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Study Guide in GE 6: Science, Technology, and Society Module No. 1

STUDY GUIDE FOR MODULE NO. 1

INTRODUCTION TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND

SOCIETY
MODULE OVERVIEW

This section introduces Science, Technology, and Society (STS) as a field of study. After defining
science and technology, the section traces the historical roots of STS as an academic field. It also
enumerates emerging ethical dilemmas that reinforce the importance of the study of STS in an age of
scientific progress and technological development.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. explain the scope of the study of STS; and
2. demonstrate preparedness and readiness in the study of STS.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Before continuing on this Module, let us have a short diagnostic test to determine your ideas regarding
science and technology. Please refer to the main textbook, pages 2 - 3.

GENERAL CONCEPTS RELATED TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Nowadays, advancements in science and technology have become pervasive in our society. They are
manifested in the activities that we, humans pursue and the tools that we utilize every day. The power and
influence of science and technology is so great that wherever you look, you can see its products and
applications. In order for you to grasp the impact of science and technology to our society, it is necessary to
study some concepts related to science and technology.

What is Science?

You have taken up science subjects since primary school years, and the definition of science has
been repeatedly discussed since then. To give you a recall, Science comes from the Latin word scientia,
meaning ‘knowledge’. It refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge
about how the universe behaves through observation, experimentation or both. Let’s discuss the nature of
science below for you to understand it better.

The Nature of Science

It is important to understand the nature of science because it is a critical component of scientific

literacy. It enhances your understanding of science concepts and enables you to make informed decisions
about scientifically-based personal and societal issues. The following sums up the nature of science:

The World is Understandable

Science presumes that the things and events in the universe occur in consistent patterns that are
comprehensible through careful, systematic study. Scientists believe that through the use of the intellect, and
with the aid of instruments that extend the senses, people can discover patterns in all of nature.

Science Explains and Predicts

Scientists strive to make sense of observations of phenomena by constructing explanations that are
consistent with currently accepted scientific principles. Such explanations or theories may be either broad or
restricted, but they must be logically sound and incorporate a significant body of scientifically valid
observations. The credibility of scientific theories often comes from their ability to show relationships among
phenomena that previously seemed unrelated. For example, the theory of moving continents, has grown in
credibility as it has shown relationships among diverse phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanoes, the

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match between types of fossils on different continents, the shapes of continents, and the contours of the
ocean floors.

Science Demands Evidence

The validity of scientific claims is settled by referring to observations of phenomena. Hence, scientists
concentrate on getting accurate data. Such evidence is obtained by observations and measurements taken in
situations that range from natural settings (such as a forest) to completely contrived ones (such as the
laboratory). To make their observations, scientists use their own senses, instruments (such as microscopes)
that enhance those senses, and instruments that tap characteristics quite different from what humans can
sense (such as magnetic fields). Scientists observe passively (earthquakes, bird migrations), make collections
(rocks, shells), and actively probe the world (as by boring into the earth's crust or administering experimental
medicines).

Scientific Ideas are Open to Change

Science is more of a process than a set body of knowledge. Scientists are always testing and revising
their ideas, and as new observations are made, existing ideas may be challenged. Ideas may be replaced
with new ideas that better fit the facts, but more often existing ideas are simply revised. For example, when
scientists discovered how genes control genetic traits, they didn't throw out Mendel's laws of inheritance. The
new discoveries helped to explain why Mendel's laws apply to certain traits but not others. They showed that
Mendel's laws are part of a bigger picture. Through many new discoveries over time, scientists gradually build
an increasingly accurate and detailed understanding of the natural world.

Science is a Complex Social Activity

Scientific work involves many individuals doing many different kinds of work and goes on to some
degree in all nations of the world. Men and women of all ethnic and national backgrounds participate in
science and its applications. These people --- scientists and engineers, mathematicians, physicians,
technicians, computer programmers, librarians, and others --- may focus on scientific knowledge either for its
own sake or for a particular practical purpose, and they may be concerned with data gathering, theory
building, instrument building, or communicating.

