CHAPTER 1
A. General Concepts
Science, technology and society
Science and Technology and Society is an
interdisciplinary course designed to examine the ways
that science and technology shape, and are shaped by,
our society, politics, and culture. It explores the
conditions under which production, distribution and
utilization of scientific knowledge and technological
systems occur; and the effects of these processes upon
the entire society.
Science, technology and society is important to
the public because it helps address issues and problems
that are of concern to the general population. Scientific
and technological principles have been and continue to
be applied to solve problems that people experience in
their day-to-day aspects of living.
Science
Science is an evolving body of knowledge that is
based on theoretical expositions and experimental and
empirical activities that generates universal truths.
Science is a systematized body of knowledge; an
organized and dynamic inquiry; is a knowledge gained
through observation and experimentation; is a social
enterprise; and science leads to formation of concepts,
methods, principles, theories, law and procedures which
seek to describe and explain nature and its phenomena.
Technology
Technology, on the other hand is the application
of science and creation of systems, processes and objects
designed to help humans in their daily activities.
Society
Society is the sum total of our interactions as
humans, including the interactions that we engage in to
understand the nature of things and to create things. It is
also defined as a group of individuals involved in
persistent social interaction, or a large social group
sharing the same geographical or social territory,
typically subject to the same political authority and
dominant cultural expectations (Science Daily).
The Role of Science and Technology
1. Alter the way people live, connect, communicate and
transact, with profound effects on economic
development;
2. Key drivers to development, because technological
and scientific revolutions underpin economic advances,
improvements in health systems, education and
infrastructure;
3. The technological revolutions of the 21st century are
emerging from entirely new sectors, based on micro-
processors, tele-communications, bio-technology and
nano-technology. Products are transforming business
practices across the economy, as well as the lives of all
who have access to their effects. The most remarkable
breakthroughs will come from the interaction of insights
and applications arising when these technologies
converge.
4. Have the power to better the lives of poor people in
developing countries
5. Differentiators between countries that are able to
tackle poverty effectively by growing and developing
their economies, and those that are not.
6. Engine of growth
7. Interventions for cognitive enhancement, proton
cancer therapy and genetic engineering.
B. Historical Antecedents in the World
• Ancient Times to 600 BC
Science during ancient times involved practical arts
like healing practices and metal tradition. A man named
Imhotep was renowned for his knowledge of medicine.
Most historians agree that the heart of Egyptian
medicine was trial and error. Papyrus was one of the
early inventions of Egyptian civilization. It is an ancient
form of paper, made from papyrus plant, a reed that
grows in the marshy areas around the Nile river. Since the
invention of papyrus, Egyptian writings became easy to
store and transport making it is easy for the scholars to
share knowledge to one another. As this accumulated
knowledge was passed down from generation to
generation, Egyptian medicine became the most
respected form of medicine in the known world. Around
the time papyrus was first being used in Egypt,
Mesapotamians were making pottery using the first
known potter’s wheel. Not long after, horse-drawn
chariots were being used. The Chinese also used compass
to aid themselves in travel. The inventions in the ancient
times are the history’s first inklings of science.
• The Advent of Science
In this period, the Ancient Greeks dived deep in
science, as the historians found that there were
produced substantial evidences in scientific knowledge,
especially in anatomy, zoology, botany, mineralogy,
geography, mathematics and astronomy; an awareness
of the importance of certain scientific problems,
especially those related to the problem of change and its
cause; and a recognition of the methodological
importance of applying mathematics to natural
phenomena and of undertaking empirical research. The
scholars frequently employed the principles developed in
earlier Greek thought: the application of mathematics
and deliberate empirical research, in their scientific
investigations. In addition, Plato founded the academy
in circa 385 BC. Aristotle, Plato’s student, begins the
“scientific revolution” of the Hellenistic period with such
scholars as Euclid, Eratosthenes, Aristarchus of Samos
and Hipperchus and Archimedes. So as far as the
historians can tell, the Ancient Greeks were regarded as
the early thinkers and the first true scientists as they
collected facts and observations to explain the natural
world.
