STSN11G: General Concepts of Science, Technology, and Society (PDF)

Prelim – Topic 1 General Concepts and STS Historical Development Science, Technology and Society STSN11G Learning Outcomes 1. Define science, technology and society and create model of how they are related. 2. Appreciate the development of science and technology and how they affect the societ...

Prelim – Topic 1 General Concepts and STS Historical Development Science, Technology and Society STSN11G Learning Outcomes 1. Define science, technology and society and create model of how they are related. 2. Appreciate the development of science and technology and how they affect the society in different ages. 3. Identify paradigm shifts in history 4. Understand how the Philippine government enhances science and technology  Definition of Science, Technology and Society Science is a branch of knowledge that investigates the natural phenomena around us by observing them, drawing inferences from them and subjecting them to experimentation using the scientific process. Technology is the application of the concepts of science in order to create tools that would make life easy. Among the areas where science is applied and where technology is being developed continuously are Medicines, Engineering and Biotechnology and agriculture. Society is composed of people that are living in a community, having the same culture, economic status and subject to the same political authority.  Interrelation of Science, Technology and Society Science is the product of human intellect. Asking how a particular thing exists or how a certain phenomenon happen will lead a curious mind to research and experimentation. Conclusions and findings build theories and laws. How important is science and technology? Extremely important to all forms of life and their environment. The application of science improves the quality of life of the people. How does technology affect society? Technology affects how the people will live in that community. The people adjust their ways of living according to the facilities that are available in their area. Historical Antecedents of STS Terms: Antler – horn of a deer or similar animal Caracoa – a large, fast boat Flint – rock that produces spark Millet (Setaria italica) –- a grass grown for human food Nomads – people who move from place to place Smelting – the process of extracting metals from ore using a temperature higher than the melting point of the base metal Metallurgy – the science of studying the physical and chemical properties of metals, extracting them from ores and modifying them according to use.  In the World: Prehistoric, Ancients, Middle Ages, Modern Ages Prehistoric Age: 3 million years ago to 3000 BC  Three Age System The Three Age System, was introduced by Christian Jurgensen Thomsen, a Danish antiquarian who developed system for classifying artifacts according to periods. The periods, Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age were so named to refer to the tools used by men during those periods. Stone Age – a broad prehistoric period where stones were used primarily as tools. The period lasted for about 3.4 million years. Bronze Age – a period where the use of fire was intensified creating smelting pit to shape tools and wares being used by men. It followed the Neolithic period. Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin. The period around 2000 – 500 BC Iron Age – a period where use of iron and steel was prevalent. 1200 BC – 600 BC  Ancient Age Bronze Age – 3000 BC to 1500 BC Humans started to work with metal. Bronze replaced the use of stone as tools and weapons. Men’s creation and use of fire for everyday survival has advanced to smelting metals. Bronze is a mixture of metals with copper as the main metal. Smelting is a process where ore is heated to extract the needed metal. Iron Age – 1050 BC to 500 AD The Iron Age brought the Bronze Age to an end. Iron was greatly used during this age for tools and weapons. Men learned to work with higher smelting process. Iron’s melting point is 1,538oC, much higher than bronze. Iron, also, is stronger than bronze.  Middle Age: Medieval Period 5th and 15th century. In Europe, during this period, feudalism was the dominant social system. Under this system, the king gives land to noblemen and bishops. Peasants tilled the land and planted crops and gave most of the harvest to the landowner. In exchange of their labor they were allowed to live on the land they till and being protected from enemy invasion. Moldboard plow was adopted to catch up with the demand of agriculture. Oxen were replaced by horses. Horse collars and horseshoes were developed. Because of these innovations and system, agriculture flourished and more nutritious harvests were available for the people.  The Dark Age, 450-1000AD During the early part of the Middle Ages, the Dark Age, there were no scientific accomplishments. It was referred to as the time of intellectual darkness. Actually, that term was being rejected by scholars of the 20th century because of its negative connotations. It characterizes the Middle Ages as a time of violence and lack of progress. Edward Gibbon, an 18th century English historian called this age as “barbarism and religion”.  Education in the Middle Ages Before 1500, more than 80 universities were established in Europe. Many universities were supervised by Catholic churches. They were engaged in higher learning, at least of these course, Medicine, Law or Theology. With the increase in educational institutions, science has progressed. The contribution of Medieval universities has contributed a lot in the development of the world. Men were educated and knowledge increased.  