Lesson title: Historical Developments of Science, Technology & Society

Good day to an independent learner! The topic that you are about t explore today is about the history of science and
technology. Do you believe that technology had already existed thousands of years ago?
“The more you know about the past the better prepared you are for the future”. – Theodore Roosevelt

SCIENCE
 deals with learning new facts (discoveries) and solving problems (scientific method) while

TECHNOLOGY
 deals with creating or inventing things that fulfill our needs and desires or perform certain functions.
 Technology is the application of understanding of natural laws to the solution of practical problems.

**Science contributes to technology in many ways, which includes the following:

 New knowledge which serves as a direct source of ideas for new technological possibilities.

 Source of tools and techniques for more efficient engineering design and a knowledge base for
evaluation of feasibility of designs.

**Technology contributes to science in at least two (2) ways:

⮚ Providing a fertile source of novel scientific questions and thereby also helping to justify the allocation of
resources needed to address these questions in an efficient and timely manner, extending the agenda of
science.

⮚ Source of otherwise unavailable instrumentation and techniques needed to address novel and more
difficult scientific questions more efficiently.

The emphasis on the realm of Science, Technology and Society (STS) may have the same degree of relevance
that the “historical turn” had in the past. It is a “social turn” which affects philosophy of science as well as
philosophy of technology.

Science, Technology
and Society

Ancient times

Middle Age

Modern Age

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Science and Technology in the ANCIENT TIMES (through 599 BCE) is divided into 3 periods:
1. Stone Age (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, & Neolithic)
2. Bronze Age
3. Iron Age

Paleolithic hand axes

Paleolithic hand axes were teardrop-shaped stone tools with two sharpened edges that met at a point. In one
method, they were made by roughly chipping away flakes from the edges with a hammer and then sharpening the
edges by chipping away smaller flakes. Finally, a pointed stick was used to pry off tiny flakes of stone.

1. Paleolithic (or Old Stone Age),

Mesolithic (or Middle Stone Age), and
Neolithic (or New Stone Age),
 this era is marked by the use of tools by our early human ancestors
 (who evolved around 300,000 B.C.)

 In the Paleolithic period

(roughly 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 B.C.),
early humans lived in caves or simple huts or tepees and were hunters and gatherers. They
used basic stone and bone tools, as well as crude stone axes, for hunting birds and wild
animals.
They cooked their prey, including woolly mammoths, deer and bison, using controlled fire. They
also fished and collected berries, fruit and nuts.

 During the Mesolithic period

(about 10,000 B.C. to 8,000 B.C.),
humans used small stone tools, now also polished and sometimes crafted with points and
attached to antlers, bone or wood to serve as spears and arrows.

 Finally, during the Neolithic period

(roughly 8,000 B.C. to 3,000 B.C.),
ancient humans switched from hunter/gatherer mode to agriculture and food production.
They domesticated animals and cultivated cereal grains.
They used polished hand axes, adzes for ploughing and tilling the land and started to
settle in the plains.

2
2. During the Bronze Age
(about 3,000 B.C. to 1,300 B.C.),
metalworking advances were made, as bronze, a copper and tin alloy, was discovered.
Now used for weapons and tools for animal Domestication, the harder metal replaced its stone predecessors,
and helped spark innovations including the ox-drawn plow and the wheel.

This time period also brought advances in architecture and art, including the invention of the potter’s wheel,
and textiles— clothing consisted of mostly wool items such as skirts, kilts, tunics and cloaks.

Organized government, law and warfare, as well as beginnings of religion, also came into play
during the Bronze Age, perhaps most notably relating to the ancient Egyptians who built the
pyramids during this time.

3
3. The discovery of ways to heat and forge iron kicked off the Iron Age
(roughly 1,300 B.C. to 900 B.C.).

At the time, the metal was seen as more precious than gold, and wrought iron (which would be replaced by
steel with the advent of smelting iron) was easier to manufacture than bronze.

Along with mass production of steel tools and weapons, the age saw even further advances in
architecture, with four-room homes, some complete with stables for animals, joining more
rudimentary hill forts, as well as royal palaces, temples and other religious structures.
(source: https://www.history.com/news/prehistoric-ages-timeline)

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 Science and Technology in “Antiquity”
(600 through 529 BCE)
⁃ started with the rise of Greek civilization
⁃ developed institutions such as the Academy, Lyceum, and Museum
⁃ were the first to believe that humans could understand the universe using reason alone rather than through
mythology or religion (philosophers)

 Characterized by war between religion and science (Dark ages)

 In the Middle Ages

(530 through 1452),
⁃ there was a decline of science in Europe
⁃ Use of currency replaced by barter
⁃ Poverty was endemic and people suffered from wars, piracy, famine, and epidemics