• Islamic Golden Age
The Islamic Golden Age was a period of cultural,
economic and scientific flourishing in the history of Islam,
traditionally dated from the eighth century to the
fourteenth century, with several contemporary scholars
dating the end of the era to the fifteenth or sixteenth
century. In this period, Islamic scientific achievements
encompassed a wide range of subject areas, especially
astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.
o Astronomy: Qibla – used in determining in which
direction to pray
o Botany: Accurate maps – agriculture and
geography enabled scientists to make it
o Mathematics: Advanced in algebra,
trigonometry, geometry and Arabic numerals -
the works of Al-Khwarizmi, Avicenna and
Jamshid al Kashi
o Medicine: Al-Biruni, and Avicenna produced
books that contain descriptions of the
preparation of hundred of drugs made from
medicinal plants and chemical compounds.
Islamic doctors describe diseases like smallpox
and measles, and challenged classical Greek
medical knowledge.
o Islamic physicists such as Ibn Al-Haytham, Al-
Biruni and others studied optics and mechanics
as well as astronomy, and criticized Aristotle’s
view of motion.
• Science and Technology in Ancient China
The history of science and technology in China is
both long and rich with science and technological
contribution. Ancient Chinese philosophers made
significant advances in science, technology,
mathematics, and astronomy. The first recorded
observations of comets, solar eclipses, and supernovae
were made in China.[1] Traditional Chinese medicine,
acupuncture and herbal medicine were also practiced.
Among the earliest inventions were the abacus, the
"shadow clock," and the first flying machines such as
kites and Kongming lanterns.
Four Great Inventions : Compass, gunpowder, printing,
papermaking
Acupuncture: a form of complementary medicine that
involves pricking the skin or tissues with needles, used to
alleviate pain and to treat various physical, mental and
emotional conditions.
Lunar Calendar: a calendar based on the monthly cycles
of the moon’s phases.
• The Renaissance
Renaissance was considered by many as the Golden Age
of Science. During this period, great advances occurred
in geography, astronomy, chemistry, physics,
mathematics, anatomy, manufacturing, and
engineering. Marie Boas Hall coined the term Scientific
Renaissance to designate the early phase of the
Scientific Revolution, 1450–1630. More recently, Peter
Dear has argued for a two-phase model of early modern
science: a Scientific Renaissance of the 15th and 16th
centuries, focused on the restoration of the natural
knowledge of the ancients; and a Scientific Revolution
of the 17th century, when scientists shifted from
recovery to innovation. Renaissance humanism stressed
that nature came to be viewed as an animate spiritual
creation that was not governed by laws or mathematics.
The most important technological advance of all in this
period was the development of printing, with movable
metal type, about the mid-15th century in Germany.
Johannes Gutenberg is usually called its inventor, but
in fact many people and many steps were involved.
Inventions: Mechanical Clock, Eyeglass, Oil painting,
Wallpaper, First Musket
• Enlightenment Period
This period was the Age of Reason and was characterized
by radical reorientation in science, which emphasized
reason over superstition and science over blind faith.
Geocentric Theory – the earth was the center of the
universe. The most highly developed geocentric model
was that of Ptolemy. It was superseded by heliocentric
model such as that of Nicolaus Copernicus. Isaac
Newton’s epochal accomplishment in his Principia
Mathematica consists in the comprehension of a
diversity of physical phenomena – in particular the
motions of heavenly bodies, together with the motions
of sublunary bodies – in few relatively simple, universally
applicable, mathematical laws, was a great stimulus to
the intellectual activity of the eighteenth century and
served as a model and inspiration for the researches of a
number of Enlightenment thinkers. The key natural
philosophers of the Scientific Revolution includes Galileo
Galilei, Johannes Kepler and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.
• Industrial Revolution
The home of the Industrial Revolution was Great
Brittain. One of the scientific and technological
breakthrough during this period was the creation of
thermodynamics. The main features involved in the
Industrial Revolution were technological, socioeconomic,
and cultural. The technological changes included the
following: (1) the use of new basic materials, chiefly iron
and steel, (2) the use of new energy sources, including
both fuels and motive power, such as coal, the steam
engine, electricity, petroleum, and the internal-
combustion engine, (3) the invention of new machines,
such as the spinning jenny and the power loom that
permitted increased production with a smaller
expenditure of human energy, (4) a new organization of
work known as the factory system, which entailed
increased division of labor and specialization of function,
(5) important developments in transportation and
communication, including the steam locomotive,
steamship, automobile, airplane, telegraph, and radio,
and (6) the increasing application of science to industry.
