Chapter 1: Historical Antecedents in the Course of Science and Technology

•       Science and technology indeed play major roles in the everyday life.

•       They make difficult and complicated tasks easier and allow people to do more with so little
effort and time.

•       The developments in this field are not just products of people’s imagination or a one-time
thought process; they are also brought about by gradual improvements to earlier works from
different time periods.

•       The driving force behind this continuous progress is the desire to raise the quality of life of
the people.

ANCIENT TIMES

•       In the ancient times, people were concerned with transportation and navigation,
communication and record-keeping, mass production, security and protection, as well as health,
aesthetics and architecture.

Transportation

•       It was significant during that time because people were trying to go places and discover
new horizons.

•       They travelled to search for food and fins better locations for their settlements.

•       They also travelled to trade their surplus goods in exchange for things that they lacked.

•       Navigation assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas in the world. It
allowed them to return home after they discovered new places or completed an important trade
with another group of people.

Communication

•       Was also essential in their endeavors to discover and occupy new places.

•       They needed a way to communicate with the natives of the areas they visited so as to
facilitate trade and prevent possible conflicts.

•       Record-keeping was also important since they needed to remember the places they had
been to and document the trades they made with each other.

Weapons and Armors

•       Were important as well in the discovery of new places or the establishment of new
alliances with other tribes
•       At that time, there was always a risk of conflict when people met others with different
culture and orientations.

•       Conflicts were common especially if different groups struggled to control vital resources.

Conservation of life

•       Primary challenge they faced.

•       The early people might have been successful in harnessing the rich resources that the
world could provide, but their survival posed a great problem.

•       Different illnesses and diseases, both natural and man-made, hampered the full potential
of a human being.

•       Given this predicament, science and technology played a major role in the discovery of
cure to, if not the prevention of, illnesses.

Engineering

•       The development in this field allowed humans to build structures that would address their
specific needs and wants.

•       Some of the structures built during the ancient times still exist today and continually awe
people.

Architecture

•       Others might see architecture as a mere style, but during the ancient time, elaborate
architectural designs were signs of technological advancement of a particular civilization.

SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION

•       Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia.

•       Sumerians are known for their high degree of cooperation with one another and their
desire for great things.

Cuneiform

•       One of the major contributions of the Sumerians is the development of the first writing
system known as the ‘cuneiform’.

Uruk City 

•       Another important contribution of the Sumerians is the City of Uruk.

•       It is a great wonder not only because it is considered to be the first true city in the world but
also for the way it was erected.

•       There were no building stones in the location of this city and lumber was limited, making
the construction a big challenge.

•       Sumerians were able to build the city using only mud or clay from the river, which they
mixed with reeds, producing sun-baked bricks- a true engineering feat.

The Great Ziggurat of Ur 

•       Ziggurat, also called the mountain of God, was built in the same manner that they
constructed the City of Uruk.

•       Without much building materials, the structure was constructed using sun-baked bricks.

•       The ziggurat served as the placed of their chief god

Irrigation and Dikes

•       Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands and at the same
time control the flooding of the rivers. This method was considered as one of the world’s most
beneficial engineering works.

•       Through the dikes and canals, the Sumerians were able to enjoy year-long farming and
harvesting, which increased their food production.

Sailboats

•       At that time, the wheel was not yet invented; the main mode of transportation was through
waterways such as rivers and seas.

•       Boats were used to carry large quantities of products and were able to cover large
distances.

•       The invention of sailboats attributes to address their increasing demands.

Wheel 

•       In the latter part of their history, the Sumerians were able to invent the wheel since the
specialized tools needed to create it were already available.

The Plow

•       Another farm technology invented by the Mesopotamians.

•       However, farmers needed a technology which would enable them to dig the ground where
seeds would be planted.

BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION

•       Emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

•       The Babylonians were great builders, engineers and architects.

•       One of their major contribution is the hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the seven
wonders of the ancient world.

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION

•       Another early civilization famous for its legacy is the Egyptian civilization located in North
Africa.

•       Many stories tell about the engineering feats of the Egyptians especially regarding the
infrastructures established by the pharaohs.

Paper of Papyrus

•       One of the earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization.

•       Although Egypt was not the first to develop a system of writing, they were able to make
writing easier for the world.

•       Papyrus was a plant that grew abundantly along the Nile River. They were able to process
the plant in order to produce thin sheets on which one could write down things.

•       This invention was a major accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping communications.

Ink

•       When Egyptians invented the papyrus or the paper, engraving ceased to be used in
writing. As a result, the Egyptians invented ink by combining soot with different chemicals to
produce inks of different colors.

•       The ink must withstand the elements of nature since it was used to record history, culture,
and codified laws.

•       Ink must also be tamper proof so that people could not simply tinker with those written
down by authorities.

Hieroglyphics

•       System of writing symbols.

•       Egyptians believed that this writing system was provided to them by their Gods.
•       This form of writing can still be seen today and remains to be as famous as the pyramids
where they were found.

•       It was the language that tells the modern world of the history and culture of the Ancient
Egyptians.

•       Their records were well-preserved since they were carved  at the walls of pyramids and
other important Egyptian structure.

Cosmetics

•       In the modern times, cosmetics are used to improve and highlight the facial features of a
person, their function in ancient Egypt was for both health and aesthetic reasons.

•       Egyptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye diseases.

•       Kohl- was created by mixing soot or malachite with mineral galena.

•       Egyptians also believed that a person wearing make-up was protected from evil and that
beauty was a sign of holiness.

  Wig

•       During the Egyptian times, wigs were worn for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic
purposes.

•       The wigs were used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptians from the harmful
rays of the sun.

•       Wearing a wig was better than putting on a scarf or any other head cover since a wig
allowed heat to escape.

•       It was also considered cleaner than natural hair because it prevented the accumulation of
head lice.

Water Clock/ Clepsydra

•       This device utilizes gravity that affects the flow of water from one vessel to the other.

•       It is widely used as a timekeeping device during the ancient times.

GREEK CIVILIZATION

•       Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern part of Europe.

•       Known as the birthplace of western philosophy.

•       Some of the major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on philosophy and
mathematics.
•       More than coliseums and the Olympics, the Greek civilization has contributed much to the
world specially in the fields of science and technology.

Alarm Clock

•       One of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by the ancient Greeks.

•       Although the alarm clock during that time did not resemble the present-day alarm clock,
the purpose was just the same (o tell an individual when to stop or when to start).

Water Mill

•       Were also considered as one of the most important contributions of the Greek civilization
to the world.

•       They were commonly used in agricultural processes like milling of grains which was a
necessary form of food processing during that time.

•       Watermills were considered better than mills powered by farm animals because they
required less effort and time to operate since the farmer did not have to raise animals. They
were only required access to rivers or flowing water where a mechanism of a large wheel with
small “buckets” water attached so it could be installed

ROMAN CIVILIZATION

•       The roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the west.
It was considered to be the cradle of politics and governance during that period.

•       Because the Roman was so large, other civilizations looked up to it as their model in terms
of legislation and codified laws.

•       Aside from their contributions in politics, a lot of discoveries and inventions still relevant
today can be attributed to the Roman Empire.

Newspaper

•       The first newspapers, known as the gazettes, contained announcements of the Roman

Empire to the people.

•       Made before the invention of paper, these gazettes were engraved in metal or stone
tablets and then publicly displayed.

•       When paper was invented, it became easier for the Romans to “publish” matters that
needed the attention of the Roman citizens.

•       In fact, with the advent of paper, minutes of the proceedings of the Roman senate were
done in shorthand.

