GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

Republic of the Philippines

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY
Don Severino delas Alas Campus
Indang, Cavite

GNED 06 Lecture 1: Introduction Transcript

Slide 1: Title Page

Good day students! I hope you are all doing great today. This will be our first lecture for STS this
first semester. Let’s keep this light and easy as possible. I will be requiring your full attention for
this lecture. Let’s start.

Slide 2: Overview

These are the set of topics we will discuss today – definition of science, technology, and society
and Emergence of STS as a new field of study. We will look into the definition of these terms one
by one and see their interrelatedness. I will provide examples and illustrations to aid in your
understanding of these topics.

Slide 3: What is Science?

Most of you might say, well even I actually, as taught by my elementary teachers, that science
is a systematized body of knowledge. Period. While it is true, it lacks the depth fit for smart
people like CvSU students. Is that right? You may read one by one these definitions of science
and try to make sense of them. Note that these definitions do not cover the entirety of what
science means, but they are the general ones we need for this course. Let’s take a look at each
definition one by one.

Slide 4: Science is an Empirical Field

Empirical looks like empire but comes from a completely different origin: it is from the Greek
empeirikos, meaning "experienced." It was originally used in medicine for doctors making
choices based on observation and experiment rather than theoretical ideas. It's now used for
any kind of knowledge that comes from experience. For example, you can meditate all day on
how vaccines are created, but until you visit a laboratory, read/watch materials about it, you will
lack empirical knowledge of vaccine creation. That’s how science works! You need to use your
senses, seeing, hearing, tasting (not applicable to all of course), touching (not relevant to all as
well), and smelling (do you guys miss the lovely smell of CvSU hallways?). But most importantly,
we use our common sense above all! Without maximizing the use of our brains, we will not be
able to advance science and help alleviate societal diseases and I am not only talking about
medical/health problems. You know what I mean. Simply put, science is not science without
proof.

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University
 GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

Slide 5: Science is a Systematic Field

Science requires a system so it can work. When we say something is systematic, it follows
specific steps in order to reach a certain conclusion. I am sure everyone is familiar with the
scientific method. Everyone applies it daily. Whether you are cooking, looking for an easier way
to finish a task, or simply trying out a new way to lose/gain weight. So going back to the scientific
method, it starts with observation. Observe the natural world you are in, or more specifically,
observe a particular phenomenon you are curious about. While you observe, questions will
naturally pop-up making you more curious about something. Then you will start having
hypotheses (educated guesses) as to how something will go about. Next, you plan out methods
on how you may be able to prove/disprove your hypothesis (in natural sciences, this is done
through experiments). Then, you start collecting information/results to test the validity of your
hypothesis.

Slide 6: Science is a Systematic Field

With the needed information in hand, you need to do some analysis. You need to make sense of
what results you have gathered in order for you to arrive at a correct conclusion. Lastly, based
on your data analysis, what is your conclusion regarding this certain occurrence? Is your
hypothesis right or was it the other way around?

Note that all researches/studies done in a systematized way is beneficial one way or another.
Therefore, being able to create a conclusion is not enough to advance science and help the
community. It is through communicating, that science is advanced. You share your findings so
that the community can benefit.

Slide 7: Science Covers General Truths and Facts

Do you all agree with this? Of course! Science covers general truths and facts. How do you get
truths and facts? Through observation and experimentation. (Mr. Macaspac will explain his study
(in poster) entitled: Almost the same but not quite: Strain-Specific Bioactivities and Biogeography
Distribution Patterns of Philippine Marine Sediment-Derived Actinobacteria)

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University
 GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

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Slide 8: Science is a Total Societal Enterprise

What does this mean? Take a look at the figure. On the left side is what we call traditional charity,
which means that it is non-profitable (for free) and is the primary driver to achieve social value.
Basically, a traditional charity’s goal is to help freely without gaining any income from it. On the
right side is a traditional business, which means that it is focuses on getting profit from
investments. Now, what does it mean when you say societal enterprise? It says there – achieves
social impact alongside a financial return. So it is a balance between profit and social value. Let’s
talk about medical treatments as an example. While the hospital benefits from the patients asking
for treatment, the hospital’s many goal is to heal. That is what science is all about! So some of
my mentors would say, there is profit in research. You conduct a research, prove it is beneficial,
and you may get incentives from it. But that is only a bonus because our primary goal is to help
the community. It is sad that some scientific products and companies only push for profit and
not social value.

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University
 GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

Slide 9:

What is Technology? Now, let us talk about technology. This is the list of definitions we will talk
about one by one. Kindly read them and decide whether all of them are true.

Slide 10: Technology is an Applied Science

Everyone will easily agree with this. For example, look at the laptop on this slide. It is a product
of scientific progress on the usage of different materials such as metals to create something
useful for society. Also, the scientific knowledge that brought about the production of electricity
paved the way for these electronic devices. While it is true, it is not universal. Let’s take a look
at the next slide.

