Tech's Impact on Society & Environment

Technology's Role in Society and the Environment

• Technology impacts society, politics, the economy, and the environment through communication, governance, business, and innovation.

Social Impact

• Digital communication platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X connect people but can lead to digital addiction and mental health issues.
• The internet provides instant access to information, requiring users to distinguish between misinformation and disinformation.

Political Impact

• E-government platforms improve public services like tax filing, but also raise cybersecurity concerns.
• Social media empowers activism but also spreads misinformation and enables political manipulation.

Economic Impact

• AI boosts productivity in manufacturing, logistics, and customer service.
• E-commerce platforms such as Lazada and GCash enable online businesses and digital payments, but also pose cybersecurity and regulation challenges.

Environmental Implications of Science and Technology

• Science and technology impact ecosystems, resources, and sustainability by causing both pollution and offering solutions for environmental protection.

Pollution

• Pollution is a major issue that affects biodiversity, human health, and ecosystems.

Air Pollution

• Vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and fossil fuel combustion cause air pollution.
• Smog, acid rain, and greenhouse gases are examples of air pollution.
• Respiratory diseases and climate change are effects of air pollution.
• Stricter emission regulations and renewable energy(wind, solar) are solutions to air pollution.

Water Pollution

• Industrial and plastic waste cause water pollution.
• Heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and microplastics are examples of water pollution.
• Waterborne diseases and contaminated drinking water are effects of water pollution.
• Strict wastewater regulations and reduction of single-use plastics are solutions to water pollution.

Soil Pollution

• Hazardous waste disposal and excessive chemical use cause soil pollution.
• E-waste, pesticides, and fertilizers are examples of soil pollution.
• Reduced crop productivity, soil erosion, and water contamination are effects of soil pollution.
• Organic farming, sustainable agriculture, and strict waste management are solutions to soil pollution.

Climate Change Factors

Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHGs)

• Fossil fuels and industrial emissions cause greenhouse gas emissions.
• Carbon dioxide, methane, and factory emissions are examples of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Global warming, glacier melting, and rising sea levels are effects of greenhouse gas emissions.
• Renewable energy (solar, hydro) and stricter emission laws are solutions to greenhouse gas emissions.

Deforestation and Land Degradation

• Overgrazing, mining, and poor land management cause deforestation and land degradation.
• Illegal logging, monoculture farming, and poor irrigation are examples of deforestation and land degradation.
• Soil erosion, food insecurity, and biodiversity loss are effects of deforestation and land degradation.
• Sustainable farming, land rehabilitation, and habitat protection policies are solutions to deforestation and land degradation.

Sustainable Technologies

• Sustainable technologies reduce environmental impact while promoting economic and social well-being.

Renewable Energy

• Renewable energy provides clean alternatives to fossil fuels, reducing GHG emissions and reliance on nonrenewable resources.

Innovative Technologies

• Advanced Solar Panels (Photovoltaics)
• Floating Wind Turbines
• Smart Grid Integration

Benefits and Challenges

• Efficient, low-cost, clean energy BUT has high installation cost, storage needed
• Scalable, deeper water efficiency BUT has offshore maintenance challenges
• Prevents waste, supports renewables BUT has cybersecurity risks, skilled labor required

Sustainable Agriculture

• Sustainable agriculture enhances productivity while preserving natural resources.

Innovative Technologies

• Precision Agriculture (GPS, AI, drones)
• AI-Driven Agroforestry (tree planting + crops)
• Smart Irrigation Systems (IoT, AI, weather data)

Benefits and Challenges

• Higher yields, water conservation BUT has high setup costs, training needed
• Improves biodiversity, soil fertility BUT has slow adoption, expensive tech
• Reduces water waste, boosts crop yields BUT has infrastructure investment required

Waste Management and Recycling

• Waste management and recycling reduces pollution and promotes a circular economy.

Innovative Technologies

• Waste-to-Energy (WTE) (biogas, incineration)
• Smart Waste Management (AI, IoT sorting)
• AI-Driven Recycling (automation, robotics)

Benefits and Challenges

• Energy from waste, less landfill BUT has emission concerns, costly
• Efficient waste collection & sorting BUT tech needs infrastructure upgrades
• Better recycling, reduced contamination BUT has high initial investment

Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and GMOs

• Biotechnology uses living organisms to create beneficial products.
• Genetic engineering modifies DNA to introduce or change traits, leading to genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Applications and Benefits of Genetic Engineering/GMOs

Agriculture

• Pest-resistant, drought-tolerant, and nutrient-enriched crops are a result of genetic engineering.
• Bt Corn and Golden Rice are examples of genetically modified crops.

Medicine

• Engineered bacteria produce insulin.
• Gene therapy treats disorders like sickle cell disease.

Animal Science

• Animal cloning, such as Dolly the sheep, is achieved through genetic engineering.
• Transgenic animals like Enviropig reduce environmental impact.

Human Health and Research

• CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing and stem cell therapy are advancing rapidly.
• These advances spark debate on human genetic modification.

Food Security and Sustainability

• GMOs contribute to a stable food supply, enhanced nutrition, and longer shelf life.
• Arctic apples, which resist browning, are an example of this.

Bioethical Issues in Genetic Engineering/GMOs

Human Cloning and Designer Babies

• Ethical concerns include identity, personhood, and social inequality.
• Clonaid made an unproven claim of cloning Eve in 2002.

Animal Welfare and Genetic Modification

• Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) improves growth but risks ecosystem disruption.
• Ethical concerns include animal welfare and ecological impact.

Stem Cell Research

• Embryonic stem cell research is controversial due to embryo destruction.
• Adult stem cells from bone marrow and umbilical cords are ethical alternatives.

Corporate Control and Food Security

• Patented GMO seeds can lead to farmer dependency.
• This is exemplified by the Bt Corn industry in the Philippines.

Labeling and Consumer Rights

• There is no mandatory GMO labeling in the Philippines as of February 2025.
• Regulation is through biosafety guidelines & DA Administrative Order No. 8 (2002).

Space Exploration and Technological Innovation

• Space exploration drives technological innovation, boosts scientific understanding, and prepares us for life beyond Earth.

Key Milestones

• 1957: Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite, marked the beginning of the Space Age.
• 1969: Apollo 11 was the first crewed Moon landing; Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins advanced space travel.
• 1998-Present: The International Space Station facilitates microgravity research benefiting medicine & tech.
• 2000s-Present: Mars Rover Missions with Curiosity & Perseverance explore Mars’ surface & history.
• 2021: The James Webb Space Telescope captures images of galaxies, expanding our knowledge of the universe.

Benefits

• Provides Scientific Discoveries in universe origins, extraterrestrial life.
• Enables Technological Innovations in GPS, weather forecasting, medical imaging.
• Allows Environmental Monitoring through Satellites to track climate change, disasters.
• Provides Inspiration & Education which promotes STEM careers.

Challenges and Ethical Concerns

• There are High Costs involved in funding debates.
• Includes Health Risks like radiation, muscle atrophy, psychological stress.
• Includes Space Debris which is a collision hazard, and causes chain reactions.
• Results in Environmental Impact like Rocket emissions that affect ozone/climate.

Future Prospects

• Includes Human Mars Missions by NASA, SpaceX plans.
• Includes Lunar Colonization through the NASA Artemis program.
• Includes Space Tourism through Virgin Galactic's commercial flights (Galactic 01, 2023).
• Sustainable, ethical exploration is crucial for long-term benefits.