⮚ Chinese philosophy developed theories on matter and living beings

⮚ Revival of Western science started during the last centuries of the first millennium
⮚ Technological revolution took place
⮚ Vast improvements in communication and transportation

 In the Modern Age

⁃ The twentieth century witnessed the greatest changes in technology and science that humans have ever
witnessed.
⁃ These occurred rapidly and affected such a broad range of people.
⁃ Scientists, inventors, and engineers built upon the great inventions of the 19th century to expand the reach of
modern technology - for a citizen in 1900, communication, transportation, and agricultural was still primarily
local activities; by 2000, an American citizen was part of an interconnected global community.
⁃ These developments in science and technology were also important in the social and cultural changes of the
period.
⁃ The Great Depression, the World Wars and Cold War, the civil rights and women's rights movements - all were
greatly impacted by the rapid scientific and technological advancements in the universities and industry.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DISCOVERIES

1. What is technology?
Technology is a TOOL that had existed even during the ancient times.
Stone tools are considered to be the very first technology.
2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word – technology?
Does it mean gadgets or internet only?
Technology does not limit only to gadgets or the internet, it includes many things such as machines,
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 equipment, etc.
Lesson title: The Impact of Copernican and Darwinian Revolution to Society

Today you are going to recall the different discoveries of these two important scientists who have changed the
beliefs of our ancestors from thousands of years ago.

Scientific revolution
⁃ was the period of enlightenment when the developments in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy,
biology and chemistry transformed the views of society about nature.
⁃ It is very significant in the development of human beings, transformation of the society, and in the
formulation of scientific ideas.
⁃ It explained the emergence or birth of modern science as a result of these developments from the disciplines
mentioned.
⁃ The ideas generated during this period enabled the people to reflect, rethink and re-examine their beliefs and
their way of life. There is no doubt that it ignited vast human interests to rethink how they do science and
view scientific processes.

Scientific revolution
 was the golden age for people committed to scholarly life in science but it was also a deeply trying moment
to some scientific individuals that led to their painful death or condemnation from the religious institutions
who tried to preserve their faith, religion and theological views.

Some rulers and religious leaders did not accept many of the early works of scientists. But these did not stop
people especially scientists to satisfy their curiosity of the natural and physical world.

 One of the Renaissance men, particularly in the field of science, is Nicolaus Copernicus,

knowledge about the nature of the universe had been essentially unchanged since the great days of Ancient
Greece, some 1,500 years before Copernicus came on the scene (Gribbin, 2003).
This continued up to Renaissance period.

In one important way, Copernicus resembled the Greek ancient philosophers or thinkers – HE DID NOT DO
ANYTHING EXTENSIVE SUCH AS OBSERVING HEAVENLY BODIES OR INVITING PEOPLE TO
TEST HIS IDEAS. His ideas were an example of what is presently called as a THOUGHT EXPERIMENT.

Charles Darwin changed our concept of the world’s creation and its evolution.
Johnson (2012) described Darwin as a genius who came from a line of intellectually gifted and wealthy
family. He developed his interest in natural history during his time as a student at Shrewsbury School. He
would also spend time taking long walks to observe his surroundings while collecting specimens.

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

Copernican Revolution Darwinian Revolution

COPERNICAN HELIOCENTRISM ORIGIN OF SPECIES
(Nicolaus Copernicus) (Charles Darwin)

6
 Nicolaus Copernicus
1473- 1543
Updated: Oct 24, 2019 Original: Nov 9, 2009
(Source: History.com editors; https://www.history.com/topics/inventions/nicolaus- copernicus)

Nicolaus Copernicus
 was a Polish astronomer known as the father of modern
astronomy.
 He was the first modern European scientist to propose that
Earth and other planets revolve around the sun, or the
Heliocentric Theory of the universe.
 Copernicus argued that Earth turned daily on its axis and that
gradual shifts of this axis accounted for the changing seasons.

Nicolaus Copernicus: Against The Ptolemaic System

The cosmology of early 16th-century Europe held that Earth sat stationary and motionless at the center of
the universe, Ptolemy placed the Earth at the center of his geocentric model.

In the second century A.D., the Alexandrian geographer and astronomer Ptolemy sought to resolve this
problem by arguing that the sun, planets, and moon move in small circles around much larger circles
that revolve around Earth.

The Ptolemaic system remained Europe’s accepted cosmology for more than 1,000 years, but by
Copernicus’ day accumulated astronomical evidence had thrown some of his theories into
confusion.

Astronomers disagreed on the order of the planets from Earth, and it was this problem that
Copernicus addressed at the beginning of the 16th century.