These technological changes made possible a
tremendously increased use of natural resources and the
mass production of manufactured goods. With that being
stated, we can say that what science offered in the 18th
century was the hope that careful observation and
experimentation might improve industrial production
significantly.
• 20th Century Science: Physics and Information Age
This period was the most important century in the
history of science. The introduction of novel research
method established an intimate connection between
science and technology resulting with science dealing
now with the complexity of the real world. The scientific
legacy of the 20th Century gave proof of the
revolutionary changes in many areas of the sciences – in
particular, physics, biology, astronomy, chemistry,
neurosciences and earth and environmental sciences –
and how they contributed to these changes.
The epistemological and methodological questions as
well as the interdisciplinary aspects become ever more
important in scientific research. The common
denominator of the sciences is the notion of discovery,
and discovery is an organised mode of observing nature.
The “wonder” that Plato and Aristotle put at the origin of
thought, today extends to science itself. Questions now
arise on the origin and on the whole, its history and its
laws. The start of the 20th century was strongly marked
by Einstein’s formulation of the theory of relativity (1905)
including the unifying concept of energy related to mass
and the speed of light: E = mc2 . He made many more
contributions, notably to statistical mechanics, and he
provided a great inspiring influence for many other
physicists.
In the second half of the 20th century several branches
of science continued to make great progress in`physics,
chemistry, biology, geology and astronomy.
Inventions and discovery: development of the semi-
conductor, developments in nanotechnology, discovery
of sub-atomic particles, Crick and Watson’s structure of
DNA, Einstein’s theory of relativity
• Science and Technology in the Fourth Industrial
Revolution
This period is a way of describing the blurring
boundaries between the physical, digital, and biological
worlds. As a result of this perfect storm of technologies,
the Fourth Industrial Revolution is paving the way for
transformative changes in the way we live and radically
disrupting almost every business sector. It’s all happening
at an unprecedented, whirlwind pace.
Inventions:
Artificial intelligence (AI) describes computers that can
“think” like humans — recognizing complex patterns,
processing information, drawing conclusions, and
making recommendations. Computers can process vast
amounts of data faster than ever before. “Cloud” has
allowed businesses to safely store and access their
information from anywhere with internet access, at any
time. Quantum computing technologies have the
potential to supercharge AI, create highly complex data
models in seconds, and speed up the discovery of new
materials. Virtual reality (VR) offers immersive digital
experiences (using a VR headset) that simulate the real
world, while augmented reality merges the digital and
physical worlds. Biotechnology harnesses cellular and
biomolecular processes to develop new technologies
and products for a range of uses, including developing
new pharmaceuticals and materials, more efficient
industrial manufacturing processes, and cleaner, more
efficient energy sources. Robotics refers to the design,
manufacture, and use of robots for personal and
commercial use. They are used in fields as wide-ranging
as manufacturing, health and safety, and human
assistance. 3D printing allows manufacturing businesses
to print their own parts, with less tooling, at a lower cost,
and faster than via traditional processes. The IoT
describes the idea of everyday items — from medical
wearables that monitor users’ physical condition to cars
and tracking devices inserted into parcels — being
connected to the internet and identifiable by other
devices.
C. Historical Development of Science and
Technology in the Philippines
• Pre-Spanish Era
 Analysis from archeological artifacts revealed that
the first inhabitants in the archipelago who settled in
Palawan and Batangas. Still on its primitive state, the first
inhabitants in the country are learning what can be
harnessed from the environment. In this period, the
inhabitants of the country are showing a deeper
understanding of their nature because they were able to
obtain valuable resources from nature. The inhabitants
wandered from one place to another to settle in areas
with water source. They also learned how to weave
cotton, engaged themselves in agriculture and are
knowledgeable on building boats for coastal trade. It can
be concluded that primitive Filipinos are practicing
science and technology in their everyday lives. The
primitive Filipinos were living in perfect harmony with
nature and they obtain from it what is just needed in
their everyday life through a very simple science of
understanding how mother nature operates.
