Introduction to Science

Technology, and Society

______________________________________________________
Introduction
This enumerates emerging
ethical dilemmas that reinforce
the importance of the study in an
age of scientific progress and
technological development.
Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the discussion, the students
should be able to:

1. discuss the general concepts related to

science and technology;
2. explain the scope of the study STS; and
3. demonstrate preparedness and
readiness in the study of STS.
Diagnostics
Simply answer TRUE or FALSE.
_____1. Science is a methodical way of
acquiring knowledge.
_____2. Technology is the use of scientific
knowledge for practical purposes.
_____3. STS is the study of how science and
technology shape and are shaped by social
influences.
Diagnostics
Simply answer TRUE or False.
_____4. STS is an important area of the study
because science and technology permeate
every aspect of everyday life.
_____5. STS draws from other disciplines, such
as history, sociology, philosophy and
international relations and science policy.
What is Science?
comes from the Latin word “scientia”
meaning “knowledge”

refers to a systematic and methodical

activity of building and organizing knowledge
about how the universe behaves through
observation, experimentation or both.
What is Science?
According to John Heilbron (2003),
“Modern science is a discovery as well as an
invention.”
He also explained that science required invention to
devise techniques, abstractions, apparatuses and
organizations to describe these regularities and their
law-like descriptions.
What is Technology?
Comes from the Greek word “techne” meaning
art, skill or cunning of hand.
Is the application of scientific knowledge, laws
and principles to produce services, materials,
tools and machines aiming at solving real-
world problems.
What is Technology?
According to Mark Zuckerberg “December
2014)
“What defines a technological tool- one historical
definition is something that makes a human’s sense or
ability or augments it and makes it more powerful. So,
for example, I wear contact lenses or glasses: that is a
technology that enhances my human ability of vision and
makes it better. “
What is Technology?

Wolpert (2005) made an interesting

comparison between science and technology
in the study of their interaction with society. In
his landmark paper, The Medawar Lecture
1998: Is Science Dangerous?
What is Technology?

Wolpert (2005) explained that reliable

scientific knowledge has no ethical
delimmas and policy issues in science and
technology every year:
List of Technology for 2018
Helix- a digital app store designed to read
genomes.
BlessU-2 and Pepper- first robot priest
and monk.
List of Technology for 2018
Emotion-Sensing Facial Recognition- a software being
developed to assess your reactions to anything such as
shopping and playing games.
Ransomware- a way of holding data hostage through
hacking and requiring a ransom to be paid.
List of Technology for 2018
Textalyzer- a device that analyzes whether a driver
was using his or her phone during an accident.
Social Credit System- a system of scoring citizens
through their actions by placing them under
surveillance (which China plays to adopt)
List of Technology for 2018
Google chips- a hands-free camera that lets the user
capture every moment effortlessly.
Sentencing Software- a mysterious algorithm
designed to aid courts in sentencing decision.
List of Technology for 2018
Friendbot- am app that stores the deceased’s digital
footprint so one can still “chat” them.
Citizen App- an app that notifies users of ongoing
crimes od major events in a specific area.
Diagnostics
Simply answer TRUE or False.

TRUE 1. Science is a methodical way of acquiring

knowledge.

TRUE 2. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for

practical purposes.

TRUE 3. STS is the study of how science and technology

shape and are shaped by social influences.
Diagnostics
Simply answer TRUE or False.
TRUE 4. STS is an important area of the study because
science and technology permeate every aspect of everyday
life.
TRUE 5. STS draws from other disciplines, such as history,
sociology, philosophy and international relations and science
policy.