Nicolaus Copernicus Death and Legacy

Nicolaus Copernicus died on May 24, 1543 in what is now Frombork, Poland.

He died the year his major work was published, saving him from the outrage of some religious
leaders who later condemned his heliocentric view of the universe as heresy.

It was not until the early 17th century that Galileo and Johannes Kepler developed and
popularized the Copernican theory, which for Galileo resulted in a trial and conviction for heresy.

Following Isaac Newton’s work in celestial mechanics in the late 17th century, acceptance of the
Copernican theory spread rapidly in non-Catholic countries, and by the late 18th century the
Copernican view of the solar system it was almost universally accepted.

7
 Charles Darwin
(1809–1882)
(Source: https://www.biography.com/scientist/charles-darwin)
Charles Robert Darwin
 was a British naturalist and biologist known for his theory of evolution
and his understanding of the process of natural selection.

 In 1831, he embarked on a five-year voyage around the world on the

HMS Beagle, during which time his studies of various plants and an
led him to formulate his theories, Darwin collected a variety of natural
specimens, including birds, plants and fossils.

 In 1859, he published his landmark book, On the Origin of Species.

 Through hands-on research and experimentation, he had the unique

opportunity to closely observe principles of botany, geology and
zoology.

 The Pacific Islands and Galapagos Archipelago were of particular

interest to Darwin, as was South America.

Theory of Evolution
 Darwin’s theory of evolution declared that species survived through a process called "natural selection,"
where those that successfully adapted or evolved to meet the changing requirements of their natural habitat
thrived and reproduced, while those species that failed to evolve and reproduce died off.
 Through his observations and studies of birds, plants and fossils, Darwin noticed similarities among
species all over the globe, along with variations based on specific locations, leading him to believe that the
species we know today had gradually evolved from common ancestors.

Origin of Species
 On November 24, 1859, he published a detailed explanation of his theory in his best-known work, On the
Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection.
 In the next century, DNA studies provided scientific evidence for Darwin’s theory of evolution. However,
controversy surrounding its conflict with Creationism — the religious view that all of nature was born of
God — is still found among some people today.

1. Was Nicholas Copernicus a philosopher?

No, Copernicus just resembled the Greek ancient philosophers or thinkers – he did not do anything
extensive such as observing heavenly bodies or inviting people to test his ideas. His ideas were an
example of what is presently called as a thought experiment.

2. What is thought experiment?

Thought experiments are basically devices of the imagination.
They are employed for various purposes such an entertainment, education, conceptual analysis, exploration,
hypothesizing, theory selection, theory implementation, etc.

3. What made Charles Darwin very famous in the field of science?

Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution.

8
Lesson title: The Impact of Freudian and Mesoamerican Revolution to Society

Our topic today is an interesting one because it will make us realize the other side of our being, the what we called–
psychosexual development.

Sigmund Freud
(1856–1939)
(Source: https://www.biography.com/scholar/sigmund-freud)

Sigmund Freud
 was an Austrian neurologist who developed psychoanalysis, a method
through which an analyst unpacks unconscious conflicts based on the
free associations, dreams and fantasies of the patient.

 His theories on child sexuality, libido and the ego, among other topics,
were some of the most influential academic concepts of the 20th
century.

Theories
 Freud's psychoanalytic theory, inspired by his colleague Josef Breuer, posited that neuroses had their
origins in deeply traumatic experiences that had occurred in the patient's past.
 He believed that the original occurrences had been forgotten and hidden from consciousness.
 His treatment was to empower his patients to recall the experience and bring it to consciousness, and in
doing so, confront it both intellectually and emotionally.
 He believed one could then discharge it and rid oneself of the neurotic symptoms.
 Some of Freud’s most discussed theories included: Id, ego and superego. These are the three essential
parts of the human personality.
1. The id is the primitive, impulsive and irrational unconscious that operates solely on the outcome of
pleasure or pain and is responsible for instincts to sex and aggression.
2. The ego is the “I” people perceive that evaluates the outside physical and social world and makes
plans accordingly.
3. And the superego is the moral voice and conscience that guides the ego; violating it results in
feelings of guilt and anxiety.

9
Hi, I am Sigmund Freud. I was born on May 6, 1856. I am an Austrian neurologist and the founder of
psychoanalysis.

One of my most famous theories was that of psychosexual development.

Fundamentally, I postulated that as children we move through a series of stages centered on erogenous zones.

Successful completion of these stages led to the development of a healthy personality,

but fixation at any stage prevents completion and therefore the development of an unhealthy, fixated
personality as an adult.

Below is the summary of my theory.

