Module 1

Introduction to Science, Technology & Society

LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this module, you should be able to
 Define science and technology;
 Explain the interactions between science, technology and society; and
 Discuss the importance of science and technology throughout history.

This module teaches you how Science, Technology and Society (STS) helps individuals to
determine the impacts of development and innovation in their lives as well as in their
community. Here, you will learn not only the development and advances in S&T but also
the
1 emerging ethical dilemmas and the disadvantages they bring upon to our society.
ENGAGEMENT
To better understand the lesson, answer the following.

TRUE OR FALSE
On the spaces provided, write TRUE if the statement is correct and FALSE if it is not.

1. Science is a methodical way of acquiring knowledge.

2. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
3. Science and technology can be dangerous.
4. Science, Technology and Society (STS) is the study of how science and
technology shape and are shaped by social influences.
5. STS deals with the historical development of science and technology
but does not cover their philosophical underpinnings.
6. The study of STS primarily concerns students of science and
technology programs, and not non-science students as much.
7. STS is an important area of study because science and technology
permeate every aspect of everyday life.
8. Science and Technology are not crucial factors in nation building.
9. History cannot teach people about evaluating present-day science and
technology.
10. STS draws from other disciplines, such as history, sociology,
philosophy, economics, political science and international relations, and
science policy.

EXPLORATION
To better understand the terms in the lesson, read and watch the following texts.

Watch Lewis Wolpert, “Is Science Dangerous?” on YouTube. Click the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PCZO4A-P2og

Read Lewis Wolpert’s “The Medawar Lecture 1998 Is Science Dangerous?”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1569503/

Science, technology, and society (STS) is an essential course for tertiary education in the
General Education Curriculum. It was conceived to develop a deep appreciation and critical
understanding of the role of science and technology in human and social development. It
deals with the social, cultural, political and economic interactions between science and
technology.

Science comes from the Latin word, scientia, meaning “knowledge”. Science refers to a
systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the
universe behaves through observation and experimentation.

Technology comes from Greek words tekhne, meaning “art or craft” and logia, meaning a
“subject or interest”.
2Society
A society is a group of individuals sharing a common culture geographical location, and
 government. It enables these individuals to acquire necessary survival skills, maximize their
potential, and share resources. It enables individuals to acquire necessary survival skills,
maximize their potential, and share resources. It is also characterized by the presence of the
following elements:

 A common language
 Definite geographical area
 Political, economic, and social
organization
 A large population and the ability to
sustain succeeding generations of
members
What is Science, Technology & Society?
 Social solidarity, whereby members
of the community live together for
mutual benefit
 Shared identity and culture among
members that serve as basis for their
patterns of action and behavior

As described in the CHED Memorandum Order No. 20, Science Technology and Society is
an interdisciplinary course that involves students to confront the realities brought about by
science and technology in society, with all its socio-political, cultural, economic, and
philosophical underpinnings at play.

Figure 1
The Relationship of Science, Technology and Society

Science, technology, and society (STS) is an essential course for tertiary education
in the General Education Curriculum. It was conceived to develop a deep appreciation and
critical understanding of the role of science and technology in human and social
development. It deals with the social, cultural, political, and economic interactions between
science and technology.

Science and technology were the greatest things society will ever hope for. In reality,
science has remained in progress since the industrial revolution of the 18th century. Some
of the sectors that have actually been improved by science and technology are electricity,
3physical science, information, and interaction. In reality, society has made significant
progress with the advancement of technology.
 Without society, however, there would be no science and technology, and that is
why the creation of unique tools and technologies has actually helped us do great things.
Society should refrain from doing so without the markets that we have today.

Science and technology related issues have gone all over the world today. Progress
in this regard has been dealt with in terms of the ability to manufacture a range of product
styles. Responding to the questions about whether science and technology belong to
society, let us first discuss each terms.

A. WHAT IS SCIENCE?

Science comes from the Latin word, scientia, meaning “knowledge”. Science refers
to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how
the universe behaves through observation and experimentation.

According to the famous American science historian, John Heilbron (2003, p. vii),
modern science is a discovery as well as invention.