Bound Books or Codex

•       Caesar started the tradition of stacking up papyrus to form pages of a book.

•       Later on, they were able to provide covers to protect the papyrus.

•       The earlier covers were made of wax but were later on replaced by animal skin which
proved to be stronger and longer-lasting.

Roman Architecture

•       Is one of the most visual contributions of the ancient Roman Empire to the world.

•       It was considered a continuation of Greek Architecture, hence, the resemblance

•       The romans were also able to creatively redesign old architectural patterns to adapt to the
new trends at that time.

Roman Numerals

•       Although other number systems had already been established before the Roman numeral,
these old systems could not keep up with high calculation requirements due to the increasing
rate of communication and trade among nations.

•       Since Roman empire was expanding, it had to deal with many nations to maintain its
power. For this reason, the Romans devised their own number system specifically to address
the need for a standard counting method that would meet their increasing communication and
trade concerns.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION

•       Is considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia, if not the world.

•       Also known as the middle kingdom.

•       China is located on the far east of Asia.

•       It was famous among other civilizations because of its silk trade

Silk

•       It is one of the things that connected Far East China to the world.

•       Although silk is naturally produced by silk worms, the Chinese were the ones who
developed the technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and clothing.

•       The silk trade opened China to the outside world, making way for cultural, economic and
scientific exchanges.

Tea Production
•       It was believed that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese Emperor.

•       Tea production was developed when an unknown Chinese inventor created a machine that
was able to shred tea leaves into strips. Because of this invention, the Chinese were able to
increase their production of tea and trade with other nations.

•       China thus became known for its tea exports aside from its silk products.

Great Wall of China

•       It is said to be the largest and most extensive infrastructure that the nation built.

•       It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and control the borders of China.

•       It is made with stone, brock, wood and other materials, it showcased the extent of Chinese
engineering technology that time.

•       The wall’s construction put the nation among the powerful civilizations during the ancient
times. It was the pride of their land and their crowning glory.

Gunpowder

•       One of the most interesting inventions in China.

•       Originally, it was developed by Chinese alchemists who aimed to achieve immortality.

MEDIEVAL/ MIDDLE AGES

•       The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations.

•       Wars were prevalent during this time.

•       The wars were have resulted in population decline, but during the latter part of the period,
there was a significant rise in population.

•       Trade and commerce among nations increased, which resulted in greater demands for
transportation technology.

•       Some of the most innovative minds came from this period.

Printing Press

•       Johanne Gutenberg was able to invent the printing press.

•       He utilized wooden machines that extracted juices from fruits, attached to them a metal
impression of the letters, and pressed firmly the cast metal into a piece of paper, which then
made an exact impression on paper

•       It is more reliable way printing using a cast type.

•       It was invented to address the need for publishing books that would spread information to
many people at a faster rate.

•       This invention also made works accessible to individuals who could not write (Streissguth,
1997).

Microscope 

•       Zacharias Janssen develop the first compound microscope.

•       With this device, people were able to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the
naked eye.

•       The microscope was key in discovering new means in preventing and curing various
illnesses (Davidson, 2015).

Telescope

•       Since the Middle Ages was also known as the Age of Exploration, the need for nautical
inventions was high.

•       The invention of the telescope, an optical instrument that helps in the observation of
remote objects, was a great help for navigators during this time.

•       Together with the telescope, the invention of the compass, oars, and rudders made sea
travelling easier and safer (Helden, 1989).

War Weapons

•       Since wars were widespread during the Middle Ages, great development in the weaponry
technology also occurred.

•       All sides must develop weaponries not only as offensive tools but also as defensive
instruments.

•       For open-area battles, people developed cross bows and long bows so that they could
attack the enemies at long ranges, keeping themselves safe with the protection of walls and
fortresses.

•       Additionally, in close-range hand-to-hand combat, soldiers should wear something to

protect themselves, a need addressed by the creation of iron body armors.

MODERN TIMES

•       The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded that more
goods be produced at a faster rate.

•       People needed efficient means of transportation to trade more goods and cover a larger
distance.
•       MODERN TIMES

•       Machines that required animals operate must be upgraded.

•       Faster and easier means to communicate and compute should be developed to establish
connections between and among nations.

•       All these need resulted in the development of industries. However, due to massive
industrialization, the modern times again faced more complicated problems. Food processing
and medicine posed some of the bigger challenges since health was of great concern.

Pasteurization

•       The challenge to keep manufactured food from deteriorating was greater for dairy
products, especially milk, since they usually spoiled faster. These goods needed to be
consumed almost immediately after production or they would cause illness.

•       Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist and chemist, found a way to solve the
problem. He invented pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful
bacteria that allow them to spoil faster.

•       Through this process, milk could be stored and consumed for a longer period. It also
prevented illnesses caused by harmful bacteria (Macalester College, 2010).

Petroleum Refinery

•       Samuel M. Kier, was able to invent kerosene by refining petroleum. Kerosene was later on
referred as the “illuminating oil” because it was used at first to provide lighting to homes. After
some time, it was applied for heating purpose.

•       The development of kerosene established the petroleum refinery industry (Skrabec, 2010).

•       At present, petroleum is widely used in powering automobiles, factories, and power plants
among others.

Telephone

•       Invented by Alexander Graham Bell.

•       It was invented because important day-to-day decisions must be discussed and addressed
at the fastest time.

Calculator

•       Circumstances in the modern times required a faster way to compute more complicated
equations.

•       Computing devices must also be easy to carry since they would be utilized on a day-to-day
basis.
•       The creation of modern calculators did not only pave the way for easier arithmetic
calculations, but also resulted in the development of more complex processing machines like
the computer.

PHILIPPINE INVENTIONS

•       Despite being considered developing country, the Philippines also contributes to the global
advancement of Science and Technology.

•       It is quite remarkable to note the ingenuity of the Filipinos despite the lack in resources.

•       Many of the discoveries and inventions made by the Filipinos were therefore built from
indigenous materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment.

Salamander Amphibious

•       Tricycles find it very difficult to traverse the streets. To remedy the issue, H2O
Technologies headed by Dominic N. Chung and Lamberto Armada, together with cHief
Designer Victor “Atoy” Llave, was able to invent the Salamander.

•       It as an amphibious that can cross not only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes.

Salt Lamp

•       Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a lighting system that utilizes a material abundant in the
Philippines- saltwater.

•       She invented the Sustainable Alternative Lighting (SALt) lamp, an environment- friendly
light source that runs on saltwater.

•       It is safer as it poses no risk of fire and emits no toxic gases.

Medical Incubator

•       Dr. Fe Del Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman admitted into Harvard
Medical School, devised a medical incubator made from indigenous and cheap materials which
did not run on electricity.

•       Its main purpose was to maintain conditions suitable for a newborn, usually a pre-term
baby.

Mosquito Ovicidal. Larvicidal Trap System

•       Also known as OL Trap.

•       This trap system is made of natural ingredients that are lethal to mosquitos but safe for
humans and environment.

EJEEPNEY
•       This modern type of transportation utilizes electricity instead of the more expensive diesel.
It environment-friendly since it does not emit any smoke and noise.

Chapter 2: INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

COPERNICAN REVOLUTION

Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543)

•        Was a Polish Renaissance-era mathematician and astronomer.

•       He introduced a new concept known as heliocentrism.

           Heliocentrism- suggested that the center of the Solar System was not                 the earth
but actually the sun.

Claudius Ptolemy

•       A famous philosopher and astronomer.

•       He stated that the planets, as well as the sun and the moon, moved in circular motion
around the Earth.

•       The sun and the moon’s revolution explained the existence of days and nights.

