Science, Technology and Society

General Concepts and Historical Developments

Historical Antecedents of Science and Technology

It also explores the impacts of scientific and technological innovations on the
prevailing social, cultural, political, and economic contexts throughout history.

Ancient Period
The ancient times were divided into three periods:

Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic)

Bronze Age
Iron Age

Some Technologies or Inventions from the Ancient Period include:

Ancient Wheel
Paper
Shadoof
Antikythera Mechanism
Aeolipile

Middle Ages

Some Technologies or Inventions from the Middle Ages include:

Heavy Plough
Gunpowder
Paper Money
Mechanical Clock
Spinning Wheel

Modern Ages

Some Technologies or Inventions from the Modern Ages include:

Compound Microscope
Telescope
Jacquard Loom
Engine-Powered Airplane
Televisions

Inventions of Filipino Scientists

E - Jeepney one of the most recognized
national symbols of the Philippines.
(Abelardo Aguilar)
Erythromycin One of the most well- known antibiotics in
the market.

(Dr. Fe Del Mundo)

Bamboo Incubator Was used to aid the regulation of body
temperatures of newborn babies, especially in areas
with no electricity.

(Rolando dela Cruz in 2000)

Mole Remover Used for removal of moles and warts, the
invention was made from cashew
(Annacardium occidentale) nut extracts.

(Maria Orosa)
Banana Ketchup Was invented to be used as an alternative to
tomato ketchup during the backdrop.

Intellectual Revolutions and Society

Intellectual refer to the series of events that

led to the development of modern science and the
progress of scientific thinking across critical periods
in history.

Three most important intellectual revolutions:

Copernican, Darwinian, and Freudian revolutions.

Jean Sylvain Bailly French

astronomer, mathematician, and freemason.

Copernican Revolution (Nicolaus Copernicus)

formulated the heliocentric model in the publication of his paper, De Revolutionibus
Orbium Coelestium in 1543.

Challenged the previous belief that the Earth was the center of the universe
(geocentrism) proposed by Claudius Ptolemy (Ptolemaic Model).

Heliocentric model illustrates that the sun is the center of the universe.

Darwinian Revolution (CharlesDarwin)

The Origin of Species ushered a new era in the intellectual history of humanity.
one of the most controversial intellectual revolutions of its time.
Charles Darwin
theory of evolution:
where population pass through a process of natural selection in which only the
fittest would survive (natural selection).

Freudian Revolution (Sigmund Freud)

Psychoanalysis as a school of thought in psychology is at the center of this
revolution.
Psychoanalysis a scientific method of understanding inner and unconscious conflicts
embedded within one’s personality.

Amidst controversy
Freud’s psychoanalysis is widely credited for dominating psychotherapeutic practice
in the early 20th century.

Science and Technology and Nation Building

It initially surveys contributions of Filipino scientists to science and technology.
It then traces the historical development and impact of science and technology on
the various segments of Philippine society.

Pre Colonial Times

People used herbal medicine to treat illnesses.
Filipinos used writing, numerical treatment, measurement, and calendar systems to
facilitate trading.
Farming, fishing, mining, and weaving was developed by Filipinos during this period
( the Banaue Rice Terraces was built during this period)

Spanish Colonial Times

Schools were mandated to teach religion, reading and etc. Medicine and biology
were taught in different educational and training institutions.
The natives were trained to use innovative approach in farming; engineering was
also introduced for constructing buildings, churches, bridges, roads, and forts.
Trade was more prioritized compared to agriculture and industrial development.

American Period
Trade was more prioritized compared to agriculture and industrial Development.
Laboratorio Municipal is a Bureau of Government Laboratories (under US
Department of Interior).
Bureau of Science which became the main research center of the Philippines.

1933
National Research Council of the Philippines was established.

1946
The Bureau of Science was replaced by Institute of Science.
Ferdinand E. Marcos
In 1968, Taguig was proclaimed as the Philippine Science Community, now the site of
Department of Science and Technology.
The Philippine Coconut Institute (PHILCORIN) was tasked to promote modernization
of the coconut industry.

Several institutions were also established. The following were:

1.Philippine Textile Research Center
2.Philippine Atomic Energy Commission (Philippine Nuclear Institute)
3.National Grains Authority (National Food Authority)
4.Philippine Council for Agricultural Research (Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development
(PCAARRD))

1.Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration

(PAGASA)
2.Philippine National Oil Company
3.Plant Breeding Institute
4.International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)
5.Bureau of Plant Industry
6.Bureau of Forest Products
7.National Committee on Geological Sciences

1976
the National Academy of Science (NAST) was established to be the reservoir of
scientific and technological expertise in the country.

