SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY, AND
SOCIETY
 Table of Contents
Chapter I: General Concepts and Historical
Developments
Lesson 1: Historical Antecedents which changed
the course of Science and Technology
Lesson 2: Science and Technology and Its Role in
Nation-building
Lesson 3: Government Laws, Policies ,Plans and
Projects Pertaining to Science and
Technology
 Chapter I
General Concepts and Historical
Developments
 LESSON 1

Historical Antecedents which

changed the course of Science and
Technology
LESSON OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, the students should
be able to:
• Trace the historical development of science
and technology in the world: Ancient,
Middle and Modern Ages and in the
Philippines; and
• Demonstrate appreciation for the
developments in science and technology.
 A. History of Science and Technology in the World

Ancient
• Science and technology has been around from the
beginning of time. It evolves from everyday efforts of
the people trying to improve their way of living.
• Science and technology can be traced from the origin
of human life 2 million years ago and each era has a
significant advancement.
• The earliest form of science and technology were
human artifacts found during prehistoric time
about 2.3 million years ago.
• Some of the earliest record of science came
from Mesopotamian cultures around 400 B.C.,
disease symptoms, chemical substances and
astronomical observations.
• During the same period in the Nile Valley of
Egypt, information on the treatment of
wounds and diseases and even some of the
mathematical calculations such as angles ,
rectangles, and triangles and the volume of
the portion of a pyramid.
300 to 400 B.C. – there was a rise in the number of
philosophers who wrote on psychology, biology, and a
host of other topics.
Euclid – founder of modern geometry
Archimedes – founder of engineering mechanics and
calculated a value for pi.
3000 B.C.- gave rise to the Bronze Age in the search of
finding pigments used to color human skin, copper was
discovered.
3500 B.C. in Mesopotamia – two wheeled carts had
been created and it became the most frequent mode
of transporting heavy goods.
Middle Ages ( 450-1450 A.D.)
• gave birth to many scientific and technological
development. Also during the Middle
Ages(Dark Ages), warfare had improved
tremendously.
Renaissance Era (1450-1600A.D.)
• Period known as the rebirth of knowledge
• In Europe, the period known as rebirth of
knowledge.
• In Germany, Gutenberg developed the
printing press.
• In Italy, Leonardo Da Vinci, stressed the
importance of experiment.
• Copernicus rediscovered what some of the
ancient Greeks had known that the sun was at
the center of the solar system and that the
earth revolves around it.
• The era also gave way to geographic discovery
beginning with the invention of triangle sail
and the magnetic compass.
 Modern Science and Technology around
1600 A.D.
Galileo – first to use modern scientific methods
based on experiment and testable observations.
Isaac Newton – help to define the laws of gravity
and planetary motion, co- founded calculus and
explained the laws of light and color.
Albert Einstein – most famous scientist of the 20th
century. His work has profound impact on
everything from quantum theory to nuclear power
and atomic bomb with the famous equation e=mc2.
• In terms of modern technology, the Industrial
Revolution brought about the beginning of
factories being built to produce goods at
massive quantity.
• In the late 1800, the light bulb began to replace
candles and oil lamps.
• The 20th century gave birth to the radio, the
first car to run engine power, the first man
went to space in a rocket and it was the
beginning of communication, electronic and
computer era.
B. Science and Technology in the Philippines:
A Historical Perspective
• Philippine science and technology has a long
history and already started before Spain
colonized the country.
• Some indigenous technology already existed
with regards to wet rice and dry rice agriculture.
• The use of technology was also evident in the
handicrafts, pottery, weaving, metal ware and
boats used by ancient Filipinos.
• The natives were already aware of the
medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants
and the methods of extracting medicine from
herbs.
• They had an alphabet, a system of writing, a
method of counting, weight and measures.
They had no calendars but counted the years
by the period of the moon and from one
harvest to another.
• Filipinos were already engaged in farming,
shipbuilding, mining and weaving.
 Spanish Colonial Period
• Spaniards introduced formal education and
founded scientific institutions.
• Parish schools were established where
religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music
was taught. Sanitation and more advance
methods of agriculture were taught to the
natives.
1871- the school of medicine and pharmacy was
opened at the university of Santo Thomas. It
also contributed to the field of engineering in
the islands by constructing government
buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts.

1865 – Jesuits promoted meteorological studies

and founded the Manila Observatory at the
Ateneo Municipal de Manila.
 American Period and Post Commonwealth
Era
• Science during this period was inclined towards
agriculture, food processing, forestry, medicine, and
pharmacy.
July 1, 1901 – the Philippine Commission established the
Bureau of Government Laboratories which was placed
under the Department of interior.
- the Bureau replaced the Laboratorio municipal which
was established during the Spanish era.
October 26, 1905 – the Bureau of Government
Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of science.
December 8, 1933 – National Research Council of
the Philippines was recognized.
- the Bureau of Science became the primary
research center of the Philippines until World War
II.
1946 – Bureau of Science was replaced by the
Institute of Science.
1958 – regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the
Philippine Congress passed the Science Act of
1958 which established the National Science
Development Board
 Marcos Era and Martial Law
• Science was given importance during the Marcos Regime.
He declared that the advancement of science and
technology shall have priority in national development.
January 23, 1967 – he declared that science was necessary
for the development programs and directed the Department
of Education to revitalize the science courses in public high
schools.
1968 – technology was recognized as a leading factor in
economic development and thus additional funds were
channelled to support projects in applied sciences and
science education.
• The National Science Development Board established the
Philippine Atomic energy Commission to explore the uses
of atomic energy for economic development. Marcos
assisted 107 institutions in undertaking nuclear energy
by sending scientists, engineers, doctors and technicians
to study nuclear science and technology abroad.
• Major development projects to reform education were
done and which included research and development,
establishment of technical institutes, science education
centers, and agricultural colleges and vocational high
schools. The Philippine Council for Agricultural Research
was also established to support progressive development
of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the country.
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services (PAGASA)- was established by Presidential
Decree No,49, s.1972 under the Department of
National Defense which provide environmental
protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure
the safety of the people.

