Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

• The course examines the interplay between science, technology, and social, cultural, political, and economic factors.
• It explores how these elements impact and are shaped by each other.
• This interdisciplinary approach encourages students to understand the realities brought about by science and technology in society.
• It aims to instill critical thinking, ethical decision-making, and a holistic understanding of scientific and technological advancement in societal contexts, including personal, public, and global aspects.

Defining Science

• Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge about the natural and social world through systematic methodology based on evidence.
• Science involves organized inquiry into natural phenomena, aiming to understand the world more deeply and gain useful knowledge.
• Science is an intellectual activity designed to discover information about the natural world and find patterns in collected data.
• A primary goal of science is to identify order amongst various facts.
• Science is a culture of doubt, contrasting with religion's culture of faith.

Defining Technology

• Technology is the rational process of creating tools, devices, systems, and methods to transform matter, energy, and information to achieve specific ends.
• It can be viewed as the set of means created to order and transform matter, energy, and information.
• Technology includes the knowledge necessary to make these means functional and the processes of developing these creations.
• Technology also refers to a combination (system) of the process itself, the elements created, and the resulting worldview.

Defining Society

• Society is a group of people interconnected through consistent relationships who share a common territory, political authority, and cultural expectations.
• It comprises varied individuals and numerous societal groups such as ethnic groups, organized associations, and other like-minded entities.
• Society is a collection of individuals structured economically, socially, and through industrial infrastructure.

Socio-Technological Change

• Societal change occurs in two main ways:
  • Innovation (adding new elements like technology, practices, institutions, and beliefs).
  • Extinction (eliminating old elements).

Types of Societies

• Societies are classified based on their technological development, ranging from Hunter-Gatherer to Industrial and Information-based societies—with varying levels of control over the environment and cultural features.

STS (Science, Technology, and Society)

• STS is a field of study that examines the interactions between science, technology, and society.
• It investigates the nature of science, and how science is situated in society.
• STS studies the impact of science and technology on cultures, policies, and everyday life.
• STS asks questions like how societies and governments allocate resources for scientific research, how scientific ethics evolve, and what role economic, political, religious, and philosophical factors play in scientific knowledge and practice.

Key Takeaways on STS

• STS analyzes the interplay of science, technology, and society.
• Understanding how these components influence one another is critical for a holistic understanding of how science affects society.
• Policies lacking evidence may lead to more harm than good.