1. Oral Stage (Birth to 18 Months):

Child becomes focused on oral pleasures such as sucking.
Difficulties at this stage could lead to an oral personality in adulthood cantered around smoking,
drinking alcohol, biting nails and they can be pessimistic, gullible and overly dependent on others.

2. Anal Stage (18 months to 3 Years):

Focus of pleasure here is on eliminating and retaining feces and learning to control this due to societal
norms.
Fixation here can lead to perfectionism, a need to control or alternatively the opposite; messy and
disorganized.

3. Phallic Stage (Ages 3 to 6 Years):

During the phallic stage the child’s pleasure move to the genitals and Freud argued that during this
stage, boys develop an unconscious sexual desire for their mothers and fear that because of this their
fathers will punish them by castration.

This became known as the Oedipus Complex after the Sophocles tragedy.

A fixation at the stage could lead to confusion over sexual identity or engaging in sexual deviances.

4. Latency Stage (Ages 6 to puberty):

Sexual urges remain largely repressed at this stage.

5. Genital Stage (Puberty Onwards):

This final stage leads to the individual switching their interest to members of the opposite sex.

10
  Psychic energy:
Freud postulated that the id was the basic source of psychic energy or the force that drives all mental
processes. In particular, he believed that libido, or sexual urges, was a psychic energy that drives all
human actions.

 Oedipus complex:
Between the ages of three and five, Freud suggested that as a normal part of the development process
all kids are sexually attracted to the parent of the opposite sex and in competition with the parent of the
same sex.
The theory is named after the Greek legend of Oedipus, who killed his father so he could marry his
mother.

 Dream analysis:
In his book The Interpretation of Dreams, Freud believed that people dreamed for a reason:
to cope with problems the mind is struggling with subconsciously and can’t deal with consciously.
Dreams were fueled by a person’s wishes.
Freud believed that by analyzing our dreams and memories, we can understand them.

Development of Science in Mesoamerica

 Mesoamerica includes the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to the border of
South America.

There is no doubt that the Mesoamerican region is rich in culture and knowledge prior to the arrival of
its European colonizers.

The Maya civilization is one of the famous civilizations that lasted for approximately 2,000 years.

The Mayans developed the technology for growing different crops and building elaborate cities using
ordinary machineries and tools. They built hydraulics system with sophisticated waterways to supply
water to different communities

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

Freudian Revolution Meso-American Revolution
PSYCHOANALYSIS AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
(Sigmund Freud) (Olmec, Maya, Toltec, Aztec)

11
Lesson title: The Science in Arts and the Art in Science

There has long been a connection between art and science, one that can be traced back to the Egyptian
pyramids. History proves that the two disciplines cannot exist without each other, enduring in constantly
changing and evolving relationships.

Traditionally, art and science have been treated as two separate disciplines, but when they are studied
together it’s clear to see the impact one has on the other. A great deal of creativity is required to make scientific
breakthroughs, and art is just as often an expression of (or a product of) scientific knowledge. Consider the
science behind mixing paint in the correct proportions, or creating perspective in a drawing, or even imagining
the dance of a quark.

Visual art has been used to document the natural world for thousands of years, from cave drawings of
animals that help today’s researchers figure out yesterday’s fauna, to paintings of centuries-old experiments that
show us how they were conducted. One of the most famous examples of the interconnection between art and
science is the work of Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci.

While his Mona Lisa is probably the most famous portrait ever painted, da Vinci’s scientific drawings,
recently on exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science, are smaller in scale and intricately detailed and annotated;
and they demonstrate that he was no less skilled as an inventor and researcher. In fact, da Vinci’s talent as a
bridge engineer was proven in 2001, when artist Vebjorn Sand built the da Vinci-Broen bridge in Norway using
the artist’s never-realized plans for a bridge meant to stretch across the Golden Horn in Istanbul. Rejected as an
architectural impossibility by the Ottoman Sultan who commissioned it, the bridge was built 499 years after da
Vinci designed it, proving the Sultan wrong.

(Source: https://www.ebsco.com/blog/article/the-steamy-relationship-between-art-and-science)

Science
It aims for principles such as objectivity and reproducibility.
It is distinct in its approach and successful in its results.
It is a type of knowledge rather than a specialized word for the pursuit of such knowledge.
It is used to develop new technology, and examine limits to technological development

Art
It is the expression of the author's imaginative or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or
emotional power.
Diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks).
The various branches of creative activity, such as painting, music, literature, and dance

Science in art/Art in Science

The invention of photography in the middle of the 19th century was a technological wonder—artistically and
scientifically

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 The practice of oxidizing and fixing images on light-sensitive paper.
A metal plate posed a great challenge to painters, who had historically been charged with the task of providing
their culture with images of itself and the world around them.
1. How art and science intersect?
From the Great Pyramids to Albert Einstein to Bacteriography and art therapy, art and science enable each
other to deepen their respective expressions of reality. Practically speaking, art is a product of expression. In
the abstract, art is often practiced either to make sense of our reality or to create a manifestation of the
consciousness of the artist itself. Science, on the other hand, is an exploration of the world around us in an
effort to find universal, indisputable truths. In short, art is often introspective while science is extrospective.
You might say art is used to understand the consciousness while science is used to understand the external
reality.