•       He believed that the Earth was at the center- a concept known as geoncentrism

DARWINIAN REVOLUTION

•       It was considered to be one of the most controversial intellectual revolutions of its time.

•       In 1859, Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, biologist, and geologist, published his
book, On the Origin of Species.

The Theory of Evolution by Natural selection

 Darwin’s theory of evolution declared that species survived through a process called
“natural selection”, where those that successfully adapted, or evolved, to meet the
changing requirements of their natural habitat thrived, while those that failed to evolve
and reproduce died  off. Through his observations and studies of birds, plants and
fossils, Darwin noticed similarities among species all over the globe, along with various
 based on specific locations, leading him to believe that the species we know today had
gradually evolved from common ancestors.

FREUDIAN REVOLUTION

•       In the late 19th century, Sigmund Freud was able to change people’s perception of
psychology with his revolutionary theory of psychoanalysis.

Psychoanalysis

- In this theory, Freud explained that there are many conscious and unconscious factors that
can

influence behavior and emotion.

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE IN MESO-AMERICA

·         Meso-America includes the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to
the border of South America.

·         Maya civilization lasted for approximately 2000 years.

·         They incorporated their advanced understanding of astronomy into their temples and
other religious structures.

Example:

a) The “El Castillo Pyramid at Chichen Itza” is situated at the location of the sun during the
spring and fall equinoxes.

 Mayan knowledge and understanding about celestial bodies was advanced for their
times.

-          Predicting eclipses.

-          Using astrological cycles in planting and harvesting.

 Mayan is known for measuring time using two complicated calendar systems.

a.)     Tzolk’in- calendar combines twenty day names with the thirteen day numbers to produce
260 unique days. It is used to determine the time of religious and ceremonial events and for
divination. Each successive day is numbered from 1 up to 13 and then starting again at 1.
Separately from this, every day  is given a name in sequence from a list of 20 day names.

b.)    Haab’- was made up of eighteen months of twenty days each plus a period o five days at
the end of the year known as Wayeb’.
    It is useful for their life especially in planning activities and observing religious rituals
and cultural celebration.

Mayan Civilization

  Mayans also developed technology for growing different crops and building elaborate
cities using ordinary machineries and tools.

   Mayan built looms for weaving cloth.

 Devised rainbow of glittery paints made from mineral called MICA.

  Mayan Hieroglyphics- writing system of Mayan.

  Mayan are considered one of most scientifically advanced societies in Mesoamerica.

 They are skilled in mathematics.

 Created number system based on the numeral 20.

 Developed the concept of zero and positional value even before Roman did.

Inca Civilization

  Famous in Mesoamerica.

1. Roads paved with stones.

2. Stone building that surmounted earthquakes and other disasters.
3. Irrigation system and technique for storing water for their crops to grow in all types of
land.

 Calendar with 12 months to mark their religious festivals and prepare them for planting
season.
 The first suspension bridge.
 Quipu, a system of knotted ropes to keep records that only experts can interpret.
   Inca textiles since cloth was one of the specially prized artistic achivements.

Aztec Civilization            

  Mandatory Education
 Chocolates
 Antispasmodic medication
 Chinampa
 Aztec Calendar
 Invention of canoe

Development of Science in Asia

 Biggest continent in the world.

 Considered as the hoe of many ancient civilizations.
 The host of many cultural, economic, scientific and political activities of all ages.

INDIA

  A huge peninsula surrounded by vast bodies of water and fortified by huge mountains in
its northern boarders.
   Known for manufacturing of iron and in metallurgical works.
 Famous in medicine e.g. AYURVEDA.
 AYURVEDA- a system of traditional medicine that originated in ancient India before
2500 BC.
  Spherical self-supporting earth.
 Year of 360 days with 12 equal parts of 30 days each.
  Siddhanta Shiromani- the interest in astronomy was evident in this book.
 Indus Valley Civilization

1.  The people in this civilization tried to standardize measurement of length to a high

degree of accuracy and designed ruler. (Mohenjodaro Ruler).

  Aryabhatiya
 1.  Introduced a number of trigonometric functions, tables, and techniques as wll as
algorithms of algebra.

   Aryabhata

1.  First of the major mathematician- astronomers from the classical age of Indian
mathematics and Indian astronomy.
2.   Solar and lunar eclipse were scientifically explained by Aryhabata. He states that the
moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight.

 Brahmagupta

1.   Brahmasphutasiddhanta
2.   Defined the properties of the number zero, both as a placeholder and a decimal digit.
3.   Suggested that gravity was a force of attraction.

CHINA

   Traditional Medicine- acupuncture.

  Compass, papermaking, gunpowder, printing tools.
  Astronomy- heavenly bodies, lunar calendars.

Development of Science in the Middle East

   Dominantly occupied by Muslims.

   Greater value on science experiments.
   Hasan Ibn al-Haytham

1. An Arab Mathematician, astronomer, and physicist of the Islamic Golden age.

2.  Father of Optics.

Development of Science in Africa

  Development of geometry
  Center of alchemy
   Studied human anatomy and pharmacology
 Astronomy
 Mathematics

CHAPTER 3: SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND NATION BUILDING

Objectives:

 Discuss the role of science technology in Philippine nation building;

  Evaluate government policies pertaining to science and technology in terms of their
contributions to nation building.
   Identify the actual science and technology policies of the government and appraise
their impact on the development of the Filipino nation.

Brief Historical Background of Science and Technology in the Philippines

 The early inhabitants of the archipelago had their own culture and traditions.

           a.  Own belief system and indigenous knowledge.

           b. Keeps them organized and sustained their lives and communities for                         
many years.

Pre-Spanish Philippines

-          Embedded in the way of life.

  SCIENCE

  Planting crops that provide them food.

  Taking care of animals.
  Food production.
  Interpret the movements of heavenly bodies to predict seasons and climates.
  Medicinal uses of plants.

TECHNOLOGY
  Building houses
 Irrigation
 Developing tolls
 Musical instruments

Spanish Rule

 Brought their own culture and practices.

 Established schools and introduced concepts of subjects and disciplines.
 Learning of science in school focuses on understanding different concepts relate to the
human body, plants, animals and bodies

Life during the Spanish Era

 Became modernized

1.   Filipinos replicated technology brought by the Spaniards using indigenous materials.

2.  Medicine and advanced science were introduced in formal college and universities.
3.   Galleon Trade
4. The galleon trade was supplied by merchants largely from port areas of Fujian who
traveled to Manila to sell the Spaniards spices, porcelain, ivory, processed silk cloth and
other valuable commodities.
5.    From 1565 to 1815, the galleon trade contributed to the change of culture, language
and environment for both Philippines and Mexico.
6.   The Galleon trade was a government monopoly. Only two galleons were used: one
sailed from Acapulco to Manila with some 500,000 pesos worth of goods, spending 120
days at sea; the other sailed from Manila to Acapulco with some 250,000 pesos worth of
goods spending 90 days at sea.
7.   The country became one of the centers of global trade in South East Asia.
8.  Superstitious beliefs and Catholic doctrines and practices halted the growth of science
in the country.

Metal Age Influence

  Gold and Silver Jewelry

Trading with other Countries

American Period

  More influence in the Development of science and technology

 Public education system
  Improved engineering works and health of the people
  Mineral resources were explored and exploited.
  “Americanize” the Filipinos

1.  Reorganized the learning of science

2.   In basic education, science education focuses on nature studies and science and
sanitation.

 Health and Sanitation

1. Filipinos learned the value of cleanliness, proper hygiene, and healthy practices.
2. Hospitals, clinics, and health centers were established including public hospitals and
lepers.