• Spanish Colonial Era
As claimed by Caoili (1983), the beginnings of modern
science and technology in the country can be traced back
to the Spanish regime because they established schools,
hospitals and started scientific research that had
important consequences in the development of the
country. The 3 highest institution of learning during this
time was the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo
Tomas. The progress of the professionals was hindered
by strict hold of church among the citizens and its
intervention and meddling to the government as it
propelled fear of intellectual awakening among Filipinos.
Dr. Jose Rizal is the epitome of the Renaissance man in
the Philippine context. He is one of the notable example
of a persistent Filipino scientist who succeeded educating
himself abroad. When he was deported in Dapitan, his
knowledge on science and engineering was translated
into technology by creating a water system that improved
the sanitation of households in the area. The charity
hospitals became the breeding ground for scientific
researches on pharmacy and medicine, with great focus
on problems of infectious diseases, their causes and
possible remedies. And in 1887, the Laboratorio
Municipal de Ciudad de Manila was created and whose
functions were to conduct biochemical analyses for
public health and to undertake specimen examinations
for clinical and medico-legal cases. Its publication,
probably the first scientific journal in the country was
titled Cronica de Ciencias Medicas de Filipinas showed
the studies undertaken during that time. Manila has
become a cosmopolitan center and modern amenities
were introduced to the city. However, little is known
about the accomplishments of scientific bodies
commissioned by the Spanish government during this
time. Because of limited scientific research and its
consequent translation to technology during the Spanish
regime, none of the industries prosper. As the
colonization of the Spaniards lengthened, they began to
exploit the natural resources of the country through
agriculture, mining of metals and minerals and
establishing various kinds of industries to further
promote economic growth. The Philippines had evolved
into a primary agricultural economy because of the
influx of foreign capital and technology which brought
modernization of some sectors, notably sugar and hemp
production.
• American Period
The Philippines saw a rapid growth during the
American occupation and was made possible by the
government’s extensive public education system from
elementary to tertiary schools. (Kung limited lamang ang
pwedeng mag-aral noong Spanish Colonial Era, here sa
period na ito ay open na ang education for all.) The
growth and application of science were still concentrated
on the health sector in the form of biochemical analyses
in hospitals. The government supported basic and
applied research in the medical, agricultural and related
sciences. Moreover, the American colonial government
sent Filipino youths to be educated as teachers,
engineers, physicians and lawyers in American colleges to
further capacitate the Filipinos in various fields. However,
mahirap mag-recruit ng mga Pilipino kasi wala naman
silang pera, so ang solution ng American government ay
mag-provide ng tuition para ma-attract ang mga
estudyante sa field/courses na veterinary medicine,
engineering, agriculture, applied sciences and industrial-
vocational courses. Kaya kakaunti ang mga enrollement
sa courses na nabanggit sa itaas ay dahil sa Spanish Era,
mas preferred ng mga Pilipino ang prestigious
professions like priesthood, law and medicine. During
the American period, the e Bureau of Government
Laboratories was created and was later changed to
Bureau of Science. The Bureau of Science served as the
primary training ground for Filipino scientists and paved
the way for pioneering scientific research, most
especially on the study of various tropical diseases that
were prevalent during those times like leprosy,
tuberculosis, cholera, dengue fever, malaria and beri-
beri. Another great contribution of the Bureau of Science
to the development of science and technology in the
country was the publication of the Philippine Journal of
Science. The Bureau of Science became the primary
research center of the Philippines until World War II.
Lastly, on December 8, 1933, the National Research
Council of the Philippines was established.
• Commonwealth Period
When the Americans granted independence and
the Commonwealth government was established, the
Filipinos were busy in working towards economic
reliance but acknowledge the importance and vital role
of science and technology for the economic development
of the country by declaring that “The State shall promote
scientific research and invention…” The short-lived
Commonwealth Government was succeeded by the
Japanese occupation when the Pacific war broke out in
1941. The prevailing situations during the time of
Commonwealth period to the Japanese regime had made
developments in science and technology practically
impossible. This is also true when World War II ended
and left Manila, the country’s capital, in ruins. The
government had to rebuild again and normalize the
operations in the whole country.
