Science, Technology, and Society PDF

Science, Technology, and Society Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of the natural world gained through the scientific method. It was originally called “philosophy of the natural world” since is stemmed from the ancient Greeks desire to know about the nature. First s...

Science, Technology, and Society Science may be defined as the system of knowledge of the natural world gained through the scientific method. It was originally called “philosophy of the natural world” since is stemmed from the ancient Greeks desire to know about the nature. First scientists were called “philosophers of nature”. Technology comes from the Greek word Tekhne meaning “art or craft” and logia “meaning subject of interest. “Practical applications of what we know about nature” using scientific principles for the betterment of the human situation. CHED Memorandum Order No. 20 STS is an interdisciplinary course that engages the 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. This course also seeks to instill reflective knowledge in the students so that they are able to love the good life and display ethical decision-making in both social and scientific dilemmas. Historical Antecedents in the course of Science and Technology Ancient Times People were concerned with the transportation and navigation, communication and record keeping, mass production, security and protection as well as health, aesthetics, and architecture. Transportation Significant at that time since people were trying to go places and discovers new horizons. They travelled to search for food and find better locations for their settlements. Navigation assisted them in their journeys to unfamiliar and strange areas and allowed them to return home. Communication Record keeping was also important since they needed the places they had been to and document the trades they made with each other and to established their identities as they tried to relate with other cultures and civilizations. Weapons and Armors Development of weapons and armors for security and protection was considered a major achievement for preventing stronger nations from invading weaker ones. Sumerian Civilization Sumeria is located on the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia. Sumerians are known for their high degree of cooperation with one another and their desire for great things. Cuneiform Development of the first writing system known as cuneiform. It is a system that utilizes word pictures and triangle symbols which are carve on clay using wedge instrument and then left to dry. Uruk City Considered not just to be the first true city but also the way it was built. The Sumerians were able to build the city using only mud or clay from the river, which mixed with reeds, producing sun baked bricks. The Great Ziggurat of Ur The mountain of God, the Ziggurat served as the sacred place of their chef god, where only their priest were allowed to enter. Ziggurat is a type of massive stone structure resembling pyramids and featuring terraced levels. Accessible only by way of the stairways, it traditionally symbolizes a link between the gods and the human kind, although it also served practically as shelter from floods. The Great Ziggurat of Ur Irrigations and Dikes The Sumerians created dikes and irrigation canals to bring water to farmlands and at the same time control the flooding of the rivers and through this they were are able to enjoy a year long farming and harvesting. This is considered as one of the world’s most beneficial engineering works. Sailboats Another challenge to the Sumerians was transportation, at that time the wheel was not yet invented the main mode of transportation is waterways. Some sources attribute to the Sumerians the invention of sailboats to address their increasing demands. Wheel In the latter part of their history, the Sumerians were able to invent the wheel since the specialized tools needed to create were already available. The first wheel were not made for transportation but for farm work and food processes. The Plow The plow was invented to dig the earth in a faster pace since farmers needed a technology which would enable them to dig the ground where seeds would be planted. As the plow breaks the ground , the farmer would just drop the seeds and farm work would be done. Roads In order to facilitate faster and easier travel, the Sumerians developed the first road, they made it with the sun-baked bricks that they laid down on the ground and later poured bitumen, a black sticky substance similar to asphalt, to smoothen the roads. Babylonian Civilization Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. The Babylonians were great builders, engineers, and architects, one of their major contribution is the hanging gardens of Babylon, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Hanging Gardens of Babylon It was said to be a structure made up of layers upon layers of gardens that contained several species of plants, trees, and vines. According to legends, the great Baylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II built the garden for his wife Queen Amytis. Egyptian Civilization The Egyptian Civilization is located in North Africa. The Egyptians have contributed other practical things that the world now considers as essential thus, it is safe to say that the pyramids are not the only contribution of the Egyptian Civilization to the modern world. Paper or Papyrus One of the earlier contributions of Egyptian civilization was the paper or papyrus. Papyrus was a plant that grew abundantly along in the Nile River in Egypt. Ink The result of the invention the papyrus or the paper the Egyptian invented ink by combining soot with different colors. Hieroglyphics The Egyptian also developed a system of writing using symbols, known as hieroglyphics. The Egyptians believed that this writing system was provided to them by their gods. Cosmetics The Egyptians also invented the use of cosmetics. Egyptians wore kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or malachite with mineral galena. Egyptians also believed that a person wearing make up was protected from evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness. Wig The