and
pharmacy, food processing and
forestry
 In 1946, the Bureau of Science was
replaced by Institute of Science.
S&T at the time of Ferdinand Marcos
1. Mandated the Department of
Education and Culture to promote
science courses in public high
schools
2. Allocated additional budget for
research projects in applied science
and science education.
3. Philippine Science Community was
established in 1968 (DOST)
4. Salary increases for teachers and
administrators at the Philippines
Science High School
5. The Philippine Coconut Research
Institute (PHILCORIN) was tasked to
promote the modernization of
coconut industry
6. Philippine Textile Research Institute.
Philippine Atomic Energy
Commission, National Grains
Authoriry, Philippine Council for
Agricultural Research, PAGASA
7. Philippine National Oil Company,
Plant Breeding Institute, IRRI,
Bureau of Plant Industry, Nat’l
Science and Technology Authority
8. National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST) reservoir of
scientific and technological expertise
in the country
S&T at the time of Corazon Aquino
 In 1986, NSTA was renamed DOST
 The Science and Technology Master
Plan penned by DOST aimed to
update the production sector,
improve research activities, and
develop infrastructures for the S&T
sector.
S&T at the time of Fidel Ramos
 In 1987, PH had approximately
3,000 competent scientists and
engineers
 “Doctors to the Barrio”
 The National Program for Gifted
Filipino Children in Science and
Technology
 Laws and statutes related to the
S&T sector were mandated such as
RA 8439: Magna Carta for Scientist
Engineers, Researchers and other
Science and Technology Personnel
in Government; RA 7687: Science
and Technology Scholarship Act of
1994; and RA 8293: The Intellectual
Property Code of the Philippines
S&T at the time of Joseph Estrada
 RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air
Act of 1999 and RA 8792: Electronic
Commerce Act of 2000 were
mandate
 Responsible for implementing cost-
effective irrigation technologies and
providing basic health care services
for those who could not afford them
S & T during the administration of Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo
 Filipinnovation refers to the
Philippines as an innovation hub in
Asia
 RA 9367: Biofuel Act to utilize
indigenous materials as sources of
energy
 RA 10601: Agriculture and Fisheries
Mechanization (AFMech) Law was
passed to modernize agricultural
and fisheries machinery and
equipment
S & T during the administration of
Benigno Aquino III
 Named new national scientists,
Gavino C. Trono (Marine
Biology) ,Angel C. Alcala (for
Biological Science), Ramon C.
Barba (for Horticulture), Edgardo D.
Gomez (for Marine Biology)
S & T during the administration of
Rodrigo Duterte
 S&T is seen to be priority based on
the budget for Research and
Development
 PH has the Philippine Space
Technology Program which
launched Diwata-2 in 2018 after the
launch of Diwata-1 in 2016
Science Education in the Philippines
The Concept of Science Education
Teaching Science
o Involves developing ways on how to
effectively teach science
Learning Science
o Helping students understand and
love science
Understanding Science
o using science literacy in
understanding the natural world and
activities in everyday life
Science Education in the PH across time
1940’s
o Science and Mathematics were least
prioritized
1950’s
o Bulletin No. 27 s. 1953
1960’s b) Acquisition of more science d) Research on teaching-learning
o focused in the objectives of equipment and tools process
instructional procedures and c) Coordination of efforts with other o Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT -
evaluation agencies it was part of the national project of
Modern Period d) Negotiation for a science institute for SEP
o President Aquino signed the k-12 teachers o MAT scholarships were granted to
education to law in 2013, adding 3 e) National science talent search and institutions rather to individuals
years to the country’s basic fellowship o Its objective was to develop within
education curriculum f) Higher salaries for science and math each institutions a corps of science
Education in 1940’s teachers educators committed to the
o Science is not offered in G1-4 of Early Efforts to Improve improvement of science teacher
elementary level Science Education training programs at the
o Physics, Chemistry and Advanced o The BSCS Adaptation Project - undergraduate, graduate and in-
Algebra were optional secretary of Education set up service
o 30-minute class session for National Committee in Science INSTITUTIONS:
intermediate levels Education to formulate objectives for 1. SUMMER INSTITUTE:
o Classroom instruction emphasized teaching of science at the three o teachers' education were of
functional and social values of the instructional levels the greatest concern
subject matter a) Subject matter competence of 2. Philippine Association of Science
Early Efforts to Improve teachers Teachers (PAST)
Science Education b) The curriculum materials o review of Science teaching in
o Teaching of science from grade c) Laboratory equipment and science the Philippines.
facilities in schools o improve skills of inquiry and
school level to college level were
o R.A. 5506 - an act establishing creative thinking
inadequate
Science Education Center (SEC) as 3. Science Education Project (SEP)
o Philippine Association for the a permanent unit of the UP o improve Science and Math
o Summer Institutes teachers, textbooks,
Advance of Science - conducts an
annual conference which focuses on a) The teacher’s competence in the equipment etc.