Science Cannot Provide Complete Answers to All Questions

There are many matters that cannot usefully be examined in a scientific way. There are, for instance,
beliefs that --- by their very nature --- cannot be proved or disproved (such as the existence of supernatural
powers and beings, or the true purposes of life). In other cases, a scientific approach that may be valid is
likely to be rejected as irrelevant by people who hold to certain beliefs (such as in miracles, fortune-telling,
astrology, and superstition). Nor do scientists have the means to settle issues concerning good and evil,
although they can sometimes contribute to the discussion of such issues by identifying the likely
consequences of particular actions, which may be helpful in weighing alternatives.

Extension Activity
You can watch this YouTube video from Bozeman Science to further understand the Nature of Science:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkvjDZseD4k&feature=emb_rel_pause

What is Technology?

Technology, the word often attached side by side with science comes from the Greek word techne,
meaning ‘art, skill or cunning of hand’. Technology involves the development and use of materials, tools, and
approaches for solving human problems and helping to fulfill human needs and desires. Many of the products
of technology help humans accomplish tasks that would otherwise be very difficult or impossible to carry out.
Although technology provides many benefits, it also produces associated costs and risks. Technology is also
a way of knowing, and is also a process of exploration and experimentation. Technology is both a form of
knowledge that uses concepts and skills from other disciplines and the application of this knowledge to meet
an identified need or to solve a specific problem using materials, energy, and tools.

Relationship between Science, Technology, and Society

Science, technology and society are closely linked, especially through scientific inquiry, technological
problem solving, and communication. Science frequently utilizes and requires tools and processes developed
by technology, and conversely, technology often employs principles, laws, theories, and processes developed
by means of science. The society as we know it today has been affected in many ways by science and

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technology.

For example, society demands for an easy-access, extensive and frequent communication. This leads
to the research and development of an ever widening array of mobile phone capabilities. Access to these
capabilities, in turn, influenced the way humans live. As the society relies more and more on mobile phones,
additional features were continuously requested to improve like increasing speed of phone processors, the
use of touch-enabled screens, or the implementation of mobile internet access, and the cycle continues.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

1. To learn more about science and technology, read the discussion in your STS textbook from pages 3-
5. This section would refer to Lewis Wolpert’s The Medawar Lecture 1998 Is Science Dangerous?.
Use this link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1569503/. Read the article and complete
the metacognitive reading report in your STS textbook found in pages 13-14.

2. On an A4 size coupon bond, create a poster or collage that reflects your view of science and
technology. It should specifically state whether you view science and technology as good or bad, both
or neutral. Be creative. You can use different art materials to make it visually appealing and impactful.
On another piece of coupon bond, briefly explain your work using 5-10 sentences.

HISTORICAL ROOTS OF STS AS AN ACADEMIC FIELD

As problems in science and technology continue to rise and become more observable, the need to pay
attention to their interactions with various aspects of human life, e.g. social, political, and economic, becomes
ever more necessary. How the different aspects of society shape and influence the progression and further
development of science and technology is the area of concern of a relatively new academic discipline called
Science, Technology and Society.

Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is a relatively young field that combines previously
independent and older disciplines, such as the history of science, philosophy of science, and sociology of
science. As an academic field, STS, according to Harvard University’s Kennedy School (2018), traces its roots
from the interwar period and the start of the Cold War. It was during this period when historians and scientists
found interest in the interconnections of scientific knowledge, technological systems, and society. The rise of
STS as an academic field resulted from the recognition that many schools today do not really prepare
students to respond critically, reflectively, and proactively to the challenges posed by science and technology
in the modern world.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF STS

STS seeks to bridge the gap between two traditionally exclusive cultures --- humanities (interpretive)
and natural sciences (rational) --- so that humans will be able to better confront the moral, ethical, and
existential dilemmas brought by the continued developments in science and technology.