ancient Egyptian times wigs were worn for health and wellness rather than for aesthetic purposes. The wigs used to protect the shaved heads of the wealthy Egyptian from the harmful rays of the sun. Greek Civilization Greece is an archipelago in the southeastern park of Europe. Known as the birthplace of western philosophy, some of the major achievements of the Greeks include in-depth works on philosophy and mathematics. Alarm Clock One of the most utilized gadgets today that was invented by ancient Greeks is the alarm clock. The purpose is to tell an individual when to stop or when to start. They made use of water(sometimes small stones or sand) that dropped into drums which sounded the alarm. Water Mill Watermills were also considered as one of the most important contributions of the Greek Civilization to the world. Watermills were considered better than mills powered by farm animals because they required less effort and time to operate since the farmer did not have to raise animals. Roman Civilization Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in the west. It was considered to be cradle of politics and governance during the period. Newspaper One of the major contributions of the Romans in the newspaper known as GAZETTES, were engraved in metal or stone tablets and then publicly displayed. Bound books or codex Julius Caesar started the tradition of stacking papyrus to form pages of a book. Later on, they were able to provide covers to protect the papyrus. The earlier covers were made of wax but were replaced by animals skin which proved to be stronger and longer lasting. Roman Numerals Romans devised their own number system to specifically to address the need for a standard counting method that would meet their increasing communication and trade concerns. Chinese Civilization Chinese civilization is considered to be the oldest civilization in Asia. Also known as the Middle Kingdom, China is located on the far east of Asia, Silk Silk is naturally produced by silk worms, the Chinese were the ones who developed the technology to harvest the silk and process it to produce paper and clothing. Tea Production Tea is a beverage produce by pouring hot or boiling water over crushed or shredded dried tea leaves. It was believed that the first tea was drunk by a Chinese emperor. Tea production by the ancient Chinese may have resulted in making tea as one of the most popular beverages in the world today. The Great Wall of China Once considered the only man-made structure that could be seen from the outer space. It is said to be the largest and the most extensive infrastructure that the nation built. It was constructed to keep out foreign invaders and controls the borders of China. The walls construction put the nation among the powerful civilizations during the ancient time. Gunpowder The gunpowder is one of the most interesting invention is China. Originally, it was develop by Chinese Alchemists who aimed to achieve Immortality. They mixed charcoal, sulfur, and potassium nitrate but instead of creating and elixir of life, accidentally invented a black powder that could actually generate large amounts of heat and gas in an instants. Medieval/ Middle Ages The start of the middle ages was marred by massive invasions and migrations. Wars were prevalent during this time. Printing press Johann Gutemberg was able to invent the printing press, a more reliable way of printing using a cast type. He utilizes wooden machines that extracted juices from fruits, attach to them a metal impression of the letters, and pressed firmly the cast metal into a piece of paper, which made an exact impression on paper. Microscope Guided by the principles used for the inventions of eyeglasses in earlier years, Zacharias Janssen was able to develop the first compound microscope. this device allowed the people to observe organisms that were normally unseen by the naked eye. Modern Times The booming world population during the nineteenth century onwards demanded that more goods be produced at a faster rate. Pasteurization Louis Pasteur, a French biologist, microbiologist, and chemist found a way to solve the problem of keeping manufactured foods from deteriorating especially milk. He in invented pasteurization, the process of heating dairy products to kill the harmful bacteria that allow them to spoil faster. Petroleum Refinery Samuel M. Kier was to invent the kerosene by refining petroleum. Kerosene was later referred to as the “illuminating oil” because it was used first to provide lighting to homes. Telephone Alexander Graham Bell’s development of telephone was one of the most important inventions at the time. It allows more people to be connected and maintain these connection and communicate each other easily in real time. Philippine Inventions Despite being considered a developing country, the Philippines also contributes to the global advancement of science and technology. Many discoveries and inventions of Filipinos were built from indigenous materials or created to adapt to the harsh tropical environment. Salamander Amphibious Tricycle The H2O technologies headed by Dominic N. Chung and Lamberto Armada, together with Chief designer Victor “Atoy” Llave, was able to invent the Salamander, an Amphibious tricycle that can cross not only flooded streets but also rivers and lakes. SALT Lamp Filipina inventor named Aisa Mijeno was able to invent a lighting system that utilizes a material that is abundant in the Philippines, Saltwater. Medical Incubator Dr. Fe del Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician and the first Asian woman admitted into Harvard Medical School devised a medical incubator made from indigenous materials and do not run on electricity. It is made by placing a native laundry basket into the bigger one. Hot water bottles were inserted between the baskets to provide warmth and a makeshift hood to allow oxygen circulation. Ejeepney A major innovation that changed the transportation industry in the Philippines was the development of the jeepney. This iconic public utility vehicle was built using the military jeeps left by the Americans after the WW II. The chassis and the body of the military jeeps were extended to accommodate more loads and passengers.