Science and technology studies, or science, technology and society studies is

the study of how society, politics, and culture affect scientific research and
technological innovation, and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture.

Science, Technology and Society (STS) is an interdisciplinary field that

studies the conditions under which the production, distribution and utilization of
scientific knowledge and technological systems occur; the consequences of these
activities upon different groups of people.

Science

- Latin word “scientia” means “knowledge”

- Knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through
experiments and observation.
- It refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge
about how the universe behaves through observation, experimentation or both.
- “Modern science is a discovery as well as an invention.”- John Heilbron

Technology

- Greek word “techne”, meaning “art, skill or cunning of hand”.

- It is the application of the scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to
produce services, materials, tool, machines aimed at solving real-world
problems.
- The use of science in industry, engineering, etc. to invent useful things or to
solve problems. - “What defines a technological tool – one historical
definition – is something that takes human’s sense or ability and
augments it and makes it and makes it powerful” – Mark Zuckerberg

Society

- A group of persons formally joined together for some common interest.

- People in general thought of as living together in organized communities with shared
laws, traditions, and values.

⮚ Wolpert (2005) made an interesting comparison between science and technology

that is helpful in the study of their interaction with society.
⮚ In his landmark paper, The Medawar Lecture 1998: Is Science Dangerous?, he
explained that reliable scientific knowledge has no moral and ethical value.
⮚ The advancements in science and technology have become pervasive. They are
manifested in the activities that humans pursue and the tools they use every day.
⮚ Humans today live more productive and more exciting live than their
predecessors. ⮚ However, the dynamism and immensity of scientific and
technological progress also pose challenges and drawbacks to the way human
live.
o The introduction of machines tremendously cut the need for human
workforce and gave rise to questions about whether machines will
eventually replace humans.
o The invention of drugs that cured the previously incurable diseases
introduced new strains of bacteria and viruses.
o The rise of social media drastically changed the way humans communicate,
interact, and share information; however, this tends to put people’s
privacy at risk.

Science, Technology, and Society.

⮚ How the different aspects of society shape and influence the progression and
further development of society and technology is the area of concern of a
relatively new academic discipline called Science, Technology, and Society.
⮚ It 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.
⮚ The rise of STS as an academic field resulted from the recognition that many
schools today really prepare students to respond critically, reflectively and
proactively to the challenges posed by science and technology in the
contemporary world.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 3

⮚ The John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values of the University of
Notre Dame is responsible for listing the ten emerging ethical dilemmas and
policy issues in science and technology every year. Below is the list for 2018:
1. Helix – a digital app store designed to read genomes
2. BlessU-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 analyzes 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 court
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.
⮚ Even though several items in the list sound unfamiliar to many, it can be a useful
springboard in the study of science and technology.
⮚ The list points to the overgrowing challenges, questions and issues that need to be
addressed and resolved when science and technology and humanity intertwine.

ACTIVITY 1

Instructions: Answer the following questions.

1. What is Science, Technology and Society?

2. Give atleast 5 advantages and disadvantages of Science and

technology in the society?

3. As a student, why is it important to study and learn about STS as

an academic field?
4. Choose one emerging ethical dilemma in science and technology,
and research all about this. (atleast 5 sentences)
 HISTORICAL ANTECEDENTS IN THE WORLD

This section provides students with an overview of the development

of science and technology from the ancient times to the present. It traces
how man has developed technological tools to make his existence more
progressive and comfortable not only in the world but also in the country.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 4

An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence

of something. Thus, historical antecedents in science and technology are
factors that paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated
scientific and technological innovations today.

ANCIENT PERIOD

⮚ The rise of ancient civilizations paved away for advances in science

and technology ⮚ These advances during Ancient period allowed
civilizations to flourish by finding better ways of communication,
transportation, self-organization and of living in general

Ancient Wheel
⮚ People from ancient civilizations used
animals for transportation long before the
invention of the wheel.

Fig.1. Sumerian Wheel Fig.2. Potter’s Wheel

⮚ The ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called the potter’s wheel a heavy flat disk
made of hardened clay which
was spun horizontally on an axis.
⮚ It is believed that the Sumerians
invented the potter’s wheel shortly after 3500 BC.