Science can be defined as:

1. IDEA to collect facts (data). An ultimate

Science is a systematic way of
observing the world and doing
experiments to understand its
structure and behavior. So a
scientific idea is an explanation for
how something works, or the truth
about some aspect of the world, that
was figured out using the scientific
process.
2. INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY
Science is an intellectual activity
carried on by humans that is
designed to discover information
about the natural world in which
humans live and to discover the
ways in which this information can
be organized into meaningful
patterns. A primary aim of science is
purpose of science is to discern the
order that exists between and
amongst the various facts.
3. BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Science consists of a body of
knowledge and the process by which
that knowledge is developed.
4. PERSONAL AND
INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY
Science influences society through
its knowledge and worldview.
Scientific knowledge and the
procedures used by scientists
influence the way many individuals
in society think about themselves,
others and the environment.

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 B. WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?

Technology comes from Greek words tekhne, meaning “art or craft” and logia, meaning a
“subject or interest”. It is the “practical applications of what we know about nature”
using scientific principles for the betterment of the human situation.”

Technology, for its part, is the application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to
produce services, materials, tols, and machines aimed at solving real – world problems.
During a live public Q&A in December 2014, one member of the audience ask Mark
Zuckerberg what his definition of a technological tool is, and 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.”

TECHNOLOGY CAN BE VIEWED AS

TOOLS technology in a similarly broad way as “a

The simplest form of technology is the
development and use of basic tools. The
prehistoric discovery of how to control fire
and the later Neolithic Revolution
increased the available sources of food,
and the invention of the wheel helped
humans to travel in and control their
environment. Developments in historic
times, including the printing press, the
telephone, and the Internet, have lessened
physical barriers to communication and
allowed humans to interact freely on a
global scale.
Technology can be most broadly
defined as the entities, both material and
immaterial, created by the application of
mental and physical effort in order to
achieve some value. In this usage,
technology refers to tools and machines
that may be used to solve real-world
problems. It is a far-reaching term that
may include simple tools, such as a
crowbar or wooden spoon, or more
complex machines, such as a space station
or particle accelerator. Tools and machines
need not be material; virtual technology,
such as computer software and business
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methods, fall under this definition of
technology. W. Brian Arthur defines
means to fulfill a human purpose.”
TECHNIQUES
Technology is the sum of techniques,
skills, methods, and processes used in the
production of goods or services or in the
accomplishment of objectives, such as
scientific investigation. Technology can be
the knowledge of techniques, processes,
and the like, or it can be embedded in
machines to allow for operation without
detailed knowledge of their workings.
Systems (e.g. machines) applying
technology by taking an input, changing it
according to the system’s use, and then
producing an outcome are referred to as
technology systems or technological
systems.
The word “technology” can also be
used to refer to a collection of techniques.
In this context, it is the current state of
humanity’s knowledge of how to combine
resources to produce desired products, to
solve problems, fulfill needs, or satisfy
wants; it includes technical methods,
skills, processes, techniques, tools and raw
materials. When combined with another
term, such as “medical technology” or
“space technology,” it refers to the state of
the respective field’s knowledge and tools.
“State-of-the-art technology” refers to the
high technology available to humanity in
any field.
AN ACTIVITY THAT FORMS OR
CHANGES CULTURE
Technology can be viewed as an activity
that forms or changes culture.
Additionally, technology is the application
of mathematics, science, and the arts for
the benefit of life as it is known. A modern
example is the rise of communication
technology, which has lessened barriers to
human interaction and as a result has
helped spawn new subcultures; the rise of
cyber culture has at its basis the
development of the Internet and the
computer. Not all technology enhances
culture in a creative way; technology can
also help facilitate political oppression and
war via tools such as guns. As a cultural
activity, technology predates both science
and engineering, each of which formalize
some aspects of technological endeavor.
Technology has many effects.
It has helped develop more advanced
economies (including today’s global
economy) and has allowed the rise of a
leisure class. Many technological
processes produce unwanted by-
products known as pollution and deplete
natural resources to the detriment of
Earth’s environment. Innovations have
always influenced the values of a society
and raised new questions in the ethics of
technology.

Examples include the rise of the notion of efficiency in terms of human productivity,
and the challenges of bioethics.

C. INTERCONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

While Science explores for the purpose of knowing; technology explores for the purpose of
making something useful from that knowledge.

Lewis Wolpert (2005) made an interesting comparison between science and technology that
is helpful in the study of their interaction with society. In his landmark paper, (The Medawar
Lecture 1998: Is Science Dangerous?) Wolpert explained that reliable scientific knowledge
has no moral or ethical value. It is meant simply to explain how nature and the universe work
and that the obligation of scientists, besides and studying the nature of universe, is to explain
the possible uses and applications of such scientific knowledge.

Along this line, Wolpert made it clear that science is not the same as technology.
Scientist are not responsible for the application of knowledge in technology. He further
explained that the very nature of science is that it is not possible to predict scientific
discoveries and how this discoveries may be applied.

“Science drives technology by making new technology possible through

scientific breakthroughs.”

Today, advancements in science and technology have become widespread. They

manifest themselves in the activities that humans pursue and the tools they use every day.
The introduction of machines, the invention of drugs, and the rise of social media are some
only of the few advancements of science and technology that people use every day, which
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changes people’s appreciation about life.
 According to the popular American scientist, Carl Sagan, quoted in Tom Head’s
(2006) book:

“We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and yet cleverly
arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. That’ s a
clear prescription for disaster.”

As science and technology problems continue to rise and become more noticeable,
the need to pay attention to their interactions with various aspects of human life, e.g. social,
political and economic, is increasingly needed.

D. DISADVANTAGES AND DILEMMAS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

1. Threats to Human Survival

2. Ethical Dilemmas
3. Disparities in Human Well-Being
4. Social Conflicts and Cultural Conflicts
5. Innovating Technologies Can Have Negative Consequences for Certain Sectors
a. Conversion of Agricultural Land into Urban Areas
b. Effects of Overused Technologies in Medical Industry
c. Global Warming
d. Increased Pollution associated with Production Processes
e. Increased Unemployment from Labor-saving New Technologies
f. Psychologically and Emotional Effects on Humans

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SEATWORK

Post a magazine or newspaper cut-out of any photograph that depicts an issue or

problem in science and technology. Then, answer the questions that follow.

1. What issue or problem is being depicted in the photograph? (5 points)

2. How does this particular issue or problem impact the well-being of humans today?
(5 points)

3. Why is it important for people to study and learn about STS as an academic field,
especially in addressing the issue or problem depicted in the photograph? (5 points)

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Read the questions carefully and plan what will you say and write.
Your essay should be as well organized and as carefully written as you can make it.

1. What was your initial reaction about the Lecture of Lewis Wolpert’s “Is Science
Dangerous?” Is it really dangerous? Discuss. (5 points)

2. Are science and technology part of your everyday living? Cite an example and
explain how each affects your everyday living. (5 points)

3. Why is it important to question the moral and ethical issues surrounding

innovations in science and technology? Elaborate. (5 points)

4. In the face of this dilemma, why is it important to study STS? Discuss. (5 points)

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REFERENCES

“How Scientific Ideas Change.” (n.d.). Study.com.

https://study.com/academy/lesson/how-scientific-ideas-change.html
Science, Technology and Society by Daniel Joseph McNamara, S.J., et.al. C&E
Publishing.
Science, Technology and Society by Edward Jay Mansarate, PhD,LPT and Aileen
Domondon Nieva, Meng, ChE, Rche. C&E Publishing.
Science, Technology, and Society by Janice Patria Javier Serafica, et.al. REX
Bookstore. 2019
Science, Technology, and Society: Outcome-based Module by Edward Jay Mansarate
Quinto, Ph.D. LPT and Aileen Domondon Nieva, Meng, ChE, Rche. C & E Publishing, Inc.
2019
“The harbinger: what is science?” (n.d.). The Harbinger. Mobile, Alabama.
https://www.theharbinger.org/articles/rel_sci/gottlieb.html
Mansour, N., & Wegerif, R. (2013). Science education for diversity: Theory and
practice. Springer Science & Business Media.
“Technology.” (2001, November 8). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology

ASSIGNMENT
Research the historical antecedents in science and technology from prehistoric period, middle
period (renaissance age) and modern period.

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