the training of science teachers and concept and process of science and 4. Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
teaching of science in the subject matter the teacher will o develop Science Educators
teach Five Regional Science Teaching Centers
o National Committee for Science b) Competence as a teacher 1. Notre Dame University
o The Science Education Project 2. Siliman University
Education - set up in 1958 to
formulate objectives for teaching of (SEP) 3. Ateneo de Davao College
science education at all levels a) Improvement of pre-service, in- 4. Aquinas University
The committee identified the service education of science and 5. St. Louis University
following areas to which math teachers The K-12 Curriculum
improvement efforts were needed: b) Local development of science o Republic Act No. 10533 or Enhanced
textbooks and equipment Basic Education Act of 2013
a) Integration of science with c) Evaluation of locally produced
classroom instruction materials
o The private and public schools to
implement spiral progression
Philippine basic education curriculum.
o Spiral progression approach: four areas,
Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry,
Physics, are taught every grading
period.
o General Science in the 1st year of high
school.
o Biology in 2nd year.
o Chemistry in 3rd year.
o Physics in 4th year
Indigenous Science and Technology
in the Philippines
What is Indigenous Knowledge?
o Refers to the understandings, skills
and philosophies developed by
societies with long histories of
interaction with their natural
surroundings. For rural
indigenous people.
Indigenous Knowledge System
o Embedded in the cultural traditions
of regional, indigenous, or local
communities
o Orally passed
o Evident in stories, poems, songs
Indigenous S&T in the Philippines
o This lesson focuses on the
indigenous science and technology
in the Philippines. Filipinos,
especially during the early times,
tried to invent tools that will help
them in everyday life.
o They also developed alternative
ideas in explaining various
phenomena and in explaining the
world around them.
o This system of knowledge is called
indigenous knowledge, which is the
foundation of indigenous science.
Indigenous Knowledge that are taught
of and practiced by indigenous people
o Predicting weather conditions and
seasons using knowledge
observing animal’s behaviour and
celestial bodies.
o Using herbal medicines
o Preserving foods
o Classifying plants and animals into
families and groups
o Preserving and selecting good
seeds for planting
o Using indigenous technology in daily
lives
o Building local irrigation systems
o Classifying different types of soil for
planting
o Producing wines and juices from
tropical fruits
and
What is Indigenous Science?
Gribbin, 2001; Mkapa, 2004; Sibisi,2004
o Indigenous science is part of the
indigenous knowledge system
practiced by different groups of
people and early civilization.
Paliwen, 2005
o It includes complex arrays of
knowledge, expertise, practices, and
representations that guide human
societies in their enumerable
interaction their natural milieu:
agriculture, medicine, naming and
explaining natural phenomena, and
strategies for coping with changing
environments.
in
United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
o recognized indigenous science as a
historical and valuable contribution
to science and technology.
Human Flourishing
Introduction
o The progress of human civilizations
throughout history mirrors the
development of science and
technology.
o Science and technology must be
taken as part of human life that
merits reflective and –as the
German philosopher Martin
Heidegger says –meditative thinking.
o The products of S&T must be
examined not only for their function
and instrumentality but also for their
greater impact on humanity as a
whole.
What is flourishing?
o It is a state where people experience
positive emotions, positive
psychological functioning and
positive social functioning, most of
the time, “living within an optimal
range of human functioning”.
What is Human Flourishing?
What is Human Flourishing?
o Human flourishing is defined as an effort
to achieve self-actualization and
fulfillment within the context of a larger
community of individuals, each with the
right to pursue his or her own such
efforts.
 Human Flourishing in
Science Technology
o Must be treated as part of human life
that needs reflective and meditative
thinking.
Who is Martin Heidegger?
o Martin Heidegger is widely
acknowledged as one of the most
important philosophers of the 20th
century. He was a German
philosopher who was part of
Continental tradition of philosophy.
The Essence of Technology
o In his treatise, The Question
Concerning Technology, Martin
Heidegger explains two widely
embraced definitions of
technology:
1. Instrumental definition : distributing it.
Technology is a means to an end.
In this context, technology is viewed
as a tool available to individuals,
groups, and communities that desire
to make an impact to the society.
2. Anthropological definition : enframing.
Technology is a human activity.
The production or invention of
technological equipment, tools, and
machines, the products and
inventions, and the purpose and
functions they serve are what define
technology.
Technology as a way of revealing
o Heidegger envisioned technology
as way of revealing – a mode of
‘bringing forth’.
o Bringing forth can be understood
through the Ancient Greek
philosophical concept ‘poiesis’ which
refers to the act of bringing
something out of concealment.
o Aletheia which is translated as
unclosedness, unconcealedness,
disclosure, or truth.
Technology as Poiesis: Does Modern
Technology Bringing Forth or
Challenge Forth?
o Heidegger made a clear distinction
between technology and modern
technology.
o Modern technology challenges
nature by extracting something from
it, and transforming, storing and
Enframing as Modern Technology’s
Way of Revealing
o Heidegger distinguished the way of
revealing of modern technology by
considering it a process of
o Enframing, according to Heidegger,
is akin to two ways of looking at the
world: calculative thinking and
meditative thinking.