Lecture on Lesson 1- Historical Antecedents which Changed the Course of Science and Technology

A. History of Science and Technology in the World: Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages

Science and technology can be traced from the origin of human life 2 million years ago, and each era has
significant advancement. About 2.5 million years before writing was developed, technology began with the
earliest hominids who used stone tools, which they may have used to start fires, hunt, and bury their dead.
The evidences were the human artifacts found during pre-historic time about 2.3 million years ago.

Stone Age was a broad prehistoric period during which stone was widely used to make tools with an edge, a
point, or a percussion surface. The period lasted for roughly 3.4 million years, and ended between 8700 BCE
and 2000 BCE ,with the advent of metalworking.

Eastern Africa – shaped stones used for chopping and scraping.

Source:https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/National_park_stone_tools.jpg

Mesopotamia
The civilizations of Ancient Mesopotamia brought many important advances in the areas of science and
technology.
Writing
The most important advance made by the Mesopotamians was the invention of writing by the
Sumerians called Cuneiform. The invention of writing came the first recorded laws called Hammurabi's Code
as well as the first major piece of literature called the Epic Tale of Gilgamesh.

Source:https://www.historyextra.com/period/ancient-egypt/cuneiform-6-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-worlds-oldest-writing-system/

Egypt (Nile Valley) – information on the treatment of wounds and diseases, mathematical calculations such as
angles, rectangles, and triangles and the volume of the portion of a pyramid.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pyramid_of_Giza
From 300-400 BC there was a rise in the number of philosophers like;
Euclid – founder of modern geometry
Archimedes- founder of engineering mechanics and calculated the value of pi.

Bronze Age (3,000 B.C.)

Bronze Age is a historical period that was characterized by the use of bronze, in some areas proto-writing,
and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second principal period of the three-age
Stone-Bronze-Iron system.

An ancient civilization is defined to be in the Bronze Age either by producing bronze by smelting its own
copper and alloying with tin, arsenic, or other metals, or by trading for bronze from production areas
elsewhere. Bronze itself is harder and more durable than other metals available at the time, allowing Bronze
Age civilizations to gain a technological advantage.

Bronze mirror with a female human figure at the base, Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt (1540–
1296 BC)

Mesopotamia (3500 BC)

A Mesopotamian wheel
Source:http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/revolutionary-invention-wheel-001713

The wheel, a key Mesopotamian invention

Source: https://www.worldhistoryedu.com/major-mesopotamian-inventions/
Middle Age (450-1450 AD) gave birth to many scientific and technological development, warfare had
improved tremendously.

Renaissance Era in Europe (1450-1600 AD) - period known as rebirth of knowledge.

Germany - Gutenberg developed the printing press which resulted in books being printed.
Italy – Leonardo da Vinci, a great pioneer in Arts, architecture, engineering and science. He stressed the
importance of experiment.

Source: https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/363173157449210912/?nic_v2=1a27KPh4z

Leonardo's physiological sketch of the human brain and skull (c. 1510)

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci

Modern Science and Technology around 1600 AD

Galileo – was the first to use modern scientific methods based on experiment and testable observations.
Isaac Newton – helped define the laws of gravity and planetary motion, co-founded calculus, and explained
the laws of light and color.
Albert Einstein – worked on quantum theory to nuclear power and the atom bomb, and formulated the
famous equation e=mc2 used in Calculus.

Modern Technology
Age of Industrial Revolution, many factories were built to produce goods at massive quantity. Light bulb
began to use in 1800, in 20th century the radio was invented, the first car to run with engine power was
developed. The first man went to space in a rocket. It was also the beginning of communication, electronic
and computer era.

A. History of Science and Technology in the Philippines

Technology of Ancient Filipinos
Wet rice and dry rice agriculture
Used technology in handicrafts, pottery, weaving, metal ware and boats.
Used the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants, and methods of extracting medicine from herbs to
cure diseases.
They had an alphabet, a system of writing, a method of counting, weights and measure. They counted the
years by the period of the moon and from one harvest to harvest.

Spanish Colonial Period

Introduced formal education and founded scientific institutions.
Parish schools were established, sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture were taught to the
natives, also colleges and universities were established in the archipelago including University of Santo
Tomas. The study of medicine was given priority. Fields of engineering was also introduced by constructing
government buildings, churches, roads, bridges and forts.
The Jesuits promoted meteorological studies and founded the Manila Observatory at the Ateneo Municipal de
Manila in 1865.