2. Where do art and science meet?

Humans have the motivation and capacity for innovation. We're trying to leave our mark on the world,
whether that it is through a building, a structure, or family. That is where we differ from machines. Our
understanding of the world comes from what we are passionate about. Machines can learn facts, but humans
can see the bigger picture.

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Lesson title: Science and Culture

SCIENCE and CULTURE

Scientific
Theories

Cultural-Personal Factors and Thought Styles

In all activities of science, including theory evolution, scientists are influenced by cultural-personal factors.
These factors include:
psychological motives and practical concerns
(such as intellectual curiosity, and desires for self-esteem, respect from others, financial security, and power),
metaphysical worldviews
(that form the foundation for some criteria used in conceptual evaluation),
ideological principles
(about "the way things should be" in society),
and opinions of authorities
(who are acknowledged due to expertise, personality, and/or power).

These five factors interact with each other, and operate in a complex social context that involves individuals, the
scientific community, and society as a whole.
Science and culture are mutually interactive, with each affecting the other.

Some cultural-personal influence is due to a desire for personal consistency between ideas, between actions, and
between ideas and actions.
For example, scientists are more likely to accept a scientific theory that is consistent with their metaphysical and
ideological theories.

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 A. Five (5) Cultural-personal factors that influenced scientists
1. psychological motives
2. practical concerns
3. metaphysical worldviews
4. ideological principles
5. opinions of authorities

B. Characteristics of scientific culture

1. originality
2. independence of thought
3. dissent

C. Ways by which science affects culture

1. effect on health care
2. effect on lifestyle

SCIENCE AFFECTS CULTURE CULTURE AFFECTS SCIENCE

The most obvious effect of science has been its medical How does culture affect science?"
and technological applications, with the accompanying
effects on health care, lifestyles, and social structures. Some influence occurs as a result of manipulating the
"science affects culture".
But science also influences culture, in many modern
societies, If society wants to obtain certain types of science-based
by playing a major role in shaping cultural worldviews, medical or technological applications, this will influence the
concepts, and thinking patterns. types of scientific research that society supports with its
resources.
Sometimes this occurs by the gradual diffusion of ideas
from science into the culture. And if scientists have already accepted some cultural
concepts, such as metaphysical and/or ideological theories,
At other times, however, there is a conscious effort, by they will tend to prefer (and support) scientific theories that
scientists or nonscientists, to use "the authority of agree with these cultural-personal theories.
science" for rhetorical purposes, to claim that scientific
theories and evidence support a particular belief system or
political program.

Enumerate ways how science affects culture: Enumerate ways how culture affects science:

1. All activities of science are influenced by .

A. cultural-personal factors B. thought-styles C. both A & B

2. The following factors influenced scientists in theory evaluation, except:

A. intellectual curiosity B. financial security C. personal opinion

3. Science and culture are mutually interactive. It means that:

A. science affects culture B. culture affects science C. both A & B

4. The following are characteristics of scientific culture, except

A. dissent B. provocative C. originality

5. Science had a strong influence on cultural values all over the world.
A. True B. False

15
Lesson title: Science in Daily Life
Science is creating wonders almost every day. What was once sheer fantasy is now almost a reality by
virtue of the recent achievements of men of science. Almost everything that makes eases our daily life are the
wonders of modern science. Science has conferred many gifts on modern life. Indeed, they are far too many to
be counted. Cooking, boiling of water, burning of candle, curdling of milk, electricity, motorized vehicles, cell
phones etc. make us realize the presence of science in everyday life. From the above examples we can sense the
broadness and importance of science in our daily lives.

Science is developed from the need of understanding the natural phenomena. It is a set of complex
theories and ideas based on observing, testing, analyzing and then presenting phenomena. Scientist have
developed several techniques to achieve this. The general process that has been formulated is known as the
scientific method. The scientific knowledge accumulated over the years has helped man to apply rationale and
logic to everyday life as well. It has proved several superstitions and blind beliefs as wrong. The most important
part of application of science is technology.

To make it clear how deeply science is interwoven with our lives, just try imagining a day without scientific
progress. Just for starters, without modern science, there would be:

 no way to use electricity.