STS also calls for educating you (our students) so that you will be able to apply science and technology
(tools, knowledge, process and products) to solve problems in your environment. STS is an important
academic discipline to help you do science so as to be functional and not just graduates who are alien to your
own society. For example, graduates should be able to apply science and technology while at school, say to
be productive, to grow your own food, to carry-out diseases preventive measures and to become self-reliant
or employed. STS aims to help students to develop adaptability, equipped with not only academic skills but
with a range of practical skills which will make you a functional citizen.

ETHICAL DILEMMAS THAT REINFORCE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE STUDY OF STS

Human beings are by no means perfect – we struggle with ethical dilemmas on a daily basis and fail in
doing what we think or believe to be the right thing more often than we would like to admit. Unfortunately,
these failings are also articulated in our technology.

To warn us of these failings, the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at the
University of Notre Dame compiles an annual list of what it determines to be that year’s top 10 ethical

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dilemmas in science and technology. The list points to the challenges, questions, and issues that need to be
addressed and resolved when science, and technology and humanity intertwine.

Extension Activity
Read pages 5 – 6 of your textbook to the top 10 ethical dilemmas of science and technology as identified
by the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values at the University of Notre Dame for 2018.
If you are interested in much more recent ethical dilemmas, you can have further readings at this link:
www.laboratoryequipment.com/558920-Top-10-Ethical-Dilemmas-in-Science-for-2020/. Even if several
items in the list above sound unfamiliar to you, it can be a useful springboard in the study of science and
technology.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

1. Refer to your textbook in STS and answer Exercise 1: Reflection Task on pages 7-8.

SUMMARY

The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:

● Science is a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the
universe behaves through observation, experimentation or both.
● Scientists assume that nature can be understood through systematic study, scientific ideas are open
to revision, sound scientific ideas withstand the test of time, and science cannot provide answers to all
questions.
● Technology involves the development and use of materials, tools, and approaches for solving human
problems and helping to fulfill human needs and desires.
● STS as an academic discipline is primarily concerned with how the different aspects of society shape
and influence the progression and further development of science and technology.
● STS seeks to bridge the gap between humanities and natural sciences.

REFERENCES

● Ihueze,C., Okpala, C., Okafor, E. & Okonkwo, U. (2015). Harnessing Science, Technology and
Innovations (STI) for Sustainable Industrial and Economic Development. p380. International Journal
of Engineering and Management Research. Vandana Publications. Retrieved from www.ijemr.net
● Quinto, Edward Jay M. and Nieva, Aileen D. (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. pp 2-14.
Quezon City: C&E Publishing.
● Ruparanganda,F. (2016). An evaluation of the implementation of the Science-Technology and Society
(STS) concept in Science Instruction in secondary schools in Zimbabwe. South American Journal of
Academic Research Special Edition. Retrieved from https://www.texilajournal.com/
● Sarkar, S. and Pfeifer, J. Eds. (2016) The philosophy of science: an encyclopedia. pp. 749-753. USA:
Taylor and Francis Group. Retrieved from
fitelson.org/probability/sarkar_philosophy_of_science_encyclopedia.pdf
● The Nature of Science (1990). American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Retrieved from http://project2061.org
● Wakim, S. & Grewal, M. (2020). The Nature of Science. Retrieved from https://bio.libretexts.org/
● Wolpert, L. (2005). The Medawar Lecture 1998 Is Science Dangerous? In Philosophical Transactions
B. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1569503/

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List of Ethical Dilemmas and policy issues in science and technology for 2018:

1. Helix – a digital app store designed to read genomes

2. Bless U-2 and Pepper – first robot priest and monk

3. Emotion Sensing Facial Recognition – a software being developed to assess your reactions to

anything such as shopping and playing games

4. Ransomware – a way of holding data hostage through hacking and requiring a ransom to be

paid.