• Science and Technology since Independence
In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the
Institute of Science and was placed under the Office of
the President of the Philippines. However, the agency
faced lack of financial support from the government and
experienced planning and coordination problems. t. In
1958, during the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia,
the Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of 1958
which established the National Science Development
Board (NSDB). The Philippine government focused on
science and technology institutional capacity-building
which were undertaken by establishing infrastructure-
support facilities such as new research agencies and
development trainings. However good these projects
were, it produced insignificant effects because of lack of
coordination and planning, specifically technology
planning, between concerned agencies which hindered
them from performing their assigned functions
effectively. Researchers were instructed to look for
technologies and scientific studies with good
commercialization potential. Without clear research
policy guidelines, researches were done for their own
sake, leaving to chance the commercialization of the
results. As summarized by Caoili, during this period,
professional associations have been unable to perceive
the dynamic relationship between science, technology
and society and the relevance of their training to
Philippine conditions. Recovering from the
Commonwealth period, rebuilding the country involved
establishing more state funded manual and trading
schools which would eventually become the current
state universities and colleges. Eventually, when these
trade schools were elevated to college and university
status, they produced much of the country’s
professionals, although there was a great disparity on the
low proportion of those in agriculture, medical and
natural sciences with those from teacher training and
commerce/business administration courses which had
higher number of graduates. The increase in the number
of graduates led to the rise of professional organizations
of scientists and engineers.
• Science and Technology in the 1960s to 1990s
During these years, the government gave greater
importance to science and technology. The government
declared in Section 9(1) of the 1973 Philippine
Constitution that the “advancement of science and
technology shall have priority in the national
development.”
MARCOS ADMINISTRATION
April 6, 1968: Ferdinand Marcos proclaimed the 35-
hectare land in Bicutan, Taguig as the site of the
Philippine Science Community.
1969, the government provided funds to private
universities to encourage them to conduct research and
create courses in science and technology. The
government also conducted seminars for public and
private high school and college science teachers, training
programs and scholarships for graduate and
undergraduate science scholars, and workshops on
fisheries and oceanography.
In the 1970s, focus on science and technology was
given to applied research and the main objective was to
generate products and processes that were supposed to
have a greater beneficial impact to the society. Relative
to this, several research institutes were established
under the National Science Development Board (NSDB)
which includes the Philippine Coconut Research Institute
and Philippine Textile Research Institute. Moreover, the
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, another agency
under NSDB, explored the uses of atomic energy for
economic development.
In 1972, by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 4, the
National Grains Authority was created and it was tasked
to improve the rice and corn industry and thereby help in
the economic development of the country. This was
followed by the creation of Philippine Council for
Agricultural Research to support the progressive
development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in the
country.
Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972: PAGASA
(Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical
Service Administration) was established under the
Department of National Defense to provide
environmental protection and to utilize scientific
knowledge to ensure the safety of the people.
Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973: the Philippine
National Oil Company was created to promote industrial
and economic development through effective and
efficient use of energy sources.
Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976: The
National Academy of Science and Technology was
established to strengthen the scientific culture in the
country. The National Academy of Science and
Technology was composed of scientists with “innovative
achievement in the basic and applied sciences” who will
serve as the reservoir of scientific and technological
expertise for the country.
 In 1982, NSDB was further reorganized into a
National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA)
composed of four research and development Councils;
Philippine Council for Agriculture and Resources
Research and Development (PCARRD); Philippine Council
for Industry and Energy Research Development (PCIERD);
Philippine Council for Health Research and Development
(PCHRD) and the National Research Council of the
Philippines (NRCP).
Executive Order No. 889: issued by the President
which provided for the establishment of a national
network of centers of excellence in basic sciences. As a
consequence, six new institutes were created: The
National Institutes of Physics, Geological Sciences,
Natural Sciences Research, Chemistry, Biology and
Mathematical Sciences.
