1. How has science and technology shaped the way we live today?

Science and technology allowed us to mold nature in its unforgiving form into a much safer,
convenient, and hospitable place -- a place fit for humans -- which in turn gave us the ability to
somewhat work our way around our innate physical limitations. An example of this change is the wheel
and the lever, which made manual labor more efficient and less physically demanding. Both inventions
gave us the ability to not only carry a heavier weight than we are essentially capable of but also move it
from one point to another. Another example is the creation of coal and steam-powered engines during
the industrial revolution. Before the invention of such an engine, humanity was restricted on the power
obtained from natural resources like wind, water, and animal power. However, the creation of man-
made power that led to profound social, political, and economic changes. All in all, science and
technology shaped we live today for the better.

2. What are some examples of current technologies that have significant social implications?

I believe social media platforms have the most significant social implications. Social media is
arguably the modern version of a town square where people come together to meet, trade, find
entertainment, and exchange ideas and culture. However, these platforms have unwarranted
implications due to algorithms. The spread of fake news and biased social media content is the plague of
the digital age – that inevitably corrupts the masses. It is evident in cancel culture and the equally
divisive mob mentally.

Podcasts, audiobooks, or any platform that facilitates long form-discussions are current socially
significant technologies. Such platforms allow the spoken word to be as powerful as the written word or
even more. For most of history, the written word has been the foremost vessel of ideas, facts, stories,
myths, poetry, and so much more. However, that is not the case anymore. Spoken-word can now outlast
the written word so long as it is digitalized and uploaded to the web. Audiobooks and podcasts make
education more accessible because -- I’d bet that most people prefer listening rather than reading, and
most people do not have the time to read or enjoy doing so. And that’s what makes the said mediums so
powerful because people can now educate themselves during their ‘found time’ -- during cleaning,
washing dishes, and other repetitive tasks.

3. How does society shape the direction of scientific research and technological development?

The seed of scientific research and technological development is, at its core – inquiry, and
interest. The irony is inquiry and interests are insatiable thirsts of society, thereby making scientific
research perpetual. Moreover, society is often driven by necessity – as said in Aesop’s fables, necessity is
the mother of innovation. The proverb perfectly encapsulates how innovations are shaped – to suffice
that which is lacking. Indeed, society and scientific research are intertwined.

4. How do ethical considerations play a role in the intersection of science, technology, and society?

Essentially, science and technology are responsible for making society better, not worst, and
ethics is partly amenable to this. Ethics in science and technology calls for integrity and honesty in all
stages of the scientific process. Without this guiding ethos, science itself wouldn’t be able to go far as it
is now. More importantly, ethics play a role not just in the scientific process but also in the appropriate
use of the results and products of science. Overall, good ethics must guide science in all stages.
5. Can you give an example of a scientific or technological development that has had a positive and
negative impact on society?

In 1920s Germany, Fritz Haber won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his invention of the Haber-
Bosch process -- a method used to synthesize ammonia from nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas. Essentially,
his creation allowed for the large-scale production of fertilizers and explosives. To this day, his method
supports one-third of global food production annually, thereby making him indirectly responsible for
feeding roughly half of the world’s population. However, Fritz Haber is also known for being the father
of chemical warfare. The Haber-Bosch process paves the way for Zyklon-B or Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN). It
is the poison gas that the Nazis used for their concentration and death camps during World War II. More
than 1 million Jews were murdered in Auschwitz alone -- and an estimated total of 3.8-4.0 million, of
whom the majority were gassed.