American Period and Post Commonwealth Era

Bureau of Government Laboratories was established by the Philippine Commission and then replaced by
the Bureau of Science which dealt with the study of tropical diseases, and later became the primary research
center of the Philippines.
Science during the American period focused towards agriculture, food processing, forestry, medicine and
pharmacy. In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science.
Science Act of 1958 established the National Science Development Board.

Marcos Era

Development in science and technology:

President Marcos declared that science was necessary for the development programs, and thus, directed
the Department of Education to revitalize the science courses in public high schools. The Department of
Education, with the National Science Development Board (NSDB), organized a project to provide selected
high schools with science teaching equipment over a four-year period. (1967)

He recognized that technology was the leading factor in economic development, and channeled
additional funds to support projects in applied sciences and science education. (1968). In the same year he
also proclaimed 35 hectares in Bicutan, Taguig, Rizal as the site of the Philippine Science Community. 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.

In1969, the president gave a big part of the war damage fund to private universities to encourage them
to create courses in science and technology and to research.

In 1970, he emphasized that the upgrading of science curricula and teaching equipment is crucial to the
science development program. The Philippine Coconut Research Institute was included to National Science
Development Board (NSDB) to modernize the coconut industry. The Philippine Textile Institute was also
established, and the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission explored the uses of atomic energy for economic
development.

In1972, created the National Grains Authority to provide for the development of the rice and corn
industry to fully harness it for the economy of the country.

In1979, the government invested funds and time in organizations for scientific research, such as the
NSDB, the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research and Resources, the Plant Breeding Institute, the
International Rice Research Institute, the Bureau of Plant Industry, and the Bureau of Forest Products. While
these projects have had breakthroughs, the market machinery did not adapt and invest in this technology due
to the high-risk front-end costs.
Laws enacted to promote science and technology:

Presidential Decree No. 4, s. 1972 - established the Philippine Council for Agricultural Research to support the
progressive development of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries for the nation. It was attached to the
Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources for administrative purposes.

Presidential Decree No. 49, s. 1972, contains details on the protection of intellectual property for the creator
or publisher of the work.

Presidential Decree No. 78, s. 1972, The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) under the Department of National Defense was established to provide
environmental protection and to utilize scientific knowledge to ensure the safety of the people.

Presidential Decree No. 334, s. 1973 – created the Philippine National Oil Company to promote industrial and
economic development through effective and efficient use of energy sources.

Presidential Decree No. 1003-A, s. 1976 - establish the National Academy of Science and Technology, which is
composed of scientists with "innovative achievement in the basic and applied sciences," to serve as a
reservoir of scientific and technological expertise for the country.

Executive Order No. 512, s. 1978 - created a Task Force on the formulation of a national action program on
science and technology to assess policies and programs of science and technology.

Executive Order No. 519, s. 1979 - constituted the Health Sciences Center created by R.A. No. 5163 as an
autonomous member within the University of the Philippines System to improve the internal organization
and unity of leadership within its units.

Executive Order No. 625, s. 1980 - created the National Committee on Geological Sciences to advise
government and private entities on matters concerning development in geological sciences.

Executive Order No. 784, s. 1982 - reorganized the National Science Development Board and its agencies into
a National Science and Technology Authority to provide central direction and coordination of scientific and
technological research and development.

Executive Order No. 810, s. 1982 - granted salary increases to the people with teaching positions in the
Philippine Science High School due to their necessity in the advancement of national science.

Executive Order No. 840, s. 1982 - enacted a law on the completion of the National Agriculture and Life
Sciences Research Complex at the University of the Philippines at Los Bañ os.

Executive Order No. 1090, s. 1986 - established the Mindanao and Visayas campuses of the Philippine Science
High School to encourage careers in science and technology and to be more accessible to the talented
students in the Mindanao and Visayas areas.

President Corazon C. Aquino

The National Science and Technology Authority was replaced by the Department of Science and
Technology, giving science and technology a representation in the cabinet. Under the Medium Term
Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-1992, science and technology's role in economic recovery
and sustained economic growth was highlighted.

In1988, the first Science and Technology Master Plan or STMP was created. The goal of STMP was for
the Philippines to achieve newly industrialized country status by the year 2000.
 In 1990, science and technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government
towards an economic recovery.

President Corazon Aquino encouraged scientists and inventors to bring the Philippines to its former
position as second to Japan in the field of science and technology. One of the goals of the administration was
to achieve the status as being an industrialized country by 2000. She urged that the private research sector
form a stronger bond between public research to help jump-start the progress in the area of Philippine
Research and Development.