5. Textalyzer – a device that analyses whether a driver was using his or her phone during an

accident

6. Social Credit System – a system of scoring citizens through their actions by placing them under

constant surveillance (which china plays to adopt)

7. Google clips – a hands-free camera that lets the user capture every moment effortlessly

8. Sentencing software – a mysterious algorithm designed to aid courts in sentencing decisions

9. Friendbot – an app that stores the deceased’s digital footprint so one can still chat with them

10. Citizen app – an app that notifies users of ongoing crimes or major events in a specific area.

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HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS OF SCIENCE AND

TECHNOLOGY
MODULE OVERVIEW

This module will introduce you the major roles of science and technology in the everyday life in a
historical perspective. As you proceed with the learning activities, you should be able to discover how different
social, cultural, economic, and political conditions affected science and technology and how science and
technology affected society as a whole. This module will focus on three historical periods: Ancient, Middle,
and Modern Period.
We will not only be looking at the history of science and technology in a global context. We will also
discuss important Philippine inventions and innovations. This way we could appreciate the different
contributions to the science and technology field of our own countrymen.

MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

1. discuss the interactions between science, technology, and society throughout history;
2. discuss how scientific and technological developments affect society and the environment; and
3. explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and were shaped by various
social context.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1

Before continuing on this Module, watch an 18- minute TEDxTalk by Hannu Rajaniemi entitled The Big
History of Modern Science using the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcWsjlGPPFQ. Afterward,
reflect on the following question: “Why is it important to study the history of Science and Technology?”

ANTECEDENT DEFINED

Though it is important to study scientific and technological innovations that had important societal
impacts, there would not be enough time to study them all. What we would focus on are the historical
antecedents, which, according to Quinto, et al (2019), are “factors that paved the way for the presence of
advanced and sophisticated scientific and ethnological innovations today.” This relationship of different
historical antecedents of science and technology across time can be seen in Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1: Historical antecedents of S&T across Time

To learn more about the importance of the study of these historical antecedents, read page 17 of your
STS textbook. After this, we may proceed to the different historical antecedents across time.

ANCIENT PERIOD

In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation and navigation, communication and
record keeping, mass production, power and energy, security and protection, as well as health, observation,

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and measurement, aesthetics, engineering, and architecture. A primary challenge they faced was the
conservation of life. The early people might have been successful in harnessing the rich resources that the
world could provide but their survival posed a great problem. Different illnesses and diseases, both natural
and man-made, hampered the full potential of a human being. Given this predicament, science and
technology played a major role in the discovery of cures, if not the prevention of illness. Moreover, in order to
integrate their needs for better transportation, establishment of structures for protection from human attacks
and natural disasters, and construction of bigger and stronger infrastructure. Furthermore, the people were
not contented on beautifying their infrastructures and surrounding but more on being able to prolong life with
the mass production of food and advancement of medical technology, as well as raising the quality of life.

The rise of ancient civilizations such as Sumerians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and
Chinese paved the way for advances in science and technology. Their contributions not only allowed these
ancient civilizations to flourish, but also paved the way for the developments of many other science and
technology innovations.

Some of the important historical antecedents of much more modern science and technology innovations
which were discovered in the ancient times include the ancient wheel, paper, shadoof, Antikythera
mechanism, and aeolipile. To learn more about these technologies, read page 18 – 19 of your STS textbook.
Make sure that when you read about these technological innovations, you are mindful of their impact to
modern times. However, it should be noted that many more scientific and technological innovations were
developed during ancient times.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 2

Your class will be divided into six groups to create a poster for an ancient civilization. For each civilization,
draw the contributions of each civilization that helped in the advancement of science and technology. At the
back of the poster, write what these contributions are all about and how it influenced you as a member of the
modern society. The ancient civilizations include the following:
Group 1: Sumerians
Group 2: Babylonians
Group 3: Egyptians
Group 4: Greeks
Group 5: Romans
Group 6: Chinese

MEDIEVAL / MIDDLE AGES

The Middle Ages, which occurred between the collapse of the Roman Empire in 5th century AD and the
colonial expansion of Western Europe in late 15th century AD, was an age of which started with wars,
migrations, and population rise and fall. These events led to new technologies needed in the fields of
weaponry, transportation and navigation, mass food and farm production, and health. This is also the period
of the emergence of scientific thinking and scientific method. Because of this, many of our technologies can
actualle be traced back in this time period.