 From Ben Franklin's studies of static and lightning in the 1700s, to Alessandro Volta's first
battery, to the key discovery of the relationship between electricity and magnetism, science
has steadily built up our understanding of electricity, which today carries our voices over
telephone lines, brings entertainment to our televisions, and keeps the lights on.

 no plastic.
 The first completely synthetic plastic was made by a chemist in the early 1900s, and since
then, chemistry has developed a wide variety of plastics suited for all sorts of jobs, from
blocking bullets to making slicker dental floss.

 no modern agriculture.
 Science has transformed the way we eat today. In the 1940s, biologists began developing
high-yield varieties of corn, wheat, and rice, which, when paired with new fertilizers and
pesticides developed by chemists.

 no modern medicine.
 In the late 1700s, Edward Jenner first convincingly showed that vaccination worked. In the
1800s, scientists and doctors established the theory that many diseases are caused by germs.
And in the 1920s, a biologist discovered the first antibiotic.

16
Scientific knowledge can improve the quality of life at many different levels — from the routine workings of our
everyday lives to global issues.
 Science informs public policy and personal decisions on energy, conservation, agriculture, health,
transportation, communication, defense, economics, leisure, and exploration.
 It's almost impossible to overstate how many aspects of modern life are impacted by scientific knowledge

WHAT IS THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD?

The logical process adopted by scientists to develop knowledge of
nature and present it as acceptable fact.
This method is based on gathering empirical data through observation
and experimentation and the formulation and testing of hypotheses.
The scientific method consists of the following four elements:

STEPS OF THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD

( Source: Untamed Science; https://untamedscience.com/biology/scientific-method/
)

1 – MAKE AN OBSERVATION
You can’t study what you don’t know is there. This is why
scientists are so curious—they’re always looking for patterns,
trends, questions, and problems that we don’t understand. Once a
scientist finds a really interesting pattern that they want to know
more about, they move onto the next step.

For example, let’s say that you notice a lot of people are
drinking alkaline water because they think it’s healthier for
them, but you’re not sure if it actually is or not.

2 – ASK A QUESTION
Once a scientist finds an interesting thing to study, they need to
ask a question that hopefully they can answer.

A question that you could ask about alkaline water might be,
“Does alkaline water actually make people healthier?”

3 – DO BACKGROUND RESEARCH
To find out the answer to your question, you need to know what potential answers are. That’s where
background research comes in, remembering that not everything you read online is true. Use reliable
sources, like Google Scholar…and untamedscience.com!

In our alkaline water example, you could search online for articles or published scientific papers showing
how people change when they drink alkaline water. You could look at overall health, or specific thinks
like lung function, blood pH, etc.

4 – FORM A HYPOTHESIS
A hypothesis is a statement of what you think the answer to your question is.
It’s different from the question you formed because it’s answering the question you developed with a
specific prediction that you’ll go on to test.

17
 A good hypothesis should be falsifiable, meaning that it’s possible to prove it wrong
Let’s say that your background research showed there wasn’t much of an effect on overall health. A
hypothesis for this might be: “Drinking alkaline water has no effect on how well people feel.”

5 CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT
How do you find an answer to your hypothesis? You conduct an experiment to test it! Depending on what a
scientist is studying, an experiment can be very quick or take years—some experiments have even been
going on for hundreds of years!

To develop an experiment for the alkaline water example, you’d need a creative way to get people to drink
normal and alkaline water, and ask them to rank how well they feel after drinking each.

6 – ANALYZE RESULTS AND DRAW A CONCLUSION

This is what we’ve all been waiting for—what is the answer to the question? In this step, scientists take a
step back, look at the data, and decide whether to accept or reject the hypothesis. Sometimes the
conclusion is pretty straightforward, but scientists always do statistical tests just to make sure they’re
reading the results correctly.

Now that you’ve collected your data from the alkaline water experiment, let’s say that there is no real
difference in how well people feel based on what type of water they drink. In this case, you’d accept (or,
fail to reject) your original hypothesis. Alkaline water would just be a scam that didn’t really affect how
well people feel.

7 – REPORT YOUR RESULTS

You’ve just tested an important piece of information. It’s something that nobody else in the world knows.
What good is that knowledge if you keep it to yourself? The final step of the scientific process is to
report your results. Scientists generally report their results in scientific journals, where each report has
been checked over and verified by other scientists in a process called peer review.

If your alkaline water study were real, then you’d need to find a relevant journal and submit your article
to them for publication.

Science

Biology Chemistry Geology Physics

eating, sweating, cooking, boiling, landslide, erosion, walking, running,
thinking, etc. photocopying, etc. weathering, etc. climbing stairs, etc.