Presidential Decree No. 901: the Scientific Career
System in the Civil Service was established to attract
more qualified scientists to work in government and
encourage young people to pursue science degrees and
careers. ( July 19, 1983)
AQUINO ADMINISTRATION
The National Science and Technology Authority
(NSTA) was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology. In this period, science and technology was
one of the top three priorities of the government
towards economic recovery.
Executive Order 128 signed on 30 January 1987:
The functions and responsibilities of DOST expanded
correspondingly to include the following: (1) Pursue the
declared state policy of supporting local scientific and
technological effort; (2) Develop local capability to
achieve technological self-reliance; (3) Encourage greater
private sector participation in research and development
The Department of Science and Technology
(DOST) is the premiere science and technology body in
the country charged with the twin mandate of providing
central direction, leadership and coordination of all
scientific and technological activities, and of formulating
policies, programs and projects to support national
development.
Science and Technology Master Plan: formulated
which aimed at the modernization of the production
sector, upgrading research activities, and development of
infrastructure for science and technological purposes.
Research and Development Plan: formulated to
examine and determine which areas of research needed
attention and must be given priority. The grants for the
research and development programs was included in the
Omnibus Investment Law.
RAMOS ADMINISTRATION
There was a significant increase in personnel
specializing in the science and technology field. The
government provided 3,500 scholarships for students
who were taking up professions related to S&T.
Magna Carta for Science and Technology
Personnel (Republic Act No. 8439): The award was
published in order to give incentives and rewards for
people who have been influential in the field of S&T.
“Science and Technology Agenda for National
Development (STAND)”: a program established by the
DOST that was significant to the field of S&T. It identified
seven export products, 11 domestic needs, three other
supporting industries, and the coconut industry as
priority investment areas.
ARROYO ADMINISTRATION
Numerous laws and projects were implemented
which concerns both the environment and science to
push technology as a tool to increase the country’s
economic level. This is to help increase the productivity
from Science, Technology and Innovations (STI) and help
benefit the poor people. Moreover, the term
“Filipinnovation” was the coined term used in helping
the Philippines to be an innovation hub in Asia.
The STI was developed further by strengthening
the schools and education system such as the Philippine
Science High School (PSHS), which focuses in science,
technology and mathematics in their curriculum.
Recently, the Philippines ranked 73rd out of 128
economies in terms of Science and Technology and
Innovation (STI) index, citing the country’s strength in
research and commercialization of STI ideas (DOST,
2018).
Technology adoption allows a country’s firms and
citizens to benefit from innovations created in other
countries, and allows it to catch up and even leap-frog
obsolete technologies.
• Hopes in Philippine Science and Technology
Diwata 1: The first micro-satellite that the country
launched into the space. It was designed, developed and
assembled by Filipino researchers and engineers under
the guidance of Japanese experts. The Diwata (deity in
English) satellite provides real-time, high-resolution and
multi-color infrared images for various applications,
including meteorological imaging, crop and ocean
productivity measurement and high-resolution imaging
of natural and man-made features. The satellite also
provides accurate information on any disturbance and
degradation of forest and upland areas.
Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards
(NOAH): It uses the Lidar (light detection and ranging)
technology. Project NOAH was initiated in June 2012 to
help manage risks associated with natural hazards and
disasters. The project developed hydromet sensors and Paradigms are historically and culturally bound.
high-resolution geo-hazard maps, which were generated
A paradigm dictates: what is observed and
by light detection and ranging technology for flood
measured; the questions we ask about those
modeling. Noah helps the government in providing
observations; how the questions are formulated; how
timely warning with a lead time of at least six hours in the
the results are interpreted; how research is carried out;
wake of impending floods.
what equipment is appropriate.
Intelligent Operation Center Platform: The center
Science: subject to ideological idiosyncrasies,
resulted in the creation of a dashboard that allows
preconceptions and hidden assumptions.
authorized government agencies, such as police, fire and
anti-terrorism task force, to use analytics software for The certainty that the current paradigm is reality
monitoring events and operations in real time. itself is precisely what makes it so difficult to accept
alternatives.