Slide 11: Technology is an Applied Science

What do you see? Did you see what’s at the center of the image? That is right, fire. Now tell me,
is fire a technology? Yes. But when hominids discovered it, would you consider it a product of
the application of scientific knowledge? Definitely not! It is by chance that these hominids were
able to harness fire. So, this being said, it is not all the time that technology birthed from the
application of science. It can also be discovered by chance.

Slide 12: Technology is an Applied Science

Now take a look at this image. Winemaking by the early Egyptians. Do you think they already
have scientific knowledge with regards to microorganisms that create alcohol from crushed
grapes? None! Now this image shows that technology can also be given rise by trial and error.
Now wine-making is more systematic with the discovery of different tools and microorganisms
involved in winemaking. Let’s look at the modern winemaking process.

Slide 13: Technology is an Applied Science

This image shows that modern winemaking is a product of the application of science. We will
not discuss these steps one by one just because it is not necessary. You see, fermentation is
one of the steps to produce wine. Yeasts produce alcohol in wine. If you want to be fancier,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the scientific name of that yeast.

Slide 14: Technology is a Body of Knowledge and Skills

This is definitely true! We already know that science is a body of knowledge – a collection of
valuable information about a certain phenomenon. But we should also realize that technology is
also a body of knowledge and skills. Creation of electronic devices, of different tools in
industrialization, of medical equipment are all technological advances. Note that not only the
finished product is considered technology, but also the method through which it was created.

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University
 GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

Slide 15: Technology can Control and Modify the World

With the rise of the digital age, possibilities are endless. Long time ago, air travel was way too
elusive a concept to grasp but now, we can even go to the space! When diseases strike in the
early times, it can definitely wipe out an entire population but now with the help of medical
technology, we are able to survive and be immune from these diseases. Now, we can even store
our data in clouds. Amazing, right? But with access to these technology comes an opportunity
for greedy people to take advantage. And that is how technology can also be dangerous.

Slide 16: Technology is a Total Societal Enterprise

Just like science, technology is supposedly a total societal enterprise. Again, that means that
social welfare must always be in the picture. But with the rise of capitalism, the financial value is
now being considered more than the social value. Let’s take a look at face masks which now sell
triple or even four times its price before the pandemic. Is it because there is shortage in the
materials used for producing them or is it because the demand is extremely high that consumers
will have no choice but to purchase regardless of the price? We will discuss more of these in the
coming topics.

Slide 17: Definition of Society

Lastly, let us define society. A society is a group of people with common interests, traditions,
purpose, and/or activity. Now let me ask you, is a group of plunderers a society? Are three
students with their instructor inside a classroom discussing about STS considered a society?
Are medical frontliners considered a society? Are Christians, Muslims, Buddhists considered a
society? The answer to all of these is yes.

Slide 18: Interconnections of S,T,S

We have defined the terms individually. Now, let us see the interplay among these three terms.
So science aims to improve society. When society improves it develops hunger for further
improvement and so demands more from science. Society also benefits from technology
because technology makes life easier for society. When technology is newly created, society
enjoys its benefits, but as further problem arises, some technology needs to be improved and
so technology demands from science because in most cases science informs technology. This
is the ideal setting. Of course in a real-life setting, there are also other factors that come into
play. The influence of the government, the capitalists, and other sectors in the society on these
interconnections make it complicated.

Slide 19: Emergence of STS as a New Field of Study

STS is not a hard science which means that we will not focus on science and technology it is
more of a social science that deals with the effect of science and technology in society. But of
course, we will discuss notable discoveries in the field of science and technology helpful for our
discussions.

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University
 GNED 06: Science, Technology, and Society

Slide 20: Emergence of STS as a New Field of Study

Science and Technology Studies (STS) is a relatively new academic field. Its roots lie in the
interwar period and continue into the start of the Cold War, when historians and sociologists of
science, and scientists themselves, became interested in the relationship between scientific
knowledge, technological systems, and society. The best-known product of this interest was
Thomas Kuhn’s classic 1962 study, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.

This influential work helped crystallize a new approach to historical and social studies of science,
in which scientific facts were seen as products of scientists’ socially conditioned investigations
rather than as objective representations of nature.

Originally, STS is only offered at the University of the Philippines Diliman but in 2013 the
Commission on Higher Education adopted the course and included STS in the list of General
Education subject offerings of colleges and universities in the entire country.

This ends our introductory lecture in STS. I hope you learned a lot. For your questions, we will
have a zoom meeting to answer them. Thank you for listening.

Originally prepared by: BALDOMERO, LAGUA, and SUPETRAN

Modified by: BARTOLOME, MACASPAC, and RODIL
Department of Biological Sciences – CAS
Cavite State University