Science Technology & Society

STS
Overview
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
 is an interdisciplinary program that integrates the:
Natural Science
Technology
History
Philosophy
Sociology
Economics
Political Science
Geography
Anthropology
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
is the study of how society, politics, and culture
affect scientific research and technological innovation

and

how scientific research and technological innovation

in turn affect society, politics, and culture.
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
is a field of interrelating disciplines that investigates
how science and technology shape societies, culture,
politics, and economy,

and

how these in turn contribute to the development of

science and technology.
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
As stated by CHED Memorandum Order No. 20:
STS is an Interdisciplinary Course that engage students to confront the realities
brought about by science and technology in society, with all its socio-political,
cultural, economic, and philosophical underpinnings at play.
 These realities pervade the personal, the public, and the global aspect of
life and are integral to human development.
 This course also seeks to instill reflective knowledge in the students so
that they able to live the good life and display ethical decision-making in
both social and scientific dilemmas.
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)

Science
 The systematic body of knowledge of the natural world based on facts
and gained through scientific method.

 Originally called “philosophy of the natural world” since it stemmed from

the ancient Greeks’ desire to know about nature.

 Thus the first scientist were called “philosophers of nature” who sought
to discover the truth behind material things and natural things.
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
Branches of Science
Also referred to as sciences, "scientific fields", or "scientific disciplines" are
commonly divided into three major groups:
 Formal Sciences: The study of Mathematics and Logic.
 Natural Sciences: The study of Natural Phenomena including
Cosmological, Geological, Chemical, and Biological
factors of the universe.
 Social Sciences : The study of Human Behavior and Societies.
Science:
 is the human attempt to understand the natural world
 with or without concern for practical uses of that knowledge.
Examples of the
Natural World:
 Volcanoes
 Gravity
 Atoms
 Plants
 Metals
Science:
 tries to discover facts and relationships and then
 tries to create theories that make sense of
these facts and relationships.
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
Technology
 The term technology comes from two Greek words:
• tekhne meaning “art or craft”
• logia meaning a “subject or interest”

 Taken together, the term has come to mean:

“Practical applications of what we know about nature”
using scientific principles for the betterment of the human situation.

 Technology can be defined as the method or process of using scientific

knowledge to solve physical problems in a simplified and fast manner
through the use of machines.
Technology:
 the human attempt to
change the world . . .
 by creating products
that can help people.
Technology:
 The application of scientific knowledge for practical
purposes, especially in industry.
Technology:
 The making, modification, usage, and knowledge
of tools, machines, techniques in order
 to solve a problem, achieve a goal, or perform a
specific function.
Technology:
 The purposeful application of information in the:
 Design
 Production
 Utilization of goods and services
 Organization of human activities.
Technology
examples:
 Machines
 Gadgets
 Electronics
 DVDs
 Pencil Sharpener
Technology
involves:
 Tools
 Techniques
 Procedures
for putting the findings of science into use.
 Interconnection between
Science and Technology
 Science explores
for the purpose of
knowing, thus
gaining knowledge,

while

 Technology explores for the

purpose of making something
useful from that knowledge.
Interconnection between
Science and Technology
 Science drives Technology
 by making new technology
possible through
 Scientific breakthroughs
Interconnection between
Science and Technology
 Engineers focus on
using science
 To develop products
Interconnection between
Science and Technology
 Without technology, some science
experiments would not be possible.
Interconnection between
Science and Technology
 Without science, technology could
not proceed. Science
is a way of
Knowing

Technology
is a way of
Doing
Society
 is a large group of people who live together in an organized way,
 making decisions about how to do things and
 sharing the work that needs to be done.
Society is composed of:
 People (Families of same race/nationality)
 Government (Administrator or authority)
 Territory (Geographical area under the jurisdiction of government)
 Culture (Traditions, Values, Beliefs, Way of Life, etc.)
 Science, Technology, & Society
(STS)
Innovations & Issues in Technology : NEGATIVE IMPACT
 Transportation & Navigation POLLUTION
 Communications & Record Keeping DISINFORMATION
 Mass Productions WASTAGE
 Security & Protection ARMS RACE
 Health MALPRACTISE
 Aesthetics ABUSE
 Engineering ACCIDENTS
 Architecture LAND USE
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY
link

 Scientific knowledge and technology influences

individual and the society.
 Technology plays an important part in producing
products that affect the quality of life.
 Better understanding of science and technology is
essential
 to know the unique attributes of each enterprise,
 to address their implications for the society.
 Fundamental Differences Between
Science and Technology
SCIENCE (THEORY) TECHNOLOGY (PRACTICE)
Search for knowledge Practical application of knowledge

Way of understanding ourselves and the Way of adapting ourselves to the physical
physical world world
Process of asking questions and finding
Process of finding solutions to human
answers, then creating broad
problems to make lives easier and better
generalizations
Looks for order or patterns in the physical Looks for ways to control the physical
world world
Evaluated by how well the facts support
Evaluated by how well it works
the conclusion or theory
Limited by the ability to collect relevant Limited by financial costs and safety
facts concerns
Discoveries give rise to technological
Advances give rise to scientific discoveries
advances
 Why do we need to study
STS
 Many of the problems facing society today not only
involve technology but also:
 human values
 social organization
 environmental concerns
 economic resources
 political decisions
 host of other factors
 Why do we need to study
STS
 These are interface problems that is the interface
between technology and society and they can be
solved – if they can be solved at all-by the:
 Application of scientific knowledge
 Technical expertise
 Social understanding
 Human compassion
Think about it:
Describe some of the interconnections
between science and technology,
using at least three specific examples.

Use your notes to help.

Write in complete sentences.

(3 sentences minimum)
Thank You