 Infrastructure

1. Americans built roads, streets and bridges

2.   The new infrastructure helped make the movement of products and services more
efficient.
3. Boulevards, zone districts, and centers of leisure were also established.

 World War II

1.  The country had a difficult time to rebuild itself from the ruins of the war.
2.   The human spirit to survive and to rebuild the country may be strong but he capacity of
the country to bring back what was destroyed was limited.
The New Republic

  Focusing on using its limited resources in improving S & T capability.

 Use of Overseas Development Allocation to improve scientific productivity and
technological capability.
 Human resource development.

Influences in the Development of S & T in the Philippines

Internal Influences

 Survival
 Culture
 Economic Activities

External Influences

 Foreign Colonizers
 Traders with Foreign countries
 International Economic Demands

GOVERNMENT POLICIES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  Introduced and implemented programs, projects and policies to boost science and
technology.
 GOAL- prepare the whole country and its people to meet the demands of a
technologically driven world and capacitate the people to live in a world driven by
science.

DOST –NRCP STATEMENT ON THE IMPORTANCE OF IMMUNIZATION

-          “We at the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP) are alarmed that the
controversy involving the use of Dengvaxia as an anti-dengue vaccine has led to substantial
decrease in vaccination rates in other immunization program of the country.

-          Scientific evidence has clearly demonstrated that vaccines have dramatically eradicated
smallpox and polio have greatly reduced child morality in the Philippines  and in many other
parts of the world.
-          The NRCP stands by the government efforts to sustain the immunization programs as w
strongly urge the public to pay attention to knowledge of scienties on the beneficial effects of
immunization.

   In response to the Asean 2015 Agenda, the government, particularly the DOST, has
sought the expertise of the NRCP to consult various sectors in the society to study how
the Philippines can prepare itself in the meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals.
  the NRCP clustered these policies into four:

1.       Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance.

-          Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the curriculum

-          Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue.

-          Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband.

-          Local food security.

2.       Physics, engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and
Mathematics.

-          Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities

-          Outright grants for peer monitoring

-          Review of RA 9184

-          Harnessing science and technology as an independent move of development

3.       Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences

-          Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-harmonized standards by

full implementation of the FDA.

-          Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical services

and care.

-          Empowering foods and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as pool of

information.

-          Allocating 2% of the GDP to research.

-          Legislating a law supporting human genome projects.

4.       Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry

-          Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws.

-          Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries.

-          Promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s conservation

-          Formulation of common food and safety standards.

Chapter 4: Human Flourishing in Science and Technology

Lesson Objectives

·         Identify different conceptions of human flourishing;

·         Determine the development of the scientific method and validity of science; and

·         Critic human flourishing vis-à-vis progress of science and technology to be able to define for
themselves the meaning of a good life.

Flourishing

·         A state where people experience positive emotions, positive psychological functioning and positive
social functioning, most of the time, ”living within an optimal range of human functioning.”

Human Flourishing

·         An effort to achieve self-actualization and fulfilment within the context of a larger community of
individuals, each with the right to pursue his or her own such efforts.

·         Involves the rational use of one’s individual human potentialities, including talents, abilities, and
virtues in the pursuit of his freely and rationally chosen values and goals.

Human civilizations and the development of science and technology

·         Human person as both the bearer and beneficiary of science and technology.

·         Human flourishes and finds meaning in the world that he/she builds.

·         Human may unconsciously acquire, consume or destroy what the world has to offer.

Reflective Thinking
Meditative Thinking

·         Kind of thinking that thinks the truth of being, that belongs to being and listens to it.

Science and Technology

·         Must be examined for their greater impact on humanity as a whole.

TECHNOLOGY AS A MODE OF REVEALING

Martin Heidegger

.A German Philosopher and a seminal thinker in the Continental tradition of Philosophy

·         Widely acknowledged to be one of the most original and important philosophers of the
20th century.

Heidegger’s View on Technology

·         He strongly opposes the view that technology is “a mean to an end” or “a human activity.”

·         These two approaches, which he calls respectively, the “instrumental” and “anthropological”
definitions, are indeed “correct”, but do not go deep enough; as he says, they are not yet “true.”

·         Heidegger points out, technological objects are means for ends, and are built and operated by
human beings, but the essence of technology is something else entirely.

·         Since the essence of a tree is not itself a tree, he points out, so the essence of technology is not
anything technological.

What, then is technology, if it is neither a means to an end nor a human activity?

·         Technology, according to Heidegger must be understood as  “a way of revealing” (Heidegger 1977,
12).

·         Revealing is his translation of the Greek word aletheuein, which means ‘to discover’- to uncover
what was covered over. Related to this verb is the independent noun aletheia, which is usually
translated as “truth”, though Heidegger insists that a more adequate translation would be “un-
concealment.”

What is Reality?

·         According to Heidegger, it is not given the same way in all times and all cultures (Seubold 1986, 35-
6).
·         Not something absolute that human beings can ever know once and for all.

·         Is relative in the most literal sense of the word- it exists only in relations.

·         Inaccessible for human beings. As soon as we perceive or try to understand it, it is not ‘in itself’
anymore, but ‘reality for us.’

How can Technology be ‘a way of revealing’?

1.       What does this have to do with technology?

2.       What does Heidegger mean when he says that technology is “ a way of revealing”?

·         Everything we perceive or thinks of or interact with “emerges out of concealment into un-
concealment,

·         By entering into a particular relation with reality, reality is ‘revealed’ in a specific way.

·         Technology is the way of revealing that characterizes our time.

·         Technology embodies a specific way of revealing the world, a revealing in which humans take
power over reality.

·         While the ancient Greeks experienced the ‘making’ of something as ‘helping something to come
into being’- as Heidegger explains that modern technology is rather a ‘forcing into being’.

·         Technology reveals the world as raw material, available for production and manipulation.

Why is Technology not a Human Activity?

·         According to Heidegger, there is something wrong with the modern, technological culture we live
in today. In our ‘age of technology’ reality can only be present as a raw material (as a ‘standing reserve’).
This state of affairs has not been brought by humans; the technological way of revealing was not chosen
by humans.

·         Rather, our understanding of the world- our understanding of ‘being’, of what it means ‘to be’-
develops through the ages. In our time ‘being’ has the character of a technological ‘framework’, from
which human approach the world in a controlling and dominating way.

·         Every attempt to climb out of technology throws us back in. the only way out of Heidegger is “the
will not to will”.

·         We need to open up the possibility of relying on technologies while not becoming enslaved to
them and seeing them as manifestations of an understanding of being.
 Chapter 5 Human Flourishing as Reflected in Progress and Development

How do we know that we are progressing?

Major indicators of Development:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

-          Poverty Level Per Capita GDP

-          Higher Incomes and Life Expectance

-          Levels of Economic Development

-          The Human Development Index (HDI)

Dr. Jason Hickel

-          “Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries.”

Forget ‘developing’ poor countries, it’s time to ‘de-develop’ rich countries

Dr. Jason Hickel

            Heads of state are gathering in New York to sign the UN’s new sustainable development goals
(SDGs). The main objective is to eradicate poverty by 2030. Beyonce, One Direction and Malala are on
board. It’ set to be a monumental international celebration.

            Given all the fanfare, one might think the SDGs are about to offer a fresh plan for how to save the
world, but beneath all the hype, it is business as usual. The main strategy for eradicating poverty is the
same: growth.

            Growth has been the main object of development for the past 70 years, despite the fact that it is
not working. Since 1980, the global economy has grown by 380%, but the number of people living in
poverty on less than $5 (3.20 euro) a day has increased by more than 1.1 billion. That’s 17 times the
population of Britain. So much for the trickle-down effect.

