Introduction to Science, Technology and Society

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.

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Science, Technology and Society
School of Health and Natural Sciences
Consolidated by: Mr. Christian Nel R. Dominguez

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By the end of the discussion you should have:
1.discussed the interactions between S & T and society
throughout history.
2.discussed how scientific and technological
developments affect society and the environment.
3.identified the paradigm shifts in history.
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Learning Objectives

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Science
Science is the human
attempt to understand
the natural world, with
or without concern for
practical uses of that
knowledge.
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Science tries to discover
facts and relationships
and then tries to create
theories that make
sense of these facts and
relationships.
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Science
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Science
any system of knowledge that is concerned
with the physical world and its phenomena and
that entails unbiased observations and
systematic experimentation.
involves a pursuit of knowledge covering
general truths or the operations of
fundamental laws.

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Science
is based on the premise that our senses, and
extensions of those senses through the use of
instruments, can give us accurate information about
the Universe.
follows very specific "rules" and its results are
always subject to testing and, if necessary, revision.
even with such constraints science does not exclude,
and often benefits from, creativity and imagination.

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Science may be
defined as the system
of knowledge of the
natural world gained
through the scientific
method.
Scientific Method
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Scientific Method
The scientific method has five basic steps, plus one feedback
step:
1.Make an observation.
2.Ask a question.
3.Form a hypothesis, or testable explanation.
4.Make a prediction based on the hypothesis.
5.Test the prediction.
6.Iterate: use the results to make new hypotheses or
predictions.

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Division of Science
the physical sciences (physics, astronomy, chemistry, geology,
metallurgy),
the biological sciences (zoology, botany, genetics,
paleontology, molecular biology, physiology), and
the psychological sciences (psychology, sociology,
anthropology, maybe economics).
The natural taxonomy of the empirical sciences would break the
sciences down into three basic groups:

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Hierarchy of the Sciences
The scale of the
Universe mapped to
branches of science
and showing how one
system is built atop
the next through the
hierarchy of the
Sciences
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Technology
Technology is the human
attempt to change the world
by creating products that
can helppeople.
It involves tools,techniques
and procedures for putting
thefindings of science to use.
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Technology
•Greek words meaning ‘art or
craft’ and ‘subject or interest’
•‘practical applications of what
we know about nature’
•Products- of imagination, of
thought processes, redesigning
•Purpose- quality of life
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Examples of Technology
Smartphone
Laptop
Electrical Appliances
Machineries
Some examples:
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Science explores for the
purpose of knowing,
while technology
explores for the
purpose of making
something useful from
that knowledge.
Interactions between S & T
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Science drives
technology bymaking
new technology
possible through
scientific
breakthroughs.
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Interactions between S & T
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Engineers focus on using
science to
developproducts.
Without technology,
some science
experiments would not
be possible.
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Interactions between S & T
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Without science,
technology could not
proceed.
The very questions
that scientists askare
shaped by theavailable
technology.
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Interactions between S & T
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Alter the way people
live, connect,
communicate and
transact, with profound
effects on economic
development.
1.
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Role of Science and Technology
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19. 2. Key drivers to development
because technological and
scientific revolutions underpin
economic advances,
improvements in health
systems, education and
infrastructures.
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Role of Science and Technology
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3. The technological revolutions
of the 21st century are
emerging from entirely new
sectors, based on micro-
processors, tele-
communications, biotechnology
and nanotechnology.
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Role of Science and Technology
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4. Products are transforming business
practices across the economy as well as
the lives of allwho have access to their
effects. The most remarkable
breakthrough will come from the
interaction of insights and applications
arising when these technologies
converge.
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Role of Science and Technology
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5.Have the power to better the lives of poor
people in developing countries.
6.Differentiators between countries that are able
to tackle poverty effectively by growing and
developing their economies and those that are
not.
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Role of Science and Technology

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7. Engine growth.
8. Interventions for cognitive
enhancement, proton cancer
therapy and genetic
engineering among others.
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Role of Science and Technology
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The sum total of our
interactions as humans,
including the
interactions that we
engage in to figure
things out and to make
things.
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Society
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A group of individuals involved in
persistent social interaction or a large
social group sharing the same geographical
or social territory,typically subject to the
same political authority and dominant
cultural expectations.
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Society

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Science and technology studies or science,
technology and society studies (STS) is the
study of how society, politics and culture
affect scientific research and
technological innovation and howthese,
in turn, affect society,politics andculture.
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Meaning of STS

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STS makes the
assumption that science
and technology are
essentially intertwined
and that they are each
profoundly soical and
political.
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Meaning of STS
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•Science and technology have had a major
impact on society and their impact is growing.
•By making life easier, science has given man
the chance topursue societal concerns such as
ethics, aesthetics, education and justice to
create cultures and to improve human
conditions.
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Effects of S & T to the Society

29. School of Health and Natural Sciences
Science influences society through its
knowledge and world view. Scientific knowledge
andthe procedures used by scientists influence
the way many individuals in society think about
themselves, others, and the environment. The
effect of science on society is neither entirely
beneficial or entirely detrimental.
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Effects of S & T to the Society

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The impact of science and technology on society
is evident. But society also influences science.
There are social influences on the direction and
emphasis of scientific and technological
development through pressure groups on
specific issues and through generally accepted
social views, values and priorities.
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Effects of S & T to the Society

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Interconnections of STS
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Technology alters how we can
behave. Society drives
technological innovations and
scientific inquiry. Science gives
us insight into what kind of
technologies we could
potentially create and how to
create them, while technology
allows us to conduct further
scientific research.

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How important is
Science to society?
What makes
technology essential
to humanity?
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Ponder on this!
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Science, Technology and Society
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