Paper
⮚ The ancient Egyptians began writing on papyrus, a similar to thick paper, around 3000 BC.
⮚ Papyrus is made from the pith of the papyrus plant cyperus papyrus.
⮚ With the advent of papyrus, documentation and record-keeping became efficient, widespread
and vast.

Shadoof

Fig.3.The Edwin Smith Papyrus

⮚ Shadoof was an early tool invented and used by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land.
⮚ It is a hand-operated device used for lifting water.
⮚ It is also believed to be an ancient precursor of more sophisticated irrigation tools.

Antikythera Mechanism

Fig.4. Shadoof

⮚ It is similar to a clock in the way that the case has a circular face and rotating hands. ⮚
It is widely believed that the Antikythera mechanism was
used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendar and
astrological purposes.
⮚ It is also believed that it is one of the oldest known
antecedents of modern clockwork and was invented by Gr eek
scientists between 150-100 BC.

Fig.5. A fragment of Antikythera

Mechanism

Aeolipile
⮚ Also known as the Hero’s Engine, the aeolipile is widely believed
to be the ancient precursor of the steam engine.
⮚ Hero of Alexandria is credited for the demonstration of the use
of the aeolipile during the 1 century AD.
st
 Fig.6. Aeolipile

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 5

MIDDLE AGES

⮚ Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in 5 century AD and the

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colonial expansion of Western Europe in late 15 Century AD,

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⮚ These include steady increase of new inventions, introduction of

innovations in traditional production, and emergence of scientific
thinking and method.
⮚ Some of the humanity’s most important present-day technologies
could be traced back to their historical antecedents in the Middle
Ages.

Heavy Plough

⮚ One of the most important technological innovations

during the middle ages is the invention of the heavy
plough.
⮚ Through the invention of the heavy plough, it became
possible to harness clay soil.
⮚ The heavy plough stirred an agricultural revolution in

Fig.7. An impression of the heavy plough

Northern Europe marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields

and more efficient agricultural practices.
Gunpowder
⮚ Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented
black powder or gunpowder.
⮚ Since its invention, the gunpowder has allowed for more
advanced warfare.
⮚ The gunpowder has prompted foundation for the
functionality of almost every new weapon used in war since its invention.
Paper Money
⮚ The first known versions of paper money could be traced back to the Chinese in the 17 Century th

AD as an offshoot of the invention of block printing.

⮚ Before the introduction of paper money, precious metals such as gold and silver were used as
currency.
Fig.8.Illustration of a Chinese warrior using gunpowder in weapons

Fig.9. The Chinese are credited for the invention of paper

money

⮚ It did not gain immediate success when the Mongols attempted to introduce
this into the Middle East market.
⮚ Traders and merchants realized the huge advantage of paper money because
it was easier to transport around compared to the previous forms of
currencies.
Mechanical Clock

⮚ The development of mechanical clocks paved the way

for accurately keeping track of time.
⮚ The sophistication of clockwork technology of the
mechanical clock drastically changed the way days
were spent and work patterns were
established, particularly in the more advanced Middle Ages cities.

Spinning Wheel Fig.11.Spinning Wheel

Fig.10. A medieval mechanical

clock found in Prague, Czech
Republic

⮚ It is a machine used for transforming fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into cloth
on a loom.
⮚ Although no consensus could be made regarding the origin of the spinning wheel, it is theorized
that the Indians invented the spinning wheel between 60 and 11 Century AD.
th th

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 6

MODERN AGES
⮚ As the World population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages
realized the utmost importance of increasing the efficiency of
transportation, communication and production. ⮚ Industrialization took
place with greater risks in human health, food safety and environment
which had to be addressed as scientific and technological progress
unfolded at an unimaginable speed.

Compound Microscope
 ⮚ Zacharias Janssen, a Dutch maker, is credited for the
invention of the first compound microscope in 1590.
⮚ Janssen’s compound microscope was an important
progression from the single lens microscope.
⮚ It was capable of magnifying objects three times their size when fully closed
Fig.12.Janssen’s
compound microscope Telescope

and up to ten times when extended to the maximum.

⮚ Most important technological invention in the study of astronomy during the Modern Ages was
the practical telescope invented by Galileo Galilei
⮚ It can magnify objects 20 times larger than the Dutch perspective glasses.
⮚ It was Galileo who first used telescope skyward and made important astronomical discoveries
and identified the presence of craters and mountains on the moon.

