Science, Technology, and Society Reviewer
Lesson 1: Overview of STS
Science- Comes from the Latin word, ‘scientia’ meaning
‘knowledge’
 Refers to a systematic and methodical activity of
building and organizing knowledge about how the
universe behaves through either observation or
experimentation or both
 According to the famous American science historian
John Heilbron (2003, p. vii), “modern science is a
discovery as well as an invention.”
Technology- comes from the Greek root word, technē,
meaning ‘art, skill, or cunning of hand’
 the application of scientific knowledge, laws, and
principles to produce services, materials, tools, and
machines aimed at solving real-world problems
 According to Mark Zucherberg, 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.”
Society
 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.
 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)
What is the connection of Science, Technology, and
Society?
What are the challenges and downsides of S&T in
society?
“We live in a society absolutely dependent on science
and technology and yet have cleverly arranged things so
that almost no one understands science and technology.
That’s a clear prescription for disaster.”
-popular American scientist Carl Sagan quoted in Tom
Head’s (1994) book
List down the challenges and downsides of S&T in
society.
Science, Technology, and Society
 traces its roots during the interwar period and into the
start of the Cold War
 resulted from a recognition that many schools today
do not really prepare students to respond critically,
reflectively, and proactively to the challenges of the
contemporary world, in this case S&T
 a result of questions about its dynamic interaction
with various aspects of society and was thus viewed
as a socially embedded enterprise
 seeks to bridge the gap between two traditionally
exclusive cultures of humanities (interpretive) and
natural sciences (rational)
Is science dangerous?
2018’s Ten Emerging Ethical Dilemmas and
Policy Issues in S&T
1. Helix - A digital app store designed to help you read
your genome.
2. The Robot Priest - BlessU-2 and Pepper are the first
robot priest and monk, respectively.
3. Emotion-Sensing Facial Recognition - Optimizing
retail experiences by assessing your reactions.
4. Ransomware - Holding data hostage until you pay
up, whether you're an individual or a large
corporation.
5. The Textalyzer - A new tool in the battle against
texting and driving that tells cops if you were on your
phone before an accident.
6. Social Credit Systems - China debut theirs in
2020, but do we already live in a world where online
reputation is king?
7. Google Clips - This little camera will watch you all
day and capture your most picturesque moments.
8. Sentencing Software - There are already Americans
being sentenced with the help of a mysterious
algorithm.
9. The Rise of Robot Friendship - Can we create a
chatbot out of our loved ones' old texts and
social media posts?
10. The Citizen App - Live crime reporting may lead to
vigilante justice.
Lesson 2: Historical Antecedents Of Science And
Technology
 One of the key interests of Science, Technology, and
Society as an academic field
 focuses on how S&T changed across time and the
impacts of scientific and technological innovation on
prevailing social, cultural, political, and economic
contexts across time
 pays attention to the contextual circumstances that
shaped S&T
 interests lie in historical antecedents of scientific and
technological innovation
What’s in a historical antecedent?
 can be understood as a precursor of a thing
 an antecedent of a something unfolded or existed
before it
 historical antecedents in S&T can be understood as
the previous state of science and technology or
previous scientific or technological tools that paved
the way for more advanced and sophisticated S&T to
arise
Ancient Period
 The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way for
advances in S&T.
 The advances in S&T during the ancient period
allowed civilizations to flourish by finding better
ways of living, communication, transportation, and
self-organization.
1. Ancient Wheels
Sumerian Wheel and Potter’s Wheel
2. Papyrus- Edwin Smith Papyrus and Rush plant
3. Shadoof;
4. Antikythera Mechanism; amd
5. Aeolipile Hero’s engine
Middle Ages
 Major advances in scientific and technological
development, including a steady increase of new
inventions, the introduction of innovations in
traditional production, and the emergence of
scientific thinking and method, had taken place.
 Many medieval universities at the time stirred
scientific thinking and provided infrastructure for
scientific communities to flourish.
 Some of humanity’s most important, present-day
technologies could be traced back to historical
antecedents in the Middle Ages.
1. Heavy Plough - “The heavy plough turned
European agriculture and economy on its head.
Suddenly the fields with the heavy, fatty and
moist clay soils became those that gave the
greatest yields.” -University of Southern
Denmark professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen
2. Gunpowder- Chinese used this for weapons
3. Paper Money
4. Mechanical clock- a medieval clock found in
Praque, Czech republic
5. Spinning Wheel
Modern Age
 As the world population steadily increased, people of
the modern age realized the utmost importance of
increasing the efficiency of transportation,
communication, and production.
