Science, Technology, and Society ⋆｡‧˚ʚ🍓ɞ˚‧｡⋆

Science

The word came from the Latin "scientia," meaning "knowledge." It refers to the systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves through observation, experimentation, or both.

John Heilbron (2003) definition of science

"Modern science is a discovery of regularity in nature, enough for natural phenomena to be described by principles and laws." He explained that science required invention to devise techniques, abstractions, apparatuses, and organizations to describe these natural regularities and their law-like descriptions.

Technology

It is the application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems. It came from the Greek word techne, meaning "art, skill, or cunning of hand."

Society

A group of people living together in a more or less ordered community.

Wolpert (2005) on scientific knowledge

Reliable scientific knowledge has no moral or ethical value. It only explains how nature and the universe work, and scientists must explain possible uses of such knowledge.

Wolpert (2005) on science vs. technology

Science is not the same as technology. Scientists are not responsible for how scientific knowledge is applied in technology, which is influenced by politics, governance, religion, and business.

Advancements in science and technology

Advancements are pervasive in daily life, improve human productivity, and build upon previous developments.

Drawbacks of scientific and technological progress

Machines reduce human workforce needs, drug-resistant diseases emerge, and social media affects privacy.

Need to study interactions of STS

Problems in science and technology require understanding how social, political, and economic aspects shape scientific and technological developments.

Science, Technology, and Society (STS)

A young academic field combining history, philosophy, and sociology of science to study links between scientific knowledge, technological systems, and society.

Roots of STS

According to Harvard Kennedy School (2018), STS originated during the interwar period and the start of the Cold War, when historians and scientists studied the interconnections among science, technology, and society.

Purpose of STS

STS aims to prepare students to respond critically, reflectively, and proactively to challenges brought by science and technology.

Dilemma

It is a situation where a person is forced to choose between two or more conflicting options neither of which is acceptable.

Ethical/Moral Dilemmas

Situations where persons, who are called "moral agents" in ethics, are forced to choose between two or more conflicting options, neither of which resolves the situation in a morally acceptable manner.

Condition 1 of Moral Dilemmas

The person or agent of moral action is obliged to make a decision about which course of action is best.

Condition 2 of Moral Dilemmas

There must be different courses of action to choose from.

Condition 3 of Moral Dilemmas

No matter what course of action is taken, some moral principles are always compromised.

Helix

A digital app store designed to read genomes.

BlessU-2 Popper

The first robot priest and monk.

Emotion-Sensing Facial Recognition

A software being developed to assess your reactions to anything such as shopping and playing games.

Ransomware

A way of holding data hostage through the backing and requiring a ransom to be paid.

Textalyzer

A device that analyzes whether a driver was using his or her phone during an accident.

Social Credit System

A system of scoring citizens through their actions by placing them under constant surveillance.

Google Clips

A hands-free camera that lets the user capture every moment effortlessly.

Sentencing Software

A mysterious algorithm designed to aid courts in sentencing decisions.

Friendbot

An app that stores the deceased's digital footprint so one can still chat with them.

Citizen App

An app that notifies users of ongoing crimes or major events in a specific area.

Social Implication

Effects of an event, action, law, or policy on society.

Personalized Genetic Tests

Fast, low-cost genome sequencing accessible to the public; raises privacy and ethical concerns.

Hacking Medical Devices

Implanted devices like pacemakers can be hacked, creating security risks.

Driverless Zipcars

Automated cars raise ethical, legal, and equality concerns for users.

3-D Printing

Can print models, organs, or weapons; impacts manufacturing and safety.

Adaptation to Climate Change

Ethical issues in helping people adapt; solutions can be technical or cultural.

Low-quality Pharmaceuticals

Counterfeit drugs are a technical, ethical, and legal problem, especially in developing countries.

Autonomous Systems

Machines acting without humans raise ethical, legal, and responsibility questions.

Human-animal Hybrids

Mixing human and animal cells challenges ethical boundaries and species integrity.

Access to Wireless/Spectrum

Ensuring connectivity and fair spectrum use; closes digital divide.

Data Collection and Privacy

Collecting personal data through tech raises ethical and policy concerns.

Human Enhancements

Therapeutic or enhancement technologies raise questions about fairness and access.

Phishing

The fraudulent activity of sending emails or messages that appear from legitimate companies to trick people into revealing personal information such as passwords and credit card data.

Cyber Harassment

A danger via digital technologies, like social media and chat apps, involving behavior designed to intimidate, scare, shame, or silence individuals.

Ransomware

A type of virus that encrypts files on a device and demands ransom for decryption. Attackers may also threaten to sell or leak stolen data.

Cyber Prostitution

Obscene or indecent behaviors online involving sexual stimulation or intercourse in exchange for money or profit.

Cyber Pornography

Forbidden portrayal of human body or sexual conduct online for sexual pleasure.

Intellectual Property Theft

Stealing ideas, artistic expressions, or inventions from individuals or corporations, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

Hacking

Misuse of computers, smartphones, or networks to damage systems, steal information, or disrupt data activities.

Identity Theft

Occurs when a cybercriminal acquires personal documents or information to steal identity and access financial accounts or apply for credit.

Romance Scams

Scammers use dating or friendship to gain trust and money, often avoiding video calls or face-to-face meetings.

Credit Card Fraud

Unauthorized use of someone’s credit card information to make purchases or remove funds.

QuillBot

An AI-powered writing tool for paraphrasing, summarizing, correcting grammar, citing sources, and checking plagiarism.