Jacquard Loom

Fig.13.Janssen’s
compound microscope

⮚ As the Industrial Revolution reached full speed, the Jacquard loom was considered as one of the
most critical drivers of the revolution. ⮚ Built by French weaver Joseph Marie Jacquard, the
Jacquard loom simplifies textile manufacturing.

Fig.14. Jacquard Loom

⮚ The Jacquard loom is also an important antecedent of modern computer

technology as it demonstrated the use of punched cards to instruct a
machine to carry out complex tasks, i.e. making different textile patterns.

Engine-Powered Airplane
⮚ Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are credited
for designing and successfully operating the first
engine-powered aircraft.
⮚ The Wright brothers proved that aircrafts could
fly without airfoil-shaped wings.
⮚ They demonstrated this in their original Flying Machine patent showing that slightly-tilted
Fig.15. The flight of Flying Machine of Orville and Wilbur Wright

wings, which they referred to as aeroplanes, were the key features of

a powered aircraft. ⮚ The Wright brothers were brilliant scientists who
paved the way for modern aircraft technology.
Television

⮚ John Logie Baird, Scottish Engineer, who invented the

modern television.
⮚ In 1924- Baird successfully televised objects in outline, 1925-
recognizable human faces, 1928- projected colored images.
Fig.16. Baird’s Television

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 7

INVENTIONS BY FILIPINO SCIENTISTS

Filipinos are responsible for developing many scientific and technological

innovations focused on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food
processing, indigenous arts and techniques, and even cultural inventions.

The following are some of the most important inventions by

Filipino Scientists. Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney)
⮚ It is one of the most recognizable national symbols
of the Philippines and most popular mode of public
transportations in the country.
⮚ The e-jeepney was introduced in Metro Manila and
Bacolod City.
⮚ E-jeepneys are designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating noise and air pollution as they
run on electricity.

Erythromycin
⮚ Abelardo Aguilar, an Ilonggo scientist who invented this antibiotic out of a strain of bacterium
called
Streptomyces erythreus, from which this drug derived its name.
Fig.17. E-jeepney

Fig.18. Abelardo Aguilar and his

Erythromycin
Medical Incubator
 ⮚ Dr. Fe del Mundo, world-renowned Filipino
pediatrician and national scientist who was invented
the incubator and jaundice device.
⮚ She was the first woman pediatrician to be admitted to
the prestigious Harvard University’s School of
Medicine.
⮚ Del Mundo’s incubator was particularly outstanding as

Fig.19.Dr. Fe del Mundo and the Medical incubator

it addressed the state of Philippine rural communities that had no

electricity to aid the regulation of body temperatures of new born
babies.
Mole Remover
⮚ Rolando dela Cruz, who invented the invention of a local
mole remover that use of extracts of cashew nuts
(Annacardium occidentale), which are very common in
Philippines
⮚ The indigenous formula easily caught on its accessibility,
affordability and painless and scarless procedure.
⮚ Dela Cruz won a gold medal for this invention in the International Invention, Innovation,
Industrial design and Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000.

Banana Ketchup
⮚ Maria Orosa, Filipino food Technologist,
invented the banana ketchup, a variety of
ketchup different from the commonly known
tomato ketchup.
⮚ Orosa’s banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in

Fig.20.Rolando dela Cruz’s commercial product- a mole remover formula made of cashew nut extracts

natural color, but is dyed red to resemble the color of the most loved tomato ketchup.
Fig.21.Maria Orosa’s Banana ketchup also called banana sauce

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 8

ACTIVITY 2
 “POSTER MAKING”

Instructions:

1. You will choose (1) a particular group of inventions:

a. Ancient Period
b. Middle Ages
c. Modern Ages
d. Philippine Inventions
2. On a short bond paper, you will draw or paint of an invention from the chosen
group of inventions besides those that were already discussed in this section.
3. At the back of the poster a 50-100 word write up about the invention that
specifically addresses the following questions.
a. What is the invention?
b. What are the foundations of your chosen inventions? What tools existed
prior to it or how did people carry out activities before its inventions?
c. What were the social, political, cultural or economic contexts in which the
invention was made?
d. What were the social, political, cultural or economic impacts of your

chosen invention? “IF I WERE AN INVENTOR……….”