 Industrialization took place, but greater risks in
human health, food safety, and the environment rose,
which had to be simultaneously addressed as
scientific and technological progress unfolded at an
unimaginable speed.
1. Jansen’s Compound Microscope
2. Galileo’s first telescope
3. Jacquard Loom
4. Engine-Powered Airplane by Orvill and Wilbur
Wright
5. Television – Baird’s Television
Inventions of Filipino Scientists
 The Philippines boasts of its own history and
tradition of scientific and technological innovation.
Filipino scientists have long been known for their
ingenuity. As with all other inventions, necessity has
always been the mother of Philippine inventions.
Most Filipino inventions appealed to the unique
social and cultural context of the archipelagic nation.
Even during the ancient period, our Filipino
ancestors developed scientific and technological
innovations focused on navigation, traditional
shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, indigenous
arts and
techniques, and even cultural inventions.
1. Philippine E-Jeepney
2. Erythromycin- Abelardo Aguilar
3. Medical Incubator-Dr. Fe Del Mundo
4. Mole Remover- Rolando Dela Cruz
5. Banana Ketchup- Maria Y. Orosa
Lesson 3: Early Cradles Of Science And Technology
Meso-American Civilization
 consists of four cultures namely: Olmec, Maya, Inca,
and Aztec
 the manufacture of a rubber ball in the ball game
tlachtli
 a game played by Meso-American civilizations from
the earliest times
 All Meso-American people shared the calendric and
astronomical information of the heavens as a critical
part of their sculpture, art, and architecture
 The Mesoamerican contribution to the high
civilization of the world was their creation of the
calendrical systems and sophisticated writing as a
direct result of their need to be in harmony with the
celestial cycles
Four Cultures of Meso-American Civilization
1.Olmec Civilization- The mysterious Olmec
civilization, located in ancient Mexico, prospered in Pre-
classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to
c. 400 BCE and is generally considered the forerunner of
all subsequent Mesoamerican cultures including the
Maya and Aztecs.
a. Monumental sacred complexes
b. Massive stone sculptures
c. Ball games
d. The drinking of chocolate
e. Animal gods
2. Mayan Civilization
 One of the famous that lasted for approximately
2,000 years
 Mayans believed that stars and constellations, the
planets and the moon were living beings who
interacted with the cycles, natural and social middle
or physical world
 Mayan architects built large, elaborate palaces and
pyramid shaped temples for astronomical observation
like Chicken Itza in Mexico
 The Mayans are known for using two complicated
calendar systems (260-day calendar and the 365-day
calendar)
 They built hydraulics system and looms for weaving
cloth and devised a rainbow of glittery paint.
 They are also believed to be the first people to
produce rubber products
 Mayan knew how to make paper and had a pictorial
script known as Mayan Hieroglyphics which made
 them famous as one of the world’s first civilization to
have a writing system
 Mayan Hieroglyphics allowed Maya to record
all knowledge on long strips of paper, which they
folded harmonica- style into books
 Dresden Codex – one of the rescued Mayan
books, which is believed to be produced in 10th
century and contains predictions of solar eclipses for
centuries and a table of predicted positions of Venus
and bears testimony to the advanced knowledge of
Mayan civilization on Astronomy
 They also used advanced numbering system that
included the concept of zero which is the greatest
scientific achievement of the Maya
3. Inca Civilization
 Incas are famous for roads paved with stones
 Incan engineer designed the Temple of the Sun in
Cuzco (the capital city) which is a complex structure
that was strong enough to survive centuries of
earthquakes and hard weather
 They developed improved methods of terrace
farming and irrigation system and technique for
storing water for their crops to grow in all types of
land
 They also developed the calendar with 12 months to
mark their religious festivals and prepare them for
planting season
 They created the first suspension bridge
 Incan scholars developed a record keeping system
that used colored, knotted string known as Quipu
which might have been used for accounting, keeping
statistics and to record dates and events
 Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially
prized artistic achievements
 They created the first suspension bridge
 Incan scholars developed a record keeping system
that used colored, knotted string known as Quipu
which might have been used for accounting, keeping
statistics and to record dates and events
 Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially
prized artistic achievements
4. Aztec Civilization
 The Aztecs, who probably originated as a nomadic
tribe in northern Mexico, arrived in Mesoamerica
around the beginning of the 13th century.