Read pages 20 – 22 of your STS textbook to learn about the technologies which emerged in this time
period. These include the heavy plough, gunpowder, paper money, mechanical clock and spinning wheel.
Just like in the ancient period, be mindful of their impacts to society and that they are not the only
technologies that are developed during this time.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 3

After reading pages 20 – 22 of your STS textbook, complete the following table:

Heavy plough Gunpowder Paper money Mechanical Spinning

clock wheel
Developer / inventor
Origin
Time of invention
Impact or contribution

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to mankind

MODERN AGES

According to Quinto, et al (2019), the Modern Ages was marked with a steady increase in population
that emphasizes the “importance of increasing the efficiency of transportation, communication, and
production”. During the Modern ages, more complicated problems were created that needed more solutions
and greater risks for many aspects of human life were needed to be addressed.

Read pages 22 – 25 of your STS textbook to learn more about important historical antecedents of
science and technology that started in the Modern Ages. These include, but are not limited to, compound
microscope, telescope, Jacquard loom, engine-powered airplane, and television.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 4

1. After reading pages 22 – 25 of your STS textbook, choose at least two (2) inventions / technologies
that were developed during Modern Ages that you consider to be antecedents of other inventions /
technologies. Describe their function and how they are being used, who invented that technology, and
the social, political, cultural, or economic contexts in which the invention was made.

INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

The Philippines, despite being considered a developing country, have their own contributions to science
and technology and have a culture of developing scientific and technological innovations. Known for original,
clever, and inventive ideas, Filipino scientists and inventors have used the needs and necessities of our
nation in their innovations using resources that are indigenous to the country. Areas where Filipinos focus
include adaptation to natural disasters, navigation, textiles, food, and culture.

To learn more about some Filipino inventors and scientists, read pages 25 – 27 of your STS textbook.
Again, these scientists and inventors are only a small handful of the many Filipino innovators in the country.

LEARNING ACTIVITY 5

Accomplish the activity in page 33 – 34 of your STS textbook.

SUMMARY

The following learning points summarize what you have learned in this section:

 The development of science and technology is affected by social contexts and social contexts affect
the developments in science and technology. By looking at the conditions present in a certain
historical period, we can discern the needs of humankind and these needs drive the development of
science and technology.
 Certain scientific and technological innovations are considered as historical antecedents; that is, they
are precursors of other scientific innovations. They provide solutions to existing problems and are
important foundations for the development of future products and processes.
 The Ancient Period, Middle Ages, and Modern Ages are three historical periods marked with differing
contexts and thus developed different types of technologies.
 Filipino scientists and inventors contributed to the development of science and technology. They
focused on the needs of the nation as the main motivators of their inventions.

REFERENCES

 Anderson, P.((2001). More is Different-One More Time. In Ong and Bhatt, R.N.Eds.More is
Different: Fifty Years of Condensed Matter Physics. (pp.1-8). USA: Princeton University Press.
Retrieved from: https://www.tkm.kit.edu/downloads/TKM1 2011 more is different PWA.pdf

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 Shuttleworth, M.(2008, April 15). Scientific Reductionism. Exxplorable.com. Retrieved from

https://explorable.com/scientific-reductionism
 TheScienceFoundation.(2011,November 28).Stephen Colbert Interviews Neil deGrasse Tyson at
Montclair Kimberley Academy-January 29th 2010. Video file. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=ers2SPaTFTg
 TEDxTalks(2015, June 13). The Big History of Modern Science I Hannu Rajaniemi ITEDxDanubia.[.
Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.co/watch?v=ZcWsjlGPPFQ

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