Instructions: In this task, you will address this question: “If you were an inventor,
what would you invent?”. In thinking about an invention, make sure that you come
up with one that has not been invented yet but is possible to be invented in the near
future. On a short bond paper, sketch a draft of your invention then answer the
questions that follow.

1. What is your invention? What does it do?

2. How is your invention similar to or different from existing tools or
technologies in terms of function?
3. Why is there a need for this invention? How will this invention make the world
a better place to live in?

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS
THAT DEFINED SOCIETY
⮚ In this area, interest lies in how intellectual revolutions emerged as a result of the
interaction of science and technology and of society.
⮚ In science and technology, intellectual revolutions refer to the series of events
that led to the emergence of modern science and the progress of scientific
thinking across critical periods in history.
⮚ Revolution denotes a drastic change in what is established, believed, and
embraced by society. ⮚ Although there are many intellectual revolutions, this
section focuses on three of the most important ones altered the way humans
view science and its impacts on society: Copernican, Darwinian, and Freudian
Revolutions.
 COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
⮚ It refers to the 16 – century paradigm shift named after the
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Polish mathematician and astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus,

considered the “Father of Modern Astronomy”
⮚ He formulated the heliocentric model of the universe,
introducing it in a 40-page outline entitled Commentariolus.
⮚ He formalized his model in the publication of his treatise, De
Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium (The Revolution of
Celestial Spheres) in 1543.
Fig.22.Nicolaus Copernicus and his Heliocentric Model

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 9

⮚ In his model, he repositioned the Earth from the center of the Solar System and
introduced the idea that the Earth rotates on its own axis.
⮚ The idea that the Sun is at the center of the universe instead of the Earth proved to
be unsettling to many when Copernicus first introduced his model.
⮚ In fact, the heliocentric model was met with huge resistance, primarily form the
Church, accusing Copernicus of heresy.
⮚ Copernicus faced persecution from the Church because of this.
⮚ Nonetheless, despite problems with the model and the persecution of the
Church, the heliocentric model was soon accepted by other scientists of the time,
most profoundly by Galileo Galilei. ⮚ Isaac Newton – he was the first one to
provide mathematical equations that could prove what Copernicus, Brahe and
Kepler tried to explain.
⮚ Copernican Revolution served as a catalyst to sway scientific thinking away
from age-long views about position of the Earth relative to an enlightened
understanding of the universe. ⮚ It also marked a turning point in the study of
cosmology and astronomy making it a truly important intellectual revolution.

DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
⮚ Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, geologist and
biologist who credited for the stirring another important
intellectual revolution in the mid-19 century.
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⮚ “On the Origin of Species”, his treatise on the

science evolution was published in 1859 and began a
revolution that brought humanity to a new era of
intellectual discovery.
⮚ Darwin posited that species survived through “natural
selection” a process where species that adapt to the
changing environment survive, whereas those that do
not simply die out. These are manifested in offspring
that are more fit and well-suited to the challenges of
survival and reproduction.
⮚ He was considered as the Father of Evolution ⮚ Darwin’s theory of evolution was also met its
resistance and considered to be controversial.
⮚ The Darwinian Revolution can be likened to Copernican Revolution in its demonstration of the power
of the laws of
Finches from Galapagos Archipelago
Fig.23. The beak of an ancestral species of Finches found in the Galapagos has evolved to be able to survive in acquiring different food sources

nature in explaining biological phenomena of survival and reproduction

⮚ Through this revolution, the development of organisms and origin of the unique
forms of life and humanity could be rationalized by lawful system or an orderly
process of change underpinned by laws of nature.

FREUDIAN REVOLUTION
⮚ Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist, is credited for a
20 – century intellectual revolution named after him, the
th

Freudian Revolution.
⮚ Psychoanalysis as a school of thought in psychology is at
the center of this revolution.
⮚ He developed psychoanalysis – a scientific method of
understanding inner and unconscious conflicts embedded
within one’s personality, springing
from free associations, dreams and fantasies of the individual.
⮚ His studies and case observations of different mental illness led him to his
magnum opus Psychoanalysis, a book that detailed the methodology of treating mental illness, which
earned him the title, “Father of Psychoanalysis.”
Fig 24. Sigmund Freud