            Orthodox economists insist that we all need is yet more growth. More progressive types tell us
what we need to shift some of the yields of growth from the richer segments of the population to the
poorer ones, evening things out a bit. Neither approach is adequate. Why? Because even at current
levels of average global consumption, we’re overshooting our planet’s bio-capacity by more than 50%
each year.
            In other words, growth isn’t an option any more- we’ve already grown too much. Scientists are
now telling us that we’re blowing past planetary boundaries at breakneck speed. And the hard truth is
that the global crisis is due almost entirely to overconsumption in rich countries.

            Right now, our planet only has enough resources for each of us to consume 1.8 “global hectare”
annually – standardized unit that measures resource use and waste. This figure is rough what the
average person in Ghana or Guatemala consumes. By contrast, people in the US and Canada consumes
about 8 hectares per person, while Europeans consume 4.7 hectares- may times their fair share.

            What does this mean for our theory of development? Economist Peter Edward argues that
instead of pushing poorer countries to “catch up” with rich ones, we should be thinking of ways to get
rich countries to “catch down” to more appropriate levels of development. We should look at societies
where people live long and happy lives at relatively low levels of income and consumption not as basket
cases that needs to be developed towards western models, but as exemplars of efficient living.

            How much do we really need to live long and happy lives? In the US, life expectancy is 79 years
abd GDP per capita is $53, 000. But many countries have achieved similar life expectancy with a mere
fraction of this income. Cuba has a comparable life expectancy to the US and one of the highest literacy
rates in the world with GDP per capita of only $6,000 and consumption of only 1.9 hectares- right at the
threshold of ecological sustainability. Similar claims can be made of Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua,
and Tunisia.

            Yes, some of the excess income and consumption we see in the rich world yields improvements in
quality of life that are not captured by life expectancy, or even literacy rates. But even if we look at
measures of overall happiness and well-being in addition to life expectancy, a number of low- and
middle- income countries rank highly. Costa Rica manages to sustain one of the highest happiness
indicators and life expectancies in the world with a per capita income one-fourth that of the US.

            In light of this, perhaps we should regard such countries not as underdeveloped, but rather as
appropriately developed. And maybe we need to start calling on rich countries to justify their excesses.

            The idea of “de-developing” rich countries might prove to be string rallying cry in the global
south, but it will be tricky to sell to westerners. Tricky, but not impossible. According to recent customer
research, 70% of people in middle- and high-income countries believe overconsumption is putting our
planet and society art risk. A similar majority also believe we should strive to buy and own less, and that
doing so would not compromise our happiness. People sense there is something wrong with the
dominant model of economic progress and they are hungry for an alternative narrative.

            The problem is that the pundits promoting this kind of transition are using the wrong language.
They use terms such as de-growth, zero-growth or- worst of all – de-development, which are technically
accurate but off-putting for anyone who’s not already on board. Such terms are repulsive because they
run against the deepest frames we use to think about human progress, and, indeed, the purpose of life
itself. It’s like asking people to stop moving positively through life, to stop learning, improving, growing.

            Negative formulations won’t get us anywhere. The idea of “steady-state” economics is a step in
the right direction and is growing in popularity, but it still doesn’t get the framing right. We need to
reorient ourselves toward a positive future, a truer form of progress. One that is geared toward a
positive future, a truer form of progress. One that is geared toward quality instead of quantity. One that
is more sophisticated than just accumulating ever increasing amounts of stuff, which doesn’t make
anyone happier anyway. What is certain is that GDP as a measure is not going to get us there and we
need to get rid of it.

            Perhaps we might take a cue from Latin Americans, who are organizing alternatives visions
around the indigenous concept of buen vivir, or good living. The west has its own tradition of reflection
on the good life and it’s time we revive it. Robert and Edward Skidelsky take us down this road in his
book How Much is Enough? where they lay out the possibility of intervention such as banning
advertising, a shorter working week and a basic income, all of which would improve our lives while
reducing consumption.

            Either we slow down voluntarily or climate change will do it for us. We can’t go on ignoring laws
of nature. But rethinking our theory of progress is not only an ecological imperative; it is also a
development one. If we do not act soon, all our hard-won gains against poverty will evaporate, as food
systems collapse and mass famine re-emerges to an extent not seen since the 19th century.

            This is not about giving up. And it’s certainly not about living a life of voluntary misery or imposing
harsh limits on human potential. On the contrary, it’s about reaching a higher level of understanding and
consciousness about what we’re doing here and why.

Chapter 6 The Good Life

Aristotle

·         Ancient Greek Philosopher.

·         Known for his natural philosophy, logic and political theory.

More on Aristotle:

o   One of the greatest thinkers in the history of western science and philosophy, making contributions
to logic, metaphysics, mathematics, physics, biology, botany, ethics, politics, agriculture, medicine,
dance and theatre.

o   First to classify areas of human knowledge into distinct disciplines such as mathematics, biology, and
ethics.

o   Founder of the Lyceum, first scientific institute, based in Athens, Greece.

o   One of the strongest advocates of a liberal arts education, which stresses the education of the whole
person, including one’s moral character, rather than merely learning a set of skills.
Nichomachean Ethics 2:2

·         All human activities aim at some good. Every art and human inquire, and similarly every action and
pursuit, is thought to aim at some god; and for this reason the good has been rightly declared as that at
which all things aim.

What is meant by good life?

·         Living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries.

·         Characterized by happiness from living and doing well.

·         Content.

What is Eudimonia?

·         Came from the Greek word eu meaning “good” and daimon meaning “spirit”.

·         Refers to the good life marked by happiness and excellence.

·         Flourishing life filled with meaningful endeavors that empower the human person to be the best
version of himself/herself.

Aristotle’s view of Good Life

·         The activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

·         Believed that good for humans in the maximum realization of what was unique to humans.

·         The good for humans was to reason well.

·         The task of reason was to teach humans how to act virtuously, and the exercise faculties in
accordance with virtue.

Virtue/s

·         Behavior showing high moral standards.

·         “paragons of virtue”

·         Synonyms, goodness, virtuousness, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness,

upstandingness, integrity, dignity, rectitude, honesty, honourableness, honorability, honor,
incorruptibility, probity, propriety, decency, respectability, nobility, nobility of soul/spirit, nobleness,
worthiness, worth, good, trustworthiness, meritoriousness, irreproachableness, blamelessness, purity,
pureness, lack of corruption, merit; principles, high principles, ethics.

Nicomachean Ethics 2:1

Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes its birth and
growth in teaching (for its reason it requires experience and time). While moral virtue comes about as a
result of habit.

The Virtues:

Intellectual Virtue Moral Virtue

·         Theoretical wisdom (thinking and truth) ·         Controlled by practical wisdom (ability to
make right judgment).
·         Practical wisdom ·         Owed its development to how one nurtured it
as habit.
·         Understanding. Experience and time are ·         Can be leaned.
necessary requirements for the development of
intellectual virtue.
 

Happiness to Aristotle

·         “Happiness depends on ourselves.”

·         Central purpose of human life and a goal in itself.

·         Depends on the cultivation of virtue.

·         A genuinely happy life required the fulfilment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as
well as mental well-being.

Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose of Human Existence

·         Happiness is a final end or goal that encompasses the totality of one’s life.

·         It is not something that can be gained or lost in a few hours, like pleasurable sensations.

·         It is more like the ultimate value of your life as lived up to this moment, measuring how well you
have lived up to your full potential as a human being.

Science and Technology and Good Life

·         Science and Technology is also the movement towards good life.

·         Science and Technology are one of the highest expressions of human faculties.

·         Science and Technology allow us to thrive and flourish if we desire it.

