GNED 06 – UNIT I

IN TR ODU CTION TO S TS
Alcona Mae P. Baltazar, MSc.
 Outline of Presentation
I. The Nature of Science, Technology and Society
A. Definition of Science, Technology and Society
B. Characteristic Processes of Science and
Technology

II. Emergence of Science, Technology and Society

as a new field of study
A. Brief History of STS
B. Relevance of S&T to the Society
 The Nature of Science,
Technology and Society
 Definition of Science and Technology

Investigations of the physical world, including us

and the stuff we make [1].

Making stuff, including stuff used by society,

and in the production and dissemination of
science [1].

The sum total of our interactions as humans,

including the interactions that we engage in to
figure things out and to make things [1].
GNED 06 - UNIT I
AMPBaltazar, 2021
 “During times of crisis, information can mean
the difference between life and death.”
- Esquire Philippines

GNED 06 - UNIT I
AMPBaltazar, 2021
 Characteristic Processes of
Science and Technology

Reliable but tentative.

Ideas can be accepted or rejected.
Uncertain
Dynamic
Cannot make moral or aesthetic decisions. Systemic
Not always a direct ascent toward the truth. Cumulative. [3]
Corrects itself. [2]

GNED 06 - UNIT I
AMPBaltazar, 2021
 Emergence of Science,
Technology and Society as a
new field of study
 Brief History of STS

1800 1900 2000

1760s Mid-1960s Present

Start of Industrial Start of STS as an
Revolution academic field [1, 4]

GNED 06 - UNIT I
AMPBaltazar, 2021
 Relevance of S&T to the Society

1. Contributing to society through

knowledge creation and utilization.
2. Scientific progress has changed the
nature of society, and its sense of
values.
3. Science supports modern civilization.
GNED 06 - UNIT I
AMPBaltazar, 2021
 References:
[1] https://www.f.waseda.jp/sidoli/STS_Intro_01.pdf
[2] https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/0_0_0/nature_07
[3] https://user.iiasa.ac.at/~gruebler/Lectures/Leoben00-
01/ch2%20from%20book.pdf
[4] https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-
transcripts-and-maps/science-technology-and-society-studies