R.A. 6655 or the Free Public Secondary Education Act of 1988 opened doors to free education up to the
secondary level, implemented in the education system together with this was the “Science for the Masses
Program” which aimed at scientific and technological literacy among Filipinos.

President Fidel V. Ramos

There were noticeable improvements regarding science and technology during President F.V. Ramos
term. There was a significant increase in personnel specializing in the science and technology field.

In 1998, the Philippines was estimated to have around 3,000 competent scientists and engineers.

Philippine Science High Schools in Visayas and Mindanao was established to promotes further
development of young kids through advance S&T curriculum. The government provided 3,500 scholarships
for students who were taking up professions related to S&T. Schools were becoming more modernized and
updated with the addition of high-tech equipment for student improvement and teachers were getting
training programs to benefit themselves and their students.

Health care services were promoted through local programs such as "Doctors to the Barrio Program."
The health care programs were innovative and effective as shown by the change in life expectancy from 67.5
years in 1992 to 69.1 years in 1995

President Ramos was established programs that were significant in the field of science and technology
like Science and Technology Agenda for National Development (STAND). Among the priorities were:

1. exporting winners identified by the DTI

2. domestic needs identified by Presidential Council for Countryside Develoment
3. support industries
4. coconut industry development

During his term, the Congress enacted the following laws that were significant in the field of Science and
Technology:

1. Republic Act No. 8439- Magna Carta for Science and Technology Personnel
2. Republic Act No. 7687- Science and Technology Scholarship Law of 1994
3. Republic Act No. 7459- Inventors and Inventions Incentives Act
4. Republic Act No. 8293- Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines, The law provides industrial
property rights, copyrights and related rights, and technology transfer arrangements

President Joseph Estrada

In President Joseph Estrada's term, two major legislations were signed:

1. Republic Act No. 8749- Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, it was designed to protect and preserve the
environment and ensure the sustainable development of its natural resources.
 2. Republic Act No. 8792- Electronic Commerce Act of 2000, which outlaws computer hacking and
provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the Internet-driven New Economy.

President Estrada also 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 it.

President Gloria M. Arroyo

In the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo administration, the science and technology sector of the Philippines
was dubbed as the "golden age" of science and technology by then secretary Estrella Albastro. Numerous laws
and projects that 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. This
helps schools produce get more involved in this sector. Private sectors were also encouraged to participate in
developing the schools through organizing events and sponsorships. Future Filipino scientists and innovators
can be produced through this system.

One of the more known laws to be passed during Arroyo’s administration was was the R.A. 9367 or the
"Biofuels" act. This act promotes the development and usage of biofuels throughout the country. This
potentially enables a cheaper alternative to gasoline as a medium in producing energy. This potentially
enables a cheaper alternative to gasoline as a medium in producing energy. Also, this benefits the
environment since it boasts a cleaner emission compared to regular fuel.

President Benigno C. Aquino

Laws during Binigno C. Aquino’s administration;

1. Republic Act 10601- An Act Promoting Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Development in the
Country, this act improves the Agriculture and Fisheries Sector through Mechanization (AFMech). It
covers research, development, and extension (RDE), promotion, distribution, supply, assembling,
manufacturing, regulation, use, operation, maintenance and project implementation of agricultural
and fisheries machinery and equipment.
2. Republic Act 10068 – Organic Agricultural Act of 2010- this act declared the policy of the State to
promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the
Philippines that will cumulatively condition and enrich the fertility of the soil, increase farm
productivity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment, prevent the depletion of natural
resources, further protect the health of farmers, consumers and the general public, and save on
imported farm inputs.
3. Republic Act No. 19844- otherwise known as DITC Act of 2015, under this law, the Department of
Information and Communications Technology will take charge of planning, developing and
promoting the national ICT development agenda.

In 2014, President Aquino conferred four new National Scientist for their contribution in the scientific
field;
1. Gavino C. Trono-his contribution helped a lot of families in the coastal populations through the
extensive studies he made on seaweed species.
2. Angel C. Alcala -served as the pioneer scientist and advocate of coral reefs aside from his contribution
in the fields of systematics, ecology and herpetology.
3. Ramon C. Barba- contribution changes the seasonal supply of fresh fruits to an all year round
availability of mangoes through his studies on the induction of flowering of mango and micro
propagation of important crop species.
4. Edgardo D. Gomez - steered the national-scale assessment of damage coral reefs which led a national
conservation.