Philippine Oil company – created under P.D. No. 334, s.

1973 to promote industrial and economic development
through effective and efficient use of energy.
1976 – National Academy of Science and
Technology was established composed of scientists
with innovative achievement in the basic and
applied sciences.

1979 – the government funded scientific research

conducted by National Science Development.

1980 – National Committee on Geological Sciences

was created to advise government and private
entities on matters pertaining to geological
sciences.
Executive order No. 74, s. 1982 – National
Science Development Board and its
support agencies was recognized and was
named National Science and Technology
Authority.
1986 – Mindanao and Visayas campuses of
the Philippine Science High School
were established.
 Fifth Republic
• During Corazon Aquino’s presidency, National
Science and Technology Authority was replaced
by the Department of Science and Technology.
August 8, 1988 – first Science and Technology
Master Plan was formulated.
R.A . 6655 or the Free Public Secondary
Education Act of 1988 – free education at the
secondary level.
 President Fidel V. Ramos’ Term
• There was a significant increase in personnel
specializing in science and technology. In 1988,
the Philippines was estimated to have around
3000 competent scientists and engineers.
• The Department of Science and Technology
initiated a Science and Technology Agenda for
Development (STAND) which embodies the
country’s task development plan for 1993-1998.
1998 – presidential task force was formed to deal with the
overall problems confronting Research and Development
and Science and Technology development in the country.
Medium-Term Plan of the Department of Science and
Technology( 1999-2004)
1. Comprehensive program to enhance technology
enterprise.
2. Integrated program on clean technologies.
3. Establishment of a packaging R and D center.
4. Expansion of regional meteorology centers.
5. S & T intervention program for the poor, vulnerable and
disabled.
6. Comprehensive science and technology program for
Mindanao.
1993 – Science and technology Agenda for
National Development was established.

Priorities were:
1. Exporting winners identified by the DTI.
2. Domestic needs identified by Presidential
Council for Countryside Development.
3. Support industries.
4. Coconut industry development.
 Laws enacted by congress during President
Ramos term:
1. Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel
(R.A. 8439)
2. Science and Technology Scholarship Law of 1004(R.A.
No. 7687)
3. Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines(R.A. No.
8293)
4. Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act (R.A. No.
7459)
5. Intellectual property Code of the
Philippines(R.A.No.8293)
 President Joseph Estrada’s Term
Two major legislations that he signed:
1. Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999(R.A. No,
8749)- designed to protect and preserve the
environment and ensure the sustainable
development of its natural resources.
2. Electronic Commerce Act of 2020(R.A. No.
8792) - outlaws computer hacking and provides
opportunities for new business emerging from
the Internet-driven New economy
• Launched a full - scale program based on cost-
effective irrigation technologies.
• He also announced that dole-outs are out,
which meant basic health care, basic nutrition,
and useful education for those who want, but
cannot afford.
President Gloria M. Arroyo’s Term
• Science and technology sector of the Philippines
was dubbed as the “golden age” of science and
technology by secretary Estrella Alabastro.
• Numerous laws and projects that concern 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 and help benefit the poor people.
• Science, Technology, and Innovations was
developed further by strengthening the
schools and education system.
R.A. 9367 or Biofuels Act – promotes the
development and usage of biofuels throughout
the country.
• Drought free rice was also encouraged to be
used.
 President Benigno C. Aquino
R.A. 10601 – Act which improves the Agriculture and
Fisheries Sector through Mechanization AFMech).
2010 - President Benigno Aquino was considered as
the father of “Organic Agriculture”.
May 23, 2016 – R.A. No. 19844 known as DICT Act of
2015 was signed into law. Under this law, the
Department of Information and communications
Technology will take charge of planning, developing,
and promoting the national ICT development agenda.
 Science Education in the Philippines

• Science education starts in grade 3 in the

implementation of K-12 basic education.
• The new science program competencies are
arrange in spiral progression. In the K-12
program the different disciplines in science
which are life science, chemistry, physics and
earth science are incorporated in every level.
• In terms of instruction, the science program
uses methods of teaching to a more
innovative exploration that emphasizes the
enhancement of the students critical thinking
and scientific skills. The new curriculum
utilizes learner- centered approach such as the
inquiry based learning pedagogy.
 Summary
• The state of science and technology of a country
largely determines its socio-economic progress.
• In other countries of the world including the
Philippines science and technology has undergone a
tedious process of development.
• History will show that there were traces of indigenous
technology used by our forefathers as early as the
prehistoric times.
• There is no doubt that with the passing of the years,
science and technology has improved immensely with
the progress of mankind.
• Breakthroughs in science and technology have
improved the lives of people across the globe,
but it posed also a serious concerns to
mankind because of the improper
implementation of technology.
• The challenge therefore is for us to determine
the type of future we need to have and then
create relevant technologies which will make
the world a wonderful place for us to live in.