History of Science and Technology

Focuses on how science and technology have changed over time and their impacts on social, cultural, political, and economic contexts.

Antecedent

A precursor to the unfolding or existence of something.

Historical Antecedents in Science and Technology

Factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated scientific and technological innovations today.

Importance of Historical Knowledge

Understanding how previous generations influenced and were influenced helps make informed decisions about the proper application of science and technology to daily life.

Ancient Wheel

Originated from the potter's wheel; credited to the Sumerians. Led to modern wheels used in cars, carts, bicycles, and trucks.

Paper

Invented by ancient Egyptians around 3000 B.C. using papyrus; lightweight, strong, durable, and portable, enabling efficient documentation and record-keeping.

Shadoof

Hand-operated device used by Egyptians for irrigation; introduced lifting with counterweights and improved farming efficiency.

Antikythera Mechanism

Ancient Greek analog computer orrery discovered in 1902; antecedent of modern clockwork.

Aeolipile

Also called Hero's engine; ancient steam-powered turbine, considered the precursor to the steam engine.

Heavy Plow

Allowed cultivation of heavy clay soils in Northern Europe, boosting agriculture and economy.

Gunpowder

Invented around 850 A.D. in China; enabled advanced warfare from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades.

Paper Money

First used in China; easier to transport than gold or silver, eventually adopted by traders and merchants.

Mechanical Clock

Developed in the Middle Ages; allowed accurate timekeeping.

Spinning Wheel

Transformed fiber into thread/yarn, encouraging development of the textile industry.

Printing Press

Invented by Johann Gutenberg; enabled mass production of printed materials and spread of knowledge.

Compound Microscope

Invented by Zacharias Jansen in 1590; magnifies objects 3–10x and is essential in medicine, forensics, tissue analysis, and genetics.

Telescope

Invented by Galileo Galilei; magnifies objects 20x and revolutionized astronomy, showing the vastness of the universe.

Jacquard Loom

Invented by Joseph Jacquard in 1801; simplified textile manufacturing using punch cards, a precursor to modern computer technology.

Engine-Powered Airplane

Designed by Orville and Wilbur Wright; first successful powered flight, paving the way for modern aviation.

Television

Invented by John Logie Baird; first televised outlines, human faces, moving images, and color; early BBC programming began in 1929.

Gregoria Zara

Invented the first videophone in 1955, patented as a "photophone signal separator network."

Agapito Flores

Invented the fluorescent lamp, a widely used source of lighting.

Daniel Dingel

Invented a water-powered car using a hydrogen reactor, starting in 1969; never patented or commercialized.

Eduardo San Juan

Invented the Lunar Rover (Moon Buggy) used by Apollo astronauts in 1969.

Diosdado Banatao

Invented the first single-chip graphical user interface accelerator and helped develop the Ethernet controller chip.

Angel Alcala

Invented artificial coral reefs for fisheries in Southeast Asia.

Roberto del Rosario

Invented the karaoke machine ("Minus-One" system) in 1975, patented in the 1980s.

Juan Salcedo Jr.

Developed Enriched Rice fortified with vitamin B1 to prevent beriberi.

Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney)

Filipino adaptation of the jeep for public transportation; symbol of Filipino ingenuity.

Erythromycin

Antibiotic invented by Abelardo Aguilar from Streptomyces erythreus.

Medical Incubator

Invented by Fe del Mundo; incubator suitable for rural areas without electricity.

Mole Remover

Invented by Rolando Dela Cruz in 2000 to remove moles and warts without surgery using cashew extracts.

Banana Ketchup

Invented by Maria Orosa; a Filipino alternative to tomato ketchup.

Copernican Revolution

16th-century revolution led by Nicolaus Copernicus; introduced heliocentrism, suggesting the Sun, not Earth, is the center of the Solar System.

Telescope

Invention that allowed people to observe outer space, sparking curiosity about stars, moons, and planets.

Darwinian Revolution

1859, Charles Darwin published On the Origin of Species; introduced the theory of evolution and natural selection, showing that organisms adapt to survive.

Natural Selection

Process in which only the fittest organisms survive and reproduce; central to Darwin's theory of evolution.

Freudian Revolution

Sigmund Freud's psychoanalysis theory; explained human behavior as influenced by conscious and unconscious factors and conflicts among id, ego, and superego.

Id

Part of personality according to Freud; represents basic instincts and desires.

Ego

Part of personality according to Freud; mediates between id and superego, dealing with reality.

Superego

Part of personality according to Freud; represents internalized societal and moral standards.

Psychoanalysis

Method developed by Freud to study and treat mental disorders by analyzing conscious and unconscious factors influencing behavior.

Pre-Colonial Period

Filipinos used plants and herbs as medicines, implemented farming and animal raising systems, and developed terrestrial and maritime transportation methods.

Rice Terraces of the Cordilleras

A complicated engineering feat built by natives to cultivate crops on mountainsides using an irrigation system; still functional today.

Colonial Period (Spanish)

The Spaniards introduced modern construction techniques, building walls, roads, bridges, and infrastructure; developed health and education systems for the principalia class.

Colonial Period (American)

The Americans modernized almost all aspects of life and established the Bureau of Science to nurture development in science.

Post-Colonial Period

After independence, the Philippines continued programs in science and technology under different administrations, each with its own agenda.

Ferdinand Marcos' Contributions

Many science and technology agencies were established or strengthened, including PAGASA and the National Academy of Science and Technology.