• Current Initiatives in Science and Technology in the
Country Paradigm Shift: "The successive transition from
one paradigm to another via revolution is the usual
Advanced Device and Materials Testing
developmental pattern of mature science" - Kuhn, The
Laboratories: The center houses advanced equipment
Structure of Scientific Revolutions. The shift from one
for failure analysis and materials characterization to
paradigm to another occurs when enough anomalies to
address advanced analytical needs for quality control,
the current paradigm build up, causing scientists to
materials identification and R&D.
question the foundational principles upon which their
Electronics Products Development Center: used worldview rests.
to design, develop and test hardware and software for
during “revolutionary science” or a paradigm
electronic products.
shift, these anomalies become the center of attention as
Genome Center: a core facility that combines scientists attempt to construct a new world view that
basic and applied research for the development of health incorporates and explains them. This period of intense
diagnostics, therapeutics, DNA forensics and preventive focus on explaining anomalies and developing a new
products, and improved crop varieties. paradigm is considered “revolutionary science,” and it is
sparked by a “crisis” where the old paradigm fails explain
Drug-discovery facilities address the
key anomalies or outliers. Once a new paradigm is
requirements for producing high-quality and globally
developed, however, there is a return to “normal
acceptable drug candidates. the Philippines also has
science” under the new worldview.
nanotechnology centers, which provide technical
services and enabling environment for interdisciplinary
and collaborative R&D in various nanotechnology
TIMELINE
applications.
1862: Alexandre-Emile Béguyer de Chancourtois plotted
Die and Mold Solutions Center: enhances the
the atomic weights of elements on paper tape and
competitiveness of the local tool and die sector through
wound them, spiral like, around a cylinder. He called his
the localization of currently imported dies and molds.
model the telluric helix or screw.
NOTE: Look what Philippines becameeeeee 0___0 ?????
1864: English chemist John Newlands proposed his Law
JInjaAaaA from tools created from stones by the
of octaves based on the periodic similarity every seventh
primitives to this research institutions and facilities. We
element.
are advancing, albeit slowly, to a culture that embraces
STI as a sure path to growth. 1868: Lothar Meyer compiled a periodic table based on
regular repeating pattern of physical property such as
D. Paradigm Shift
molar volume. Once again the elements were arranged
A scientific paradigm is a framework containing all in order of increasing atomic weights.
the commonly accepted views about a subject,
1869: Dmitri Mendeleev produced a periodic table
conventions about what direction research should take
based on atomic weights but arranged “periodically”.
and how it should be performed.
Elements with similar properties appeared under each
The philosopher Thomas Kuhn suggested that a other. Gaps were left for yet to be discovered elements.
paradigm includes “the practices that define a scientific
1894: William Ramsay discovered the noble gases and
discipline at a certain point in time." Paradigms contain
realized that they represented a new group in the
all the distinct, established patterns, theories, common
periodic table. The noble gases added further proof to
methods and standards that allow us to recognize an
the accuracy of Mendeleev’s table.
experimental result as belonging to a field or not.
1913: Henry Moseley determined the atomic number of
each of the known elements. He realized that arranging
the elements in order of increasing atomic number rather
than atomic weight gave a better fit within the “periodic
table”.
1944: Glenn Seaborg proposed an ‘actinide hypothesis’
and published his version of the table in 1945. The
lanthanide and actinide series form the two rows under
the periodic table of elements.
DOST 11 POINT AGENDA
DOST launched the Science for the People thru
Administrative Order No. 003 s. 2017. This is in response
to the government’s call to address inequity in
developments within and among countries and is aligned
with the national goals and plans. It aims to make science
and technology more relevant to the conditions, needs
and opportunities for contributing to regional
development while keeping abreast with the trends and
development in the country and in the world. Likewise,
the program intends to maximize the use of science,
enhance innovation and the creative capacity of the
Filipinos towards the achievement of inclusive and
sustainable growth.
The strategies to attain these outcomes are
embodied in the DOST Eleven Point Agenda as follows:
1. Pursue R&D to address pressing national problems.
Agenda 1 highlights the latest advancements in research
and development geared towards the shared goal of
improved nutrition and health for all. Focused on health
technology development, drug discovery and
development remains to be the high-impact and big
ticket program supported by the Department in the area
of health. Central to this R&D program is the study of
endemic resources, partnered with documentation of
traditional knowledge and practices in health, that could
eventually lead to decreased cost of medicines and
health interventions for diseases that affect the quality of
lives of many Filipinos.