Medicine in the Middle Ages During the early part of the Middle Ages, medicines were misunderstood upon the establishment of universities when medicine was institutionalized, the people’s view of sickness and health had changed Medieval medicines recognized that sicknesses can spread from person to person, that lifestyle has effect on health and some people were more prone to illness than others. Physicians, during that time relied on unsanitary and dangerous way of treating the disease. Superstitious way of combating the bacteria has brought broad spread of the disease. Contribution of China in Science and Technology China is one of the oldest civilizations. In agriculture and economy, farming largely began in Huang Ho and Yangtze rivers. Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and 3rd in the world. You would notice that civilizations usually began along the river. Free trade among countries happen on riverbanks, bartering is easy and there’s abundant supply of water for agriculture. China introduced the use of silk and production has gone large. Bronze production became more sophisticated. In science, they are advanced in Physics, Astronomy, Mathematics and Medical Biology. Among their inventions were paper, compass, gunpowder, guns, cannons, mechanical clock, animal harness and water power. Contribution of India in Science and Technology India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. India was inhabited approximately 250,000 years ago. Scientists from IIT-Kharagpur and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have uncovered evidence that the Indus Valley Civilization is at least 8,000 years old, taking root well before the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations. India was known for its amazing architecture including the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world. Contribution of Africans in Science and Technology 1. First Methods of Counting: Salicylic acid, autopsy, filling of dental cavities, - Yoruba System skin grafting, tissue cauterization - Zaire System 2. African Stonehenge (Kenya): Work of ancient astronomers observing: - Saturn's ring - Jupiter's moon - Spiral structure of Milky Way - Orbit of Sirius Star 3. Advances in metallurgy and tool making 4. Medicines  Contribution of Middle East in Science and Technology Following the rise of Islam in the seventh century, science and technology flourished in the Islamic world to a far greater extent than in the West. Muslim rulers promoted the translation of Greek philosophy and science, and then encouraged further scientific exploration in numerous fields including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, pharmacology, optics, chemistry, and physics. Until the sixteenth century, the Arab world was connected by a unique system of trade and transport that unified its large population scattered over vast areas of land and sea. Until the sixteenth century, the Arab world was connected by a unique system of trade and transport that unified its large population scattered over vast areas of land and sea. The Arab transport system was responsible for the large–scale circulation of people and information. According to Antoine Zahlan (1999), there are three main reasons Middle Eastern countries lag behind in terms of technology and scientific knowledge: their loss of trade and transportation systems, the effects of the Industrial Revolution on Arab economies, and the political and economic effects of the colonization and neo-colonization processes.  Contribution of Mesoamericans in Science and Technology Aztec, Inca and Mayan Civilization Maya, Aztecs and Inca had contributions to science and technology. Mayans were native people of Mexico and Central America. Aztecs resided in northern Mesoamerica between 1345 and 1521. Incas flourished in Ancient Peru and extended across western South America on 1400 and 1533. Those civilizations had contributed in the development of Science and Technology.  Aztecs’ Contributions to S & T: 1. Chinampas. Aztecs introduced chinampa, an agriculture technique where crops are grown in a small, rectangular areas of fertile land on shallow lake beds. The Valley of Mexico was used by Aztecs for chinampas. It provided Aztecs with more food. This saved space because the plants grew above the water. 2. Aztec Calendar. The Aztecs used several calendars and one of them used the 365 days in a year which is currently used today. The calendar was known as xiuhpohualli with 18- day months, with 5 left-over days at the end of the year. 3. Chocolate. The Aztecs, as well as the Mayans introduced chocolate to the world 4. Herbs as medicines. One herb that was used by Aztecs was passion flower which, for them, calms spasms and relaxes muscles. 5. Gum. Aztecs and Mayans developed gum from thick milky liquid called chicle of the sapodilla tree. Remember “chiclet” as brand of bubble gum?  Mayans’ Contributions to S & T: 1. The concept of zero (0). Mayans had advanced numerical system with place values. Mayan mathematics was ahead of Europe for many centuries 2. Vulcanizing. The Mayans were the first to vulcanize rubber 3. Chocolate. The Mayans developed cocoa into delicious drink. Cocoa beans were even used by Mayans as currency. 