Corazon Aquino

1986
NSTA was renamed as DOST

The Science and Technology Master Plan by the DOST aimed to update the
production sector, improve research activities, and develop infrastructures for the
science and technology sector.

Fidel V. Ramos

3000
Approximately competent scientists and engineers.
Several laws and statutes related to the science and technology sector were
mandated:
1.R.A. 8439 ( Magna Carta for Scientist, Engineers, Researchers and other Science
and Technology Personnel in Government)
2.R.A. 7687 (Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994)
3.R.A. 7559 (Inventors and Inventions Incentive Act)
4.R.A. 8293 (The Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines)

Joseph Ejercito Estrada

R.A. 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999) and R.A. 8792 (Electronic Commerce Act of 2000)

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo

Filipinnovation was coined to refer to the Philippines as an innovation hub in Asia.

R.A. 9367
(Biofuels Act) to utilize indigenous materials as sources of energy; was not successful
due to the lack of technology to source raw materials.

R.A. 10601
(Agriculture and Fisheries Mechanization Law) was passed to modernize agricultural
and fisheries machinery and equipment.

Benigno Aquino III

New National Scientists were named in 2014.
The following were:
1.Gavino C. Trono (Marine Biology)
2.Angel C. Alcala (Biological Science)
3.Ramon C. Barba (Horticulture)
4.Edgardo D. Gomez (Marine Biology)

Rodrigo Duterte
DOST focus was set to put results of R&D into commercialization in order to gain
new intellectual properties.

Philippine Space Technology Program launched Diwata- 2 in 2018 after the launch of
Diwata-1 in 2016 that displayed the Philippine flag in space.

Balik Scientist law by President

Rodrigo Roa A. Duterte on 15 June 2018.

Republic Act No. 11035

known as an “Act Institutionalizing the Balik Scientist Program,” would give more
incentives to returning Filipino experts, scientists, inventors, and engineers who
would share their expertise in the country.

Philippine Space Agency

(PhilSA) as a national space agency of the Philippines.

Philippine Space Act (Republic Act No. 11363)

signed into law on August 8, 2019, by President Rodrigo Duterte, intended to
manage and operate the decentralized space program of the Philippine government.
Science and Technology in the Philippines and the Environment

Mechanization of Farming
Tools such as pumps and sprinklers help in managing the damaging effects of heat
brought about by the changing climate patterns.

Genetically Modified Crops

Grow faster and are resistant to pests
Fertilizers
Increase nutrients in the soil; enhances growth and yield of crops

Government Policies on Science and Technology

ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the government, particularly the Department of Science
and Technology (DOST) has sought the expertise of the National Research Council of
the Philippines (NCRP) to consult various sectors in the society to study how the
Philippines can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals.

The NCRP clustered these policies into four, namely:

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance.
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and
Mathematics
3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Forestry

Other programs supported by the Philippine government through DOST:

1. Funding for basic and applied research, and patents related to science and
technology.
2. Providing scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies of students in the
field of science and technology.
3. Establishing more branches of the Philippine Science High School System
4. Creating science and technology parks to encourage academe and industry
partnerships.
5. Balik Scientist Program to encourage Filipino scientist abroad to come home and
work in the Philippines or conduct research and projects in collaboration with the
Philippines or conduct research and projects in collaboration with Philippine-based
scientists.
6. Developing science and technology parks in academic campuses
7. The establishment of the National Science Complex and National Engineering
Complex within the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman.

The Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering identified several

capacity-building programs such as:

1. Establishment of national centers of excellence

2. Manpower and Institutional development program, such as the Engineering and
Science Education Program (ESEP) to produce more PhD graduates in science and
engineering
3. Establishment of regional centers to support specific industries that will lead the
country in different research vand development areas.
4. Establishment of science and technology business and centers to assist, advise,
and incubate technopreneurship ventures
5. Strengthen science education at an early stage through the Philippine Science High
School system.

There are many other areas and fields that the country is looking forward to embark
various research and projects.

The following are some of them:

Use of alternative and safe energy

Harnessing mineral resources
Finding cure for various diseases and illness
Climate change and global warming
Increasing food production
Preservation of natural resources
Coping with natural disasters and calamities
Infrastructure development

Some Famous Filipinos in the Fields of Science

1. Ramon Cabanos Barba - for his outstanding research on tissue culture in Philippine
mangoes
2. Josefino Cacas Comiso - for his works on observing the characteristics of Antartica
by using satellite images
3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr. - known internationally on the field of electrical engineering;
was elected as officer of the famous Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineering

1. Fabian Milar Dayrit - for his research on herbal medicine

2. Lourdes Jansuy Cruz - notable for her research on sea snail venom
3. Rafael Dineros Guerrero III - for his research on tilapia culture
4. Enrique Mapue Ostrea Jr. - for inventing the meconium drugs testing