Final Exam

(Science, Technology and Society)

Name of Student: Kristine Bebe M. Munsad

Year & Section: BSCS 1A

Reflection on How technology and biodiversity affect human life.

Technology and biodiversity affect human life in many ways. Biodiversity provides many goods and
services essential to life on earth. Biodiversity support human and societal needs, including food and
nutrition security, energy, development of medicines and pharmaceuticals and fresh water, which
together underpin good health. It also supports economic opportunities, and leisure activities that
contribute to overall well-being. Although many humans may not realize how important biodiversity is
to them, it is clear that without it humans would not be able to exist. Each day humans use 40,000
species, most of which go totally unnoticed. Even though only minority of humans realize it, biodiversity
provides humans with food, water, oxygen, energy, detoxification of waste, stabilisation of earth's
climate, medicine, opportunities for recreation and tourism, and many more things. Technologies
driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution include tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning,
advancements in quantum computing, encoding data into DNA, virtual reality, biotechnology, and new
materials. When it comes to biodiversity, there are areas – such as land use, including for food
production, conservation, restoration, as well as governance, communications, and community
engagement – where these new technologies could help.For example, in urban areas, vertical gardening
could provide a shift in production and sourcing methods. In the future, AeroFarms – which germinates
seeds in the air with a mist of nutrients – has the potential to transform the way people in cities procure
and consume food. When we look at technological innovations that could affect data on the supply
chain, blockchain emerges as a promising tool to trace the entire sourcing and supply chain.New
technologies could provide valuable support to conservation: hyperspectral imagery of landscapes, for
example, could provide detailed information on a host of chemical and geological parameters and
biological processes in both terrestrial and aquatic systems, with significant progress made in imaging
techniques, data analysis, and modes of deployment. This type of remote sensing could help
conservation biologists maintain healthy habitats and protect the life they harbor, while offering the
possibility of rapid alert systems for failing food webs or trophic systems, as well as for excessive human
interference.Managing biodiversity is an important area of conservation where technology could also
play a key role, and has become a priority in many countries around the world. Satellite tracking
technology is an effective tool for analyzing and visualizing data on species with inaccessible
environments, in order to identify areas where conservation practices are needed. New technologies are
increasingly improving research on migration, human-wildlife conflict, relocation and re-introduction of
species, and predator-prey interactions. Technology could also be applied to strategically assess
biodiversity hotspots where human interference should be limited.We must ensure that the
technological revolution is human-led and earth-centered.And we must stop seeing biodiversity as a
victim to be saved by technology and start seeing it for what it really is: our most valuable resource –
one that nurtures, inspires, heals, and accompanies us throughout our lifetime and across generations.
Nature's connection to people is on the rise.