·         Science and Technology may corrupt a person.

·         Science and Technology with virtue can help an individual to be out of danger.

Why is it that everyone is in the pursuit of the good life?

·         “Life is good! It is only our thoughts, choices and actions towards the situations we meet in life
each moment of time that makes life look bad! The same bad situation in life that makes one person
think badly inspires another to do a noble thing! The same good situation in life that makes one person
feel so good to get into a bad situation inspires another person to create another good situation because
of the good situation. It is all about thoughts, choices and actions! Life is good! Live it well!”- Ernest
Agyemang Yeboah.

One must find the truth about what the good is before one can even try to locate that which is good.

Chapter 7:  When Technology and Humanity Cross

Technology

·         “techne” and “logos”.

·         A discourse on art (Buchanan, 2010)

·         Concepts like machines and tools were also attached to the word “technology”

·         In one way or another, each person in the society is directly or indirectly affected by technology
whether he wills it or not.

·         Most people survive their everyday lives with great reliance to the different technological
advancements already available to the masses.

·         Technology is already an inevitable part of the society.

Necessity or Want?

ü  Convenience

ü  Pleasure

ü  Happiness

ü  Communication

·         Anything too much is bad.

·         Various ethical dilemmas involving the use of technological devices.

·         Misuse or invention to produce bad results.

Television sets, Mobile Phones, Computers and Humanity

Television

·         According to Kantar Media, in the Philippines, 92% of urban homes an 70% percent of rural homes
own at least one television set.

·         Households with tv set reached 15.35 million (Noda, 2012)

·         Ultimate medium for advertisement placements

·         Almost all use this particular type of device.

·         Television plays a great role in the lives of the people.

Paul Gottlieb Nipkow

·         Late 1800s

·         Successful in his attempt to send images through wires with the aid of a rotating metal disk
(Nipkow disk)

·         “Electric telescope”- 18 lines of resolution.

Alan Archibald Campbell- Swinton and Boris Rosing

·         New system of television by using the cathode ray tube in addition to the mechanical scanner
system.

Mobile Phones

·         Filipinos love to use their mobile phones anywhere, anytime.

·         More than half of the Filipino population own at least one mobile phone regardless of type.

·         2010, Synovate declared 67 % product ownership in the country.

·         Mobile phones are considered a must-have among young Filipinos (ABS-CBN News, 2010).

·         1 out 0f 3 Filipinos cannot live without a mobile phone- Ipsos Media Atlas Philippines Nationwide
Urban 2011-2012 survey.
o   The first call ever made on a cell phone, was from an engineer named Martin Cooper calling a rival
engineer to brag about his accomplishment.

o   Mobile phone used by Cooper (Motorola DynaTAC 8000x in 1983.

Computer and Laptops

·         Not possible for all Filipino families to own at least one computer or laptop.

·         Most profits gained by computer and laptop manufacturers come from offices, businesses, or
schools.

·         Growing number of Internet users in the Philippines, problems regarding the Internet providers.

Charles Babbage

·         Release in June 1981 by the Osborne Computer Corporation, the Osborne 1 is considered to be the
first true portable, full-featured computer.

Facts about Filipinos and their use of gadgets and the Internet:

·         Mobile phone subscription is at 119 million.

·         3.2 hours on mobile and 5.2 hours on desktop daily.

·         Philippine has one of the highest digital populations in the world.

·         47 million active facebook accounts.

·         Fastest-growing application market in SEA.

Roles played by these Technological Advancements

·         Television sets

·         Mobile phones

·         Computers and laptops

Ethical Dilemmas

1.      Most parents would argue that these devices make their children lazy and unhealthy.

2.      People are freely exposed to different things on televisions, mobile phones, laptops or computers.
Ethics of Responsibility

-          “what ought to be allowed?”

Robotics and Humanity

Robot

·         An actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of autonomy, moving
within its environment, to perform intended tasks.

·         Autonomy- ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing without human
intervention.

Service Robot

·         A robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding industrial application.

·         A robot may be classified according to its intended application as an industrial robot or a service
robot.

Personal Service Robot

·         Service robot for personal use.

·         Used for noncommercial task, usually by laypersons.

·         Examples: domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot, pet
exercising robot.

Professional Service Robot

·         Service robot for professional use.

·         Used for a commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator.

·         Examples: cleaning robot for public places, delivery robot, firefighting robot, rehabilitation robot,
surgery robot.

George Devol

·         An American inventor known for developing Unimate, the first material handling robot employed
in industrial production work.

Roles Played by Robotics

·         Ease the workload of mankind.

·         Make life more efficient and less stressful.

·         Perform complicated activities.

·         Pleasure, entertainment in parks or exhibits.

·         Toys, child-friendly

·         Used in movies.

Isaac Asimov

·         Was an American writer and professor of biochemistry at Boston University.

Three (3) Laws of Robotics by Isaac Asimov

1.      A robot may not injure a human being or through inaction, allow a human being to come harm.

2.      A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with
the First Law.

3.      A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or
second law.

Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics

1.      Safety

o   Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot?

o   Who should be blamed, the robot, the agent using the robot, or the maker/inventor of the robot?

2.      Emotional Component

o   It is not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions.

o    What if robots become sentient?

o   Should they be granted robot rights?

Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us?

Concern for Humanity

-          Bill Joy, the author of the Article “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us”, brings no joy to readers
when discussing how the advancement of technology will affect the human race. His views on the
progression of technology in the world embody a skeptical outlook on peaceful relations with machines
if/when robots become “intelligent”.

Why haven’t others take notice of the possible dangers?

-          If Joy’s concerns are valid, why is it that most people aren’t taking interest towards this topic?

-          Do any of you feel that because technology and humanity are so well blended together that the
thought of technology turning against us does not cross our mind?

Setting the Scene

-          To discuss the possible outcomes of intelligent life, one must have a context that helps explain the
outcomes. A passage quoted in the article sets up two scenarios, assuming all human work is now done
by highly organized systems made of intelligent machines.

1.      Machines are permitted to make all their own decisions.

2.      Human control over the machines will be retained.

The Possible Outcomes

In respect to the first scenario, the possible outcome described by Kaczynski is as follows:

a.      Intelligent robots do all the work and make their own decisions.

b.      Though we are not making the assumption that the machines would willfully seize the power, it is
evident that the fate of the human race would be in their hands because they are doing all the labor.

c.       Because it is impossible to guess the behavior of a machine, the possibility that they seize power is
very real.

d.      If machines do decide to act in a threatening way towards the human race, there will be no
defense against the attack thus making certain the doom of the human race.

In the second scenario, Kaczynski’s description of the outcome is as follows:

a.      The human race retains power over the machines.

b.      The few who are considered the elite take control over the large systems of machines while the
average man has his private machines like cars.

c.       Because the machines are doing all the work, human will become a useless burden on the system
thus leaving the elite with a few choices on what to do with humanity.
o   If the elite are ruthless, which many of them are, they can choose to exterminate humanity with the
intelligent robots.

o   If the elite are humane, they can lower reproduction rate until the mass of humanity goes extinct.

o   If the elite are soft-hearted liberals they can take care of the masses, but only in order to domesticate
them.

What would you do?

If you had to choose whether to trust intelligent machines with the capability of making their own
decisions or letting the elite have control over the large system of machines that do all the work humans
once did, which would you prefer?

