STS Meaning, Roles, and Ways of Knowing - Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key STS concepts, definitions, and examples from the lecture notes.

Science

Systematic method of expanding understanding; combats irrationality; serves as cognitive authority.

Technology

Application of scientific knowledge to practical ends; sustains economies and daily life; shapes social awareness and identity.

Society

People collectively with values, morals, prejudices, and priorities; includes creators, end-users, and constraints in STS.

STS (Science, Technology and Society)

An interdisciplinary field studying how science, technology, and society influence and shape one another.

Mutual influence of S&T

Science and technology influence each other and together act as tools and forces in society.

Economic influence of S&T (Industrialization)

Science and technology drive industrial growth and broader economic change.

Military influence of S&T

Advances in weapons, defense tech, and strategies driven by science and engineering.

Medical influence of S&T

Quality of research and advancement of medical equipment and care through S&T.

Political influence of S&T

Policy making and global relations shaped by scientific and technological progress.

Saloma’s expectation (Filipino scientists)

Contribute to science, pursue excellence, and build a cumulative scientific culture in the Philippines.

Knowledge production in the Philippines

Current status described as ignorant/underdeveloped in the notes.

Culture of science (Philippines)

Need for a cumulative, tradition-rich scientific culture building on past knowledge.

DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

A pesticide once hailed as a 'miracle'; persistent, bioaccumulative, linked to health concerns; spurred regulation.

Silent Spring

Rachel Carson’s work highlighting environmental harm from DDT and provoking policy change.

First Industrial Revolution (Case)

S: Power generation; T: Manufacturing; S: England with coal and steam energy.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

Organisms modified for food production; raises questions about food security and health.

Food security concerns (Modern times case)

Genetics and GMOs raise debates about safety, nutrition, and health impacts.

Science→Technology relationship

Scientific discoveries form foundations for technological innovations.

Technology→Science relationship

Technological progress enables new scientific questions and methods.

Societal influence on tech

Cultural values, politics, and ethics shape technology and are shaped by it.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

U.S. agency created after DDT concerns to regulate pesticides and protect the environment.

Moshman’s “Epistemic Development and the perils of Pluto”

Illustrates how scientific knowledge, such as Pluto’s classification, undergoes revision based on new data and conceptual frameworks, challenging established views and public understanding.