⮚ Psychoanalysis immediately shot into controversy for it emphasized the existence

of the unconscious where feelings, thoughts, urges, emotions and memories are
contained outside of one’s conscious mind.
⮚ Drives or instincts are recurring concepts in Freud’s theories
⮚ 2 conflicting theories: Eros, refers to survival instincts involving basic hunger,
thirst and sexual impulses; Thanatos, refers to aggressive and self-destructive
instincts driven toward death ⮚ Freud continued to develop multiple theories
including his theorization on the structures of personality- this theory
describes how people act according to different systems of personality.
⮚ The personality is composed of three structures known a (1) id, (2) ego, (3) superego.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 10

a) Id – is the unconscious aspect of the personality that includes

untamed instincts, impulses and desires, it is said to be present
since birth and operates by the pleasure principle that requires
immediate gratification of all desires, wants, and needs to avoid
feeling anything other than pleasure.
 b) Ego – is the structure of personality that is responsible for dealing
with reality; it functions as “referee” that balance the id against
demands and expectations of society. It controls and regulates a
person in accordance with the outside world and is ruled by the
reality principle
c) Superego – is the judicial structure of the personality that holds all
the internalized moral standards and ideals that are acquired
from closed relationships, environment and society. It is the
sense of right and wrong that provides the guidelines for
making judgments and anchored on one’s established moral
standards.
a. Ego ideal (ideal self) –includes the rules and standards for good behavior
one has learned from his or her parents and other figures of authority
b. Conscience ego – rules by reward and punishment system. It is
responsible for the sense of guilt one feels when acting wrongly according
to superego
⮚ These personality systems function as a whole instead of three distinct and
separate entities. ⮚ Some aspects of human personality are more of primal
urges to act upon the most basic needs. ⮚ Other aspects of one’s personality
work to counteract these urges to conform to the demands of reality.

*some examples are found in the powerpoint presentation*

EVOLUTION OF FREUD’S PSCHOANALYSIS

Freud’s theory of psychoanalysis underwent transformation due to

the modification by a number of psychologists of the 20 century, among
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them:

⮚ CARL JUNG, who is known for the development of analytical

psychology, a branch of psychotherapy, was an early supporter of
Freud because of their shared belief in the unconscious. He also
coined the terms “introvert” and “extrovert”
⮚ Albert Adler, developed his own method individual
psychology using a holistic approach to study a person’s
character. He rejected Freud’s theory on the
psychosexual aspect of personality.
⮚ Erik Erickson, accepted Freud’s psychosexual development theory but
modified it as a psychosocial theory. According to this theory, in
each stage of development, there is a psychosocial task that a
person must master to feel a sense of competence. He is known for
coining the terms “identity crisis”.
⮚ Erich Fromm, suggested that personality problems can be traced to
conflicts between human needs and societal demands. His theory’s
emphasis is on the social and cultural influence on human
personality.

Fig 27.Erick Erickson

Fig 25. Carl Jung Fig 26. Albert Adler

Fig 28. Erich Fromm

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 11

ACTIVITY 3
I. Write the structure of personality relevant to the given situation
Eg Superego Id
o

______ 1. Even though Helen needed money, she decided not to steal cash from
her mother’s purse because she did not want to be punished.

______ 2. Andrew was hungry. Rather than waiting for his turn in the canteen, he
reached out to his friend’s plate to have a bite of his sandwich.

______ 3. Xylene saw a calculator lying on top of a table. She asked her classmates
who owned it. When no one claimed it, she gave it to her teacher so that it will be
easier to returned it to the owner when he or she comes looking for it.

______ 4. An angry toddler kept on pounding his pillow until his mother paid attention to him.

______ 5. Gillian was very hungry but decided to wait for her turn to be served in the
canteen rather than take her friend’s food.

II. Define the following: (2points)

1. Heliocentric Model

2. Intellectual Revolution

3. Structures of Personality

4. Psychoanalysis
5. Natural Selection

III. Identify the following:

___________ 1. The scientist who presented the heliocentric theory.

___________ 2. He was considered as the father of evolution.

___________ 3. The scientist who provide the mathematical equations.

___________ 4. He was the father of psychoanalysis.

___________ 5. He was the father of modern astronomy.

God bless!

References:
Quinto, Edwar Jay M., Aileen D. Nieva “Science, Technology, and Society(outcome based
module)” p2-35 Casas, John Miller A., Oierce M. Jusayan, Aida V. Menor and Steve P.
Obanan, “Science, Technology and Society”p. 82.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY(PRELIM) 12