 From their magnificent capital city, Tenochtitlan, the
Aztecs emerged as the dominant force in central
Mexico, developing an intricate social, political,
religious and commercial organization that brought
many of the region’s city-states under their control
by the 15th century.
 Invaders led by the Spanish conquistador Hernán
Cortés overthrew the Aztec Empire by force and
captured Tenochtitlan in 1521, bringing an end to
Mesoamerica’s last great native civilization.
a. Mandatory Education
b. Chocolates
c. Antipasmodic medication
d. Chinampa
e. Aztec Calendar
f. Invention of the Canoe
Development of Science in Asia
INDIA
 They are known for iron and metallurgical works
 Ayurveda system – one of oldest system of
medicine, based on the belief that health and wellness
depend on a delicate balance between the mind,
body, and spirit
 Sushruta Samhita’s most well-known contribution to
plastic surgery is the reconstruction of the nose,
known also as rhinoplasty; also the use of cheek
flaps to reconstruct absent ear lobes, the use of wine
as anesthesia, and the use of leeches to keep wounds
free of blood clots
 Ancient India is notable for developed theories on the
configuration of the universe, the spherical self-
supporting Earth and the year of 360 days with 12
equal parts of 30 days each
 Siddhata Shiromani – covered topics such as mean of
longitudes of the planets; risings and settings; the
moon’s crescent; conjunction of the planets with each
other; conjunctions of the planets with the fixed stars;
and the paths of the Sun and Moon (Sama, 2008)
 Indus Valley Civilization tried to standardized
measurement of length to a high degree of accuracy
and designed a ruler, the Mohenjodaro (Bisht, 1982)
 Aryabhata introduced a number of trigonometric
functions, tables and techniques as well as algorithms
of algebra (Clifford, 2008; Bose, 1998)
 Brahmahgupta suggested that gravity was a force of
attraction; zero as a place holder and a decimal digit
along with Hindu-Arabic numeral system (Clifford,
2008; Bose, 1998)
 Madhama of Sangamagrama is also considered as the
founder of Mathematical Analysis (Joseph, 1991)
CHINA
 Silk road, a great trade route linking China to other
Roman Empire where it allowed transport and
exchange of goods in these regions
 Acupuncture, a family procedures involving
stimulation of points in the body using a variety of
techniques that has been most often studied
scientifically involves penetrating the skin with thin,
solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the
hands or electrical stimulation
 Famous discoveries and inventions include compass,
papermaking, gunpowder and printing tools (Davies,
1995)
 Chinese civilization is also known for invention of
iron plough, wheelbarrow and propeller; design for
different models of bridges (Zhongguo ke xue yuan,
1983)
 Invented the first seismological detector and
developed a dry dock facility (Needham et. al, 1971)
 Chinese also made significant records on supernovas,
lunar and solar eclipses and comets which were
 carefully recorded and preserved to understand better
heavenly bodies and their effects to our world
(Mayall, 1939)
Development of Science in Middle East
MUSLIMS
 Muslims Scientists put a greater value on science
experiments rather than plain thought experiments
which led to the development of the scientific
method in the Muslim world
 Ibn al-Haytham, is also regarded as the Father of
Optics (proofs on Intromission Theory of Light)
 Muhammad Ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, gave his name
to the concept of algorithm
 Ibn Sina, pioneered the science of experimental
medicine and was the first physician to conduct
clinical trials (Jacquart, 2008). Among his many
contributions were the discovery of the contagious
nature of infectious diseases and the introduction of
clinical pharmacology (Craig & Walter, 2000)
 Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine were
two of the most notable books of Ibn Sina, these
books were used as standard Medicinal texts
Development of Science in Africa
EGYPT
 Rules of geometry were developed to preserve layout
and ownership of Farmlands along Nile River and
build rectilinear structures, the post of lintel
architecture of Egypt
 Egyptian pyramids and early dams built to divert
water from Nile River
 Egypt is known to be the Center of Alchemy
 Ancient Egyptians are good in the four fundamental
mathematical operations and other mathematical
skills
AFRICA
 Used three types of calendars: lunar, solar and stellar
or a combination of the three
 Metallurgy was also known in the African Regions
 Lebombo Bone – oldest known mathematical artifact
which may have been a tool for multiplication,
division and simple mathematical computation
Development of Science in Europe
GREECE
 were fascinated with numbers and how they applied
to the real world.
 they studied mathematics for its own sake and
developed complex mathematical theories and
proofs.