18
Lesson title: Science, Technology and the Human Condition

 Science and technology has been part of human activity since the beginning of our species. It has aided us
in survival and helped us outsmart our adversaries, provided us comfortable living, allowed us to explore
the world, and assisted us in discovering more about ourselves and the truth.

 However, it also leads us to a paradox in which we are only able to see the world in the lenses of
technological innovations.

 In our pursuit of growth, we had conveniently forgotten that technology only presents one approach in
viewing the world.

 This forgetfulness leads us to evaluate objects as consumable or not – transcending to other human beings,
determining their capacity to be productive.

The Human Condition Before Common Era

 Our early ancestors’ primal need to survive paved way for the invention of several developments.
 Gifted with brains more advanced than other creatures, humans are able to utilize abundant materials for
their own ease and comfort.
 As it is difficult to pinpoint the particular period where technology is said to have started, one can say that
at the very least, the motivation to make things easier has been around since humans are.
 Homo erectus have been using fire to cook, through chipping one flint over the other to produce a spark,
all the while without realizing the laws of friction and heat.
 Tools from stones and flints marked the era of Stone Age, during the advent of our very own Homo
sapiens, and humans began to sharpen stones as one would a knife; an example of this is the simple
machine called wedge.

The Human Condition in the Common Era

 Position-wise, the humans of today are much better off compared to humans several centuries ago.
Advancements in medicine, technology, health and education ushered in humanity’s best yet, and show no
sign of stopping.
 The following are some of the notable COMPARISONS then and now:

1. Mortality Rate.
Due to technology, lesser women and children die during birth, assuring robust population and strong
workforce. Medical care for premature infants allows them to survive and develop normally, while
proper maternal care ensures that mothers can fully recover and remain empowered.

2. Average Lifespan.
Aside from the reason that people engage less in combat and are less likely to die in treatable diseases
now as opposed to then, science is able to prolong lives by enhancing living status and discovering
different remedies to most diseases. Distribution of medicines is also made easier and faster.

3. Literacy Rate.
Access to education provided to more individuals generally creates a more informed public that could
determine a more just society.

4. Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Although not an indicator of an average person’s lifestyle in a certain country, it is often used to
determine the value of the country’s goods and services produced within the territory given a certain
time period. Higher country income is brought upon by high productivity, often an indicator of
19
 presence of technology.

The Essence of technology

 Humanity has indeed come a long way from our primitive ways, and as a general rule, it is said that we are
more “developed” than we were before.
 Above data are few indicators of the route that we have come to take as species, and there are no signs of
stopping.
 Modern humans are reliant on technology in their search for the GOOD LIFE. Man is constantly in
pursuit of the good life.
 Every person has his perspective when it comes to what comprises the good life.
 Science and technology has been, for the most part, at the forefront of man’s attempts at finding this
happiness.
 The only question at the end of the day is whether science and technology are taking the right path toward
attaining what it really means to live a good life.

20
Lesson title: Science, Technology and Nichomachean Ethics
Now, we will tackle the 11 virtues of Nichomachean Ethics and their relationships to science and technology.
This topic somehow enlightened us what constitutes HAPPINESS in relation to science and technology.

 Everyone wants to do the right thing.

 But how do they know what is right?
 Philosophical giant Aristotle takes on the big question:
HOW TO FIND THE HIGHEST GOOD IN LIFE?

 His Nichomachean Ethics influenced centuries of political philosophy and gives

enduring advice for seekers of happiness.

 Nicomachean Ethics is a philosophical inquiry into the nature of the Good life
for a human being.

Every human activity aims at some end that we consider Good.

Everyone agrees that the supreme Good is HAPPINESS, but people disagree over what constitutes happiness.

Common people equate happiness with sensual pleasure: this may be sufficient for animals, but human life
has higher ends.

Others say that receiving honors is the greatest good, but honors are conferred as recognition of goodness, so
there must be a greater good that these honors reward.

 The Nicomachean Ethics is a book written by Aristotle named for Nicomachus, which in keeping with the
Greek practice of boys being named after their grandfathers, was the name of both Aristotle's father and his son.

21
 What are virtues?
 Aristotle sees virtues as character traits and tendencies to act in a particular way. We gain them through
practice and by copying 'moral exemplars' until we manage to internalize the virtue. We become temperate
by practicing temperance, courageous by practicing courage, and so on. Eventually, the virtue becomes a
habit.

 In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses the following eleven (11) virtues:

1. Courage
⁃ the midpoint between cowardice and recklessness.
⁃ The courageous person is aware of the danger but goes in any way.