What is Information? Information - Knowledge communicated or obtained concerning a specific fact of

circumstance. - Facts provided or learned about something or someone. Information Age - A period
starting in the last quarter of the 20th century information became effortlessly accessible through
publications and through the management of information by computers and computer networks. - It is a
true new age based upon the interconnection of computers via telecommunications, with these
information systems operating on both a real-time and as-needed basis. Furthermore, the primary
factors driving this new age forward are convenience and user-friendliness which, in turn, will create
user dependence. Timeline of the Information Age 3000 BC - Sumerian writing system used pictographs
to represent words. 2900 BC - Beginnings of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing. 1300 BC - Tortoise shell and
oracle bone writing were used. 500 BC - Papyrus roll was used. St. Nicolas College of Business and
Technology GENERAL EDUCATION STS – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 220 BC - Chinese small
seal writing was developed. 100 AD - Book (parchment codex). 105 AD - Woodblock printing and paper
was invented by the Chinese. 1455 - Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press using movable
type. 1755 - Samuel Johnson’s dictionary standardized English spelling. 1802 - The Library of Congress
was established. - Invention of the carbon arc lamp. 1824 - Research on persistence of vision published.
1830’s - First variable design for a digital computer. - Augusta Lady Byron writes the world’s first
computer program. 1837 - Invention of the telegraph in Great Britain and the United States. 1861 -
Motion pictures were projected onto a screen 1876 - Dewey Decimal system was introduced. 1877 -
Eadweard Muybridge demonstrated high-speed photography. St. Nicolas College of Business and
Technology GENERAL EDUCATION STS – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 1899 - First magnetic
recordings were released. 1902 - Motion picture special effects were used. 1906 - Lee DeForest invented
the electronic amplifying tube (triode). 1923 - Television camera tube was invented by Zvorkyn. 1926 -
First practical sound movie. 1939 - Regularly scheduled television broadcasting began in the US. 1940s -
Beginnings of information science as a discipline. 1945 - Vannevar Bush foresaw the invention of
hypertext. 1946 - ENIAC computer was developed. 1948 - Birth of field-of-information theory proposed
by Claude E. Shannon. 1957 - Planar transistor was developed by Jean Hoerni. 1958 - First integrated
circuit. 1960s St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION STS – SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY - Library of Congress developed LC MARC (machine-readable code). 1969 -
UNIX operating system was developed, which could handle multitasking. 1971 - Intel introduced the first
microprocessor chip. 1972 - Optical laserdisc was developed by Philips and MCA. 1974 - MCA and Philips
agreed on a standard videodisc encoding format. 1975 - Altair Microcomputer Kit was released: first
personal computer for the public. 1977 - RadioShack introduced the first complete personal computer.
1984 - Apple Macintosh computer was introduced. Mid 1980s - Artificial intelligence was separated form
information science. 1987 - Hypercard was developed by Bill Atkinson recipe box metaphor. 1991 - Four
hundred fifty complete works of literature on one CD-ROM was released. January 1997 - RS (encryption
and network security software) Internet security code cracked for a 48-bit number. Information Anxiety
St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION STS – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY - Human cost of information overload. - In the words of Richard Saul Wurman (author of the
book ‘Information Anxiety’), it is produced by the ever widening gap between what we understand and
what we think we should understand. It is the black hole between data and knowledge, and what
happens when information doesn’t tell us what we wany or need to know.” Truths of the Information
Age 1. Information must complete. 2. Newer id equated with truer. 3. Selection is a viewpoint. 4. The
media sells what the culture buys. 5. The early word gets the perm. 6. You are what you eat and so is
your brain. 7. Anything in great demand will be counterfeited. 8. Ideas are seen as controversial. 9.
Undead information walks ever on. 10.Media presence creates the story. 11.The medium selects the
message. 12.The whole truth is a pursuit. Computer - An electronic device that stores and processes
data (information). - Runs on a program that contains the exact, step by step directions to solve a
problem. Type of Computer 1. Personal Computer - Single- user instrument. - Known as microcomputers
since they were a computer but built on a smaller scale. 2. Desktop Computer - PC that is not designed
for portability. - Workstation: desktop computer that has a more powerful processor, additional
memory, and enhanced capabilities for performing special group of tasks. 3. Laptops - Portable
computers that integrate the essentials of a desktop computer in a battery-operated package. 4.
Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) - Tightly integrated computers that usually have no keyboards but rely
on a touch screen for user input. - Typically, smaller than a paperback, lightweight, and battery-
powered. St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION STS – SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY 5. Server - Computer that has been improved to provide network services to
other computers. - Usually boast powerful processors, tons of memory, and large hard drives. 6.
Mainframes - Huge computer systems that can fill an entire room. - Used by large firms that process
millions of transaction everyday. 7. Wearable Computer - Materials that are usually integrated into cell
phones, watches, and other small objects or places. - Perform common computer applications such as
databases, emails, multimedia, and schedules. The World Wide Web (Internet) - Claude E. Shannon-
“Father of Information Theory” - Internet- worldwide system of interconnected networks that facilitate
data transmission among innumerable computers. Applications of Computer on Science and Research -
Bioinformatics o Application of information technology to store, organize, and analyze vast amount of
biological data. - SWISS-PROT protein sequence database. - Rational drug discovery. - Plant
biotechnology. How to Check the Reliability of Web Sources? 1. Who is the author of the article/site? 2.
Who published the site? 3. What is the main purpose of the site? Why did the author write it and why
did the publisher post it? 4. Who is the intended audience? 5. What is the quality of information
provided on the website?