4. Mayan Calendar. Time is recorded using glyphs, symbols with corresponding readable characters used in writing. The calendar records cycles of time based on the movements of planets in the solar system, of sun and moon. The Haab calendar, which is divided into 18 months with 20 days each and a month with 5 days, is used for agriculture, economic and accounting activities 5. Mayan medicines. The use of pyrite as tooth filling, use of jade and turquoise for prosthetics and use of obsidians for making cuts were use by Mayans. Mayans used herbs of over 1500 different kinds to treat ailments. 6. Architecture. Mayan structures were built with great precision 7. Mayan agriculture. Innovative farming techniques like raised farm beds and terrace farming, which reduce water runoff and erosion.  Inca’s Contributions to S & T: 1. Civil and hydraulic engineering. System of roads and bridges, impressive waterworks including canals, fountains, aqueducts and drainage system. 2. Architecture. The Inca were master builders of massive structures. Their buildings were built to last, so designed to survive natural disasters. Structures were formal yet simple. 3. Inca calendar. The Inca calendar is divided into 12 months, with 3 weeks each month and 10 days each week. 4. Musical Instruments. Incas invented many wind and percussion instruments such as drums, flutes, panpipes. 5. Use of silver and gold 6. Freeze-dried foods for preserving foods.  Science and Technology in the Philippines A. Pre-colonial Period Our ancestors already had tools that they used for living. The evolution of tools from stone to metals were evident as displayed in many museums. At the National Museum, there is an artifact of stone dated back from Paleolithic Period. The stone was being used as knife and scraper. The stone was found in Cagayan Province. Flake tools, which were used by Paleolithic men were recovered in Tabon Caves Palawan, Sanga-Sanga in Tawi-tawi and Pintu Cave Isabela. Early Filipinos used herbs as medicines. Writing and measuring were already in place. The Laguna Copperplate Inscription shows that mathematics is already being used. Farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving were among the livelihood of early Filipinos. They are into trading. They used caracoa as ship. Caracoa were later on used by Spaniards as warship. B. Spanish Colonial Period Rapid growth in science and technology happened by the influence of the Spaniards. Formal education were introduced. Universities were constructed. Among these were the: o Colegio de San Ildefonso, Cebu (1595) o Colegio de San Ignacio, Manila (1595) o University of Santo Tomas, Manila (1611) o Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Manila (1640) o Ateneo de Manila (1859)  Filipinos were sent abroad to study: Jose Rizal – medicine (Spain and Germany) Graciano Apacible – medicine (Spain) Jose Alejandrino – engineering (Belgium) Antonio Luna – Pharmacy (Spain) In politics, reduccion system forced the relocation of small, scattered settlements into one larger town. There was a shortage of Spanish missionaries and reduccion system was an answer. Cabeza de barangay or Teniente del Barrio was the leader of a barangay, the smallest unit of government.  In medicine, Philippine herbs were catalogued. In 1871, the schools of medicine and pharmacy at the University of Santo Tomas were opened. Leon Ma. Guerrero, the Father of Philippine Pharmacy were among the first graduate. In 1887, the Laboratorio Municipal de Ciudad de Manila was established for medico-legal and public health analysis. Researches on infectious diseases were conducted. The Manila School of Agriculture opened in 1889. This led to the scientific approach to farming. Agricultural production increased due to modernized way in farming. Philippine ports were opened that resulted to exports of Philippine products. Galleon Trade continued from 1565 to 1813. In transportation, calesa and tramways were among the vehicles on the road. C. American Period and Post-Commonwealth Era Among the government corporations that There was a rapid advancement in science were formed during the Commonwealth and technology during the American period include: occupation. National Power Corporation Public school system enabled the children of National Economic Council low-income families to avail of good, free education. Filipinos were educated. The National Development Company National Science Development Board (NSDB) National Abaca was established. NSDB, now Department of Science and Technology, was the primemover of science and technology during that time. D. Marcos Era and Martial Law During this era, the importance given to science increased. Ferdinand Marcos has enacted many laws to flourish science and technology. Science courses in public schools were created. Scholarships were given to high school graduates by the NSDB. E. Fifth Republic (1986 to present) During the term of Corazon Aquino, NSTA was replaced by Department of Science and Technology (DOST), a member of a cabinet. Under the administration of Fidel Ramos, S&T was a vital move to achieve the status of new industrialized country (NIC). Under the term of Joseph Estrada, two important laws were signed: the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, giving protection to the environment and the Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 outlaws computer hacking and protects e-commerce. During the term of Gloria Macapagal – Arroyo, science technology was hailed as “golden age” by Secretary Estrella Albastro. In 2014, Benigno Aquino (III) awarded four scientists for their contributions: Academicians Gavino C. Trono, Angel C. Alcala, Ramon C. Barba and Edgardo D. Gomez.