THE RELATIONSHIP OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Introduction
The relationship of Science, Technology and Society proves to be of increasing
concern in this era of technological and scientific knowledge dependency. Contrary to the
general misconception as being commensally symbiotic, science and technology goes hand in
hand in shaping the society of today (MacKenzie and Wajcman, 1999).
Brooks (1994), in his article, “The relationship between science and technology”,
highlighted how science contributes to technology in six (6) ways – (1)science as a direct
new source of technological ideas, (2)science as a source of engineering design tools and
techniques, (3)Instrumentation, laboratory and techniques, and analytical methods, (4)the
development of human skills, (5)technology assessment, and (6)science as a source of
development strategy – and how technology, in-turn, contributes to science in two (2) ways –
(1)technology as a source of new scientific challenges and (2)instrumentation and
measurement techniques – all of which, in one way or another, have been utilized by research
in efforts of improving the quality of life on Earth. This may be observed in something as
massive and complex as a nuclear bomb or a rocket ship, or something as miniature and
trivial as a mechanical pen or a nail clipper. With just a bit more appreciation, one can come
to realize the countless implications of science researches in technology and how it shapes
society.
Body
The illustration provided above displays a scenario of how a photocopier is used by
people on a daily basis. Photocopying is one of the many innovations and conveniences
brought about by science and technology as a product of research. It is also one that is
underappreciated despite the drastic improvement and convenience it brought on the book
production and information dissemination scene over the span of time. Although this seems
convenient and innovative in the present time, origin of this mechanism was not so.
The history of photocopying goes as far back as 618 AD when the Chinese employed
a wood-block technique which became widely used for printing on paper (Asian Art
Museum, 2021). This method was done by engraving text to wood whose surface will be
inked and covered with paper to transfer the text being copied (Asian Art Museum, 2021).
Although this technique was used for many years following its popularization, the process
was deemed “time-consuming” (Asian Art Museum, 2021). As such was the circumstance, it
called for an innovation. In the following years of 1040 AD, a movable type was invented,
which served as the blueprint for the preceding innovations such as the printing press and
eventually, the digital photocopiers of today (Asian Art Museum, 2021).
In 2019 alone, 95.35 million units of photocopying machine were sold around the
world (Alsop, 2021). Photocopying has become an unconscious staple in the lives of common
students and office workers, along with countless other scientific and technological
advancements which now shapes society.

Conclusion
It is through the research discipline that people of today are able to receive the
benefits of technological innovations through the application of scientific principles in the
various fields of our society. Like availing the service provided by a photocopying machine, a
lot of countless products of science and technology has become an unconscious part of daily
living as humans within a society.
Science and technology may seem like they can exist independently but their internal
connections are much stronger than their cross connections (Brooks, 1994). With careful
study and application, the collaboration of the two fields has long since provided us humans
comfort and can further be useful in uncovering knowledge for the future. As Giacomelli and
Giacomelli (2004) may have stated in their article on “science, technology and society”, “…
without scientific research there is no technological progress and without technology we
would not have new instruments for research.”
References

Alsop, T. (2021, September 1). Global printer market share by vendor 2021. Statista.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/541347/worldwide-printer-market-vendor-
shares/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20there%20were%2094.35,and%20multifunctional
%20systems%2C%20shipped%20worldwide.

Asian Art Museum. (2020, March 26). The invention of woodblock printing in the Tang
(618–906) and Song (960–1279) dynasties - education - asian art museum. Education.
https://education.asianart.org/resources/the-invention-of-woodblock-printing-in-the-
tang-and-song-dynasties/.

Brooks, H. (1994). The relationship between science and Technology.

https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/files/sciencetechnology.pdf.

Giacomelli, G., & Giacomelli, R. (2005, August). (PDF) Science,Technology and Society -
Researchgate. ResearchGate.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/2173424_Sciencetechnology_and_society.

MacKenzie, Donald and Wajcman, Judy, eds. (1999) The social shaping of technology. 2 nd
ed., Open University Press, Buckingham, UK.