2. Conduct R&D to enhance productivity and improve
management of resources. Agenda 2 presents how R&D
can be utilized to make key traditional industries
steadfast and competitive through technological
innovations that can address gaps in productivity and
increase production yield. Enhancing the capacity of
marginalized 50 sub-sectors and people groups to use
better and new technologies can expand their access to
participate in economic activities and progress. The
primary industries that will benefit from the featured
major R&D programs include the agriculture, specifically
coconut and rice production, non-wood forest products,
i.e., bamboo processing and utilization, and natural
textile among others.
3. Engage in R&D to generate and apply new knowledge
and technologies across sectors. Agenda 3 engages R&D
in emerging scientific and technological platforms which
lay the inroads to the development of new products,
services, and industries. Promising new technologies
may potentially disrupt and change the way things are
done. Recognizing this, the Department anticipates
impact of new technologies in existing industries in the
country by supporting local capability programs in the
areas of artificial intelligence for new industry
development and supporting research in
nanotechnology for new materials development.
4. Strengthen and utilize regional R&D capabilities.
Agenda 4 focuses in strengthening institutional capacity
to undertake research and development and contribute
to regional development. Utilizing local researchers
equalize opportunities in generating new knowledge and
technologies suited for the specific need of the region.
The Department partners with Higher Education
Institutions in the regions in establishing niche R&D
centers which may also serve as hubs for developing R&D
capability of adjacent localities.
5. Maximize utilization of R&D results through
technology transfer and commercialization. Agenda 5
includes mechanisms to encourage technology transfer
and avenues where R&D results are promoted in the bid
to maximize its utilization. The Department provided
support in bringing R&D results to its final stage of
development up to commercialization
6. Develop STI human resources and build a strong STI
culture. Agenda 6 aims to build a critical mass of
competitive researchers, scientists, and engineers (RSEs)
and promoting a culture of STI. Towards this goal, the
Department continues to provide scholarship programs
to scale up the number of RSEs.
7. Upgrade STI facilities and capacities to advance R&D
activities and expand S&T services. Agenda 7 features
various S&T facilities that offer technical services for
carrying out research and development, as well as
addressing the needs of the industry in terms of quality
assurance, adherence to standards, product
development, and innovation. The electronics, semi-
conductor, automotive parts, gear assembly
manufacturing, agriculture produce, and food
manufacturing industries can benefit from the various
S&T facilities and technical services.
8. Expand STI assistance to communities and the
production sector, particularly MSMEs. Agenda 8
focuses on S&T assistance provided to upgrade the
technological capabilities and improve the productivity
and efficiency of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs). The Department has continued to provide
technological interventions such as process and system
improvement, technical consultancy, packaging and
labelling, training, testing and calibration, and product
development to empower MSMEs to innovate, move up
the technology scale and become more competitive.

9. Provide STI-based solutions for disaster risks and

climate change adaptation and mitigation. Agenda 9
highlights the role of the Department in building a
disaster-resilient community through the provision of
accurate and timely information. Specifically, progress
was made by establishing and upgrading observation and
monitoring systems, efforts in hazard and risk
assessment, and researches for disaster risk
management, as well as climate change adaptation and
mitigation.

10. Strengthen industry-academe-government and

international STI collaboration. Agenda 10 focuses on
the linkages and networks being pursued by the
Department in terms of S&T collaboration. In 2017, the
Department took part in 24 bilateral engagements and
participated in a number of activities which involved 14
international organizations.

11. Enhance effectiveness of STI governance. Agenda 11

provides the policy framework that governs the
implementation of the programs, projects and activities
of the Department in contribution to national
development and progress. Taking off from the National
0+10 Socioeconomic Agenda and Philippine
Development Plan, the Department crafted the Science
for the People 11-point Agenda, Harmonized R&D
Agenda, and Regional Offices Strategy Map.