 One of the first Greek mathematicians was Thales.
 He studied geometry and discovered theories (such as
Thales’ theorem) about circles, lines, angles, and
triangles.
 Another Greek named Pythagoras also studied
geometry.
 He discovered the Pythagorean Theorem which is
still used today to find the sides of a right triangle.
 Perhaps the most important Greek mathematician
was Euclid.
 Euclid wrote several books on the subject of
geometry called Elements.
 These books became the standard textbook on the
subject for 2000 years. Euclid's Elements is
sometimes called the most successful
textbook in history.
 The Greeks applied their skills in math to help
describe the stars and the planets.
 They theorized that the Earth may orbit the Sun and
came up with a fairly accurate estimate for the
circumference of the Earth.
 They even developed a device for calculating the
movements of the planets which is sometimes
considered the first computer.
 The Greeks were one of the first civilizations to
study medicine as a scientific way to cure illnesses
 and disease.
 They had doctors who studied sick people, observed
their symptoms, and then came up with some
practical treatments.
 The most famous Greek doctor was Hippocrates.
Hippocrates taught that diseases had natural causes
and they could sometimes be cured by natural means.
 The Hippocratic Oath to uphold medical
ethics is still taken by many medical students today.
 The Greeks loved to study the world around them
and this included living organisms.
 Aristotle studied animals in great detail and wrote
down his observations in a book called the History of
Animals. He heavily influenced zoologists for years
by classifying animals according to their different
characteristics.
 Later Greek scientists continued Aristotle's work by
studying and classifying plants.
 While the Greeks loved to observe and study the
world, they also applied their learning to make some
practical inventions. Here are some of the inventions
that are typically attributed to the Ancient Greeks.
 Watermill - A mill for grinding grain that is
powered by water. The Greeks invented the
waterwheel used to power the mill and the toothed
gears used to transfer the power to the mill.
 Alarm Clock - The Greek philosopher Plato
may have invented the first alarm clock in history.
He used a water clock to trigger a sound like an
organ at a certain time.
 Central Heating - The Greeks invented a
type of central heating where they would transfer hot
air from fires to empty spaces under the floors of
temples.
 Crane - The Greeks invented the crane to help lift
heavy items such as blocks for constructing
buildings.
 Archimedes' Screw - Invented by
Archimedes, the Archimedes' screw was an efficient
way to move water up a hill.
 The word “mathematics” comes from the Greek word
“mathema” which means “subject” of instruction."
 Hypatia was head of the Greek mathematics school
in Alexandria. She was one of the world's first
famous female mathematicians.
 Hippocrates is often called the "Father of Western
Medicine."
 The word "biology" comes from the Greek words
"bios" (meaning "life") and "logia" (meaning "study
of").
 The Greeks also made contributions to the study of
map making or "cartography."

ROME
 Scientific instruments found at Pompeii have
included stone sundials, small portable sundials made
of bone and a variety of measuring instruments.
Ancient Romans would be familiar with most of the
tools in the modern toolbox
 The Romans had their version of a plane, bronze
folding “ regula” (measuring devices), hand-forged
spikes (instead of nails), drills, chains, axes,
mattocks, crowbars, handcuffs, combs, heated curling
tongs and presses.
 The Roman also pioneered the use of ceramics for
things like bathtubs and drainage pipes. But for all
the genius they never invented or used the
wheelbarrow, kites, or cast iron (the Chinese did).
 The Romans invented revolving human- and animal-
powered cage wheels (images of them appear in
Pompeii) and developed sophisticated slave- and
donkey-powered rotary grain mills.
 Cage wheels powered cranes that lifted blocks of
stone into place during the construction of tall
structures. Later similar cranes were used in the
construction of medieval cathedrals.
 Pumping systems were used in wells and irrigation
systems and to pump water out of leaky boats.
Sometimes water moving stumps were used to move
water considerable distances and heights. In one
Roman mine a cascade of eight pairs of scoop
wheelers raised water almost a hundred feet.
 Roman engineers developed upright water wheels of
the underwater paddlewheel variety. They used only
the horizontal motion of the water, which didn't
generate that much power. Water was raised to
troughs above a river and waterwheels were used to
grind corn.