Chapter 9: Biodiversity Biodiversity and Ecosystem - Is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the
entire earth. It encompasses all kinds of life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-
celled organisms. - Its definition is in the structural and functional perspective and not as individual. -
Biodiversity is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the source of life
for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in industry. -
Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the relationship
of the biotic, the living organisms and the abiotic, the nonliving organisms. - Interdisciplinary approach is
needed to study the ecosystem. - Biodiversity plays a major role in this natural dynamic. - Therefore, we,
as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the biodiversity of all creatures. - In
simple terms, it is true that people will always depend on biodiversity on the wholeness of our being in
our everyday lives. - Somehow, there are ways and processes in the ecosystem that are not apparent
nor appreciated by us, human beings. - Think about the need to drink clean and fresh water, the need to
eat healthy vegetables and food, of the need of man to transport which makes him rely on fuel. - If we
fail to keep the process of taking care of the ecosystem, it is us who are actually putting our lives at risk.
- Significant decline in biodiversity has direct human impact when ecosystem in its insufficiency can no
longer provide the physical as well as social need of human beings. - Indirectly, changes in the
ecosystem affect livelihood, income, and on occasion, may even cause political conflict. Changes in
Biodiversity - Alteration in any system could bring varied effects. St. Nicolas College of Business and
Technology GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY - A change in biodiversity could
have erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in human beings. - We can clearly infer
that when our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity encounters changes that may impact
human health on such different levels. Major Threats to Biodiversity (Identified by United Nations’
Environment Programme) - Habitat loss and destruction. - Alteration in ecosystem composition. - Over-
exploitation. - Pollution and contamination. - Global climate change. Consequences of Biodiversity Loss -
Even without the improvement of technology and science at present, we still have a lot to learn about
biodiversity, more so about the consequences of biodiversity loss. However, the basic concept about
biodiversity loss was from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace. - The particular species making up
an ecosystem determine its productivity, affect nutrient cycles and soil contents, and influence
environmental conditions such as water, cycles, weather patterns, climate and other non-biotic aspects.
- The loss of biodiversity has many consequences that we understand and many that we do not.
Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity - According to the World Health Organization, biodiversity is a vital
element of a human beings nutrition because of its influence to food production. - Biodiversity is a major
factor that contributes to sustainable food production for human beings. - A society or a population
must have access to a sufficient variety of nutritious food as it is a determinant of their health as human
beings. - Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels; the ecosystem, with food production as an
ecosystem service. - Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the
same food can differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet. - Intensified and
enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection (pesticides), or the
introduction of crop varieties and cropping patters affect biodiversity and thus impact global nutritional
status and human health. Health, Biology and Biodiversity - Almost all living organisms are dependent to
their environment to live and reproduce. Basic needs of living organisms such as air, water, food and
habitat are provided by its environment. St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL
EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY - The evolution of human beings was due to the
improved access to these basic needs. Advances in agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene
have had a far greater impact on human health than medical. - Environmental hazards increase the risk
of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and many other illnesses. These hazards can be physical, such as
pollution, toxic chemical, and food contaminants, or they can be social, such as dangerous work, poor
housing conditions, urban sprawl, and poverty. - Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene
can lead to infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, cholera. - The interrelation between human health and
biological diversity considerable and complex. With the current biodiversity loss at unprecedented rates,
the delicate balance between human health and biological diversity is at risk. Environmental- Related
Illnesses - Some human illnesses that are found to be related with its environment include Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, obesity,
occupational injuries, dysentery, arthritis, malaria, and depression. - According to experts, climate
change could also have a serious impact on human health and could deteriorate farming systems and
reduce nutrients in some foods. - Relationships between human health and the environment raise many
ethical, social, and legal dilemmas by forcing people choose among competing values. Many of the
issues at the intersection of health and the environment have to do with managing benefits and risks. -
For example, pesticides play an important role in increasing crop yields, but they can also pose hazards
to human health and the environment. Alternatives to pesticide uses could significantly reduce
agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and increased food prices which would, in turn
increase starvation in some parts of the world. - When drafting and implementing environmental health
regulations, it is important to consider vulnerable subpopulations. - A vulnerable subpopulation is a
group with an increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of an environmental risk factor, due to their
age, genetics, health status, or some other condition. - If an environmental regulation is designed to
protect average members of the population, it may fail to adequately protect vulnerable
subpopulations. However, almost everyone in the population has an above-average susceptibility to at
least one environmental risk factor. - Various public health strategies pit the rights of individuals against
the good society, such as mandatory treatment, vaccination, or diagnostic testing; isolation and
quarantine; and decease surveillance. - Human right issues also come up with research on
environmental health that evolves human subjects. - For research to be ethical, human subjects must
give consent, and great care must be taken to ensure that they understand that they can opt out of the
research project. St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY - Since late 1990’s some pesticide companies have tested their products on
human subjects to gather data to submit to the government for regulatory purposes. - Some
commentators charge that these experiments are unethical because they place people at unacceptably
high risk without a clear benefit to society. - Others have argued that the experiments, if properly
designed and implemented, could produce important benefits to society by providing useful knowledge
about the effects of pesticides that can lead to strong regulations.

Chapter 10: The Nano World The Nano World - The global market leader for tips for Scanning Probe
Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy. - Sphere of influence of nanotechnology. Scanning Probe
Microscopy (SPM) - A branch of microscopy that forms images of surfaces using a physical probe that
scans the specimen. - Founded in 1981, with the invention of the scanning tunneling microscope, an
instrument for imaging surfaces at the atomic level. Atomic Force Microscopy - Is a type of scanning
probe microscopy (SPM), with demonstrated resolution on the order of fractions of a nanometer, more
than 1000 times better than the optical diffraction limit. The information is gathered by “feeling” or
“touching” the surface with a mechanical probe. Origin of Nanoscience - In 1959, it was discussed by the
renowned physicist Richard Feynman in his talk There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom, in which he
described the possibility of synthesis via direct manipulation of atoms. - In 1960, Egyptian engineer
Mohamed Atalla and Korean engineer Dawon Kahng at Bell Labs fabricated the first MOFSET (metal-
oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) with a gate oxide thickness of 100 nm, along with a gate
length of μm. - In 1962, Atalla and Kahng fabricated a nanolayer-base metal-semiconductor h=junction
(M-S Junction) transistor that used gold (Au) thin films with a thickness on 10 nm. Origin of Nano
Technology - The term “nano technology” was first used by Norio Taniguchi in 1974. - In 1986, K. Eric
Drexler used the term “nanotechnology” in his book Engines of Creation: The Coming Era of
Nanotechnology, which proposed the idea of a nanoscale “assembler” which would be able to build a
copy of itself and of other items of arbitrary complexity with atomic control. - In 1980, the emergence of
nanotechnology as a field in occurred through convergence of Drexler’s theoretical and public work. St.
Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
- In 1986, Drexler co-founded The Foresight Institute to help increase public awareness and
understanding of nanotechnology concepts and implications. Nanoscience and Technology - Branch of
science that studies systems and manipulates matter on atomic, molecular and supramolecular
scales/ultra-small scale (the nanometer scale). Nanotechnology - Study of what happens when things
get very, very small- only a few atoms in size. - Refers to the science, engineering, and technology
conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers. - Employs the study and application of
exceptionally small things in material science, engineering, physics, biology and chemistry. -
Nanotechnology is a very diverse field that is having bigger impacts on the world. o Has applications in
medicine, cars, spacecrafts, food, electronics, and materials science just to name a few. o Refers broadly
to a field applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the control of matter on the molecular
level in scales smaller than 1 micrometer, normally 1 to 100 nanometers, and the fabrication of devices
within that size range. Nanometer - A Unit of spatial measurement that is 10-9 meter or one billionth of
a meter. - Commonly used in nanotechnology, the building of extremely small machines. Nanoscale and
nanostructures Types of Microscope Used in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology 1. Electron Microscope
St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY - A microscope that uses beam of accelerated electrons as a source of illumination. - In 1930,
German engineers Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll built the first electron microscope. 2. Atomic Force
Microscope - A type of high resolution scanning probe microscope that has a resolution that you can
measure in fractions of a nanometer. - Was pioneered in 1986 by Nobel Prize Winner Gerd Binnig along
with Calvin Quate and Christoph Gerber. Possible Applications of Nanotechnology in the Philippines -
Information and Communication Technologies and Semiconductors - Health and Medicine - Energy -
Food and agriculture - Environment Nanotech Roadmap for the Philippines - Information and
Communication Technologies and semiconductors - Heath and Biomedical - Energy - Agriculture and
Food - Environment - Heath and Environmental Risk - Nano-metrology - Education and Public Awareness
St. Nicolas College of Business and Technology GENERAL EDUCATION SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND
SOCIETY Advantages of Nanotechnology - Offers the potential for new and faster kinds of computers. -
More efficient power sources. - Life-saving medical treatments Disadvantages of Nanotechnology -
Economic disruption - Possible threats to security, privacy, health and the environment Nanotechnology
and Environment Benefits - Improved detection and removal of contaminants. - Development of benign
industrial processes and materials. Concerns - High reactivity and toxicity. - Pervasive distribution in the
environment. Nanotechnology and Health Benefits - Improved medicine - Could save lives by making
diagnosis and treatment far more effective. Concerns - Ability to cross cell membranes and translocate
in the body. - No FDA approval needed for cosmetics and supplements. Nanotechnology and Health
Benefits - Better products - New jobs Concerns - Redistribution of wealth. - Potential costs of clean ups
and health care. - Accessibility to all income levels. Top ten (10) Uses and Applications of
Nanotechnology by UNESCO 1. Energy storage, productions, an conversion. 2. Agricultural productivity
enhancement. 3. Water treatment and remediation. 4. Disease diagnosis and screening. 5. Drug delivery
systems. 6. Food processing and storage. 7. Air pollution and remediation. 8. Construction. 9. Health
monitoring. 10.Vector and pest detector and control.