2. Temperance
⁃ the virtue between overindulgence and insensitivity.
⁃ Aristotle would view the person who never drinks just as harshly as the one who drinks too much.

3. Generosity
⁃ the virtue of charity, this is the golden mean between miserliness and giving more than you can
afford.

4. Magnificence
⁃ the virtue of living extravagantly.
⁃ It rests between stinginess and vulgarity.
⁃ Aristotle sees no reason to be ascetic but also warns against being flashy.

5. Magnanimity
⁃ the virtue relating to pride, it is the midpoint between not giving yourself enough credit and
having delusions of grandeur.
⁃ It is a given that you also have to act on this sense of self-worth and strive for greatness.

6. Right ambition
⁃ a disposition to aim at the intermediate between empty vanity and undue humility.

7. Patience
⁃ this is the virtue that controls your temper.
⁃ The patient person must neither get too angry nor fail to get angry when they should.

8. Truthfulness
⁃ the virtue of honesty.
⁃ Aristotle places it between the vices of habitual lying and being tactless or boastful.

9. Wittiness
⁃ at the midpoint between buffoonery and boorishness, this is the virtue of a good sense of humor.

10. Friendliness
⁃ while being friendly might not seem like a moral virtue, Aristotle claims friendship is a vital part
of a life well lived.
⁃ This virtue lies between not being friendly at all and being too friendly towards too many people.

22
 11. Justice
⁃ the virtue of dealing fairly with others. It lies between selfishness and selflessness.
⁃ This virtue can also be applied in different situations and has a whole chapter dedicated to the
various forms it can take.
Source: Aristotle (1995). The Ethics of Aristotle: The Nichomachean Ethics. (rev. ed.)(J.K. Thomson, trans.)
 Man's highest action and most complete happiness is a life of contemplation of the highest goods.
 Man's intellectual capacity is his highest capacity, and therefore his highest happiness resides in the use of that
capacity.
 The life of contemplation is so sublime that it is practically divine, and man can achieve it only insofar as there is
something divine in him.
 Contemplation is the action which best fulfills all the qualifications that the ultimate good should have, because it
is the most continuous, complete and self-sufficient of all actions.

 For most people, mere exhortation will not be enough to make them act virtuously.
 Consequently, good laws are necessary in order to make people virtuous.
 Laws and proper education are necessarily especially for the young, in order to train their passions and desires to be
in accord with reason.
 Yet since such a great number of men are not virtuous, laws are necessary not just for the young, but for everyone.
https://www.google.com.ph/search?ei=A35uWsXwK8X88QX5zbOAAw&q

Concept Graphic Organizer

Virtue Ethics (Nichomachean Ethics)

Science & Technology
(courage, temperance, generosity,
magnificence, magnanimity, right ambition,
good temper, friendliness, truthfulness, GOOD LIFE
wit, justice)

NICHOMACHEAN ETHICS BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN

Aristotle begins Nicomachean Ethics by asserting ARISTOTLE’S SCIENCE AND ETHICS
that there is some ultimate good which is both final If man is virtuous, then his scientific
and self-sufficient, and he defines this good as discoveries and inventions will also aim in the
happiness. attainment of GOOD life and HAPINESS.

In Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle discusses eleven Hence, in order for one to be a moral person, one
needs to develop or cultivate his virtues.
virtues:
courage, temperance, generosity, magnificence,
By doing so, one manages to flourish as a human
magnanimity, right ambition, good temper, being and when one flourishes (as a human being)
friendliness, truthfulness, wit, and justice. one becomes a morally good person.

Virtue ethics is based on the character of human

beings.

1. What is the difference between Intellectual Virtues and Moral Virtues?

Intellectual Virtues know what is just and admirable; learn through instruction
while Moral Virtues do just and admirable deeds; learn through habit and practice.

2. What is the definition of Moral Virtue according to Aristotle?

Aristotle defines moral virtue as a disposition to behave in the right manner and as a mean/average between
extremes of deficiency and excess, which are vices
Virtue is a matter of having the appropriate attitude toward pain and pleasure.
23
1. Vritue ethics is based on the character of human beings.
2. If man is virtuous, then his scientific discoveries and inventions will also aim in the attainment of GOOD life and
HAPPINESS.

1. According to Aristotle, happiness is

A. a state of mind. C. a craft
B. a feeling or sensation. D. activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.

2. In Aristotle’s view, the virtues are

A. acquired through habit. C. acquired through philosophical reflection.
B. a gift from the gods. D. innate.

3. Aristotle states that if we ask what the highest good of human action is
A. there is no agreement about the answer.
B. most people agree that it is pleasure.
C. nearly everyone agrees that it is happiness.
D. there is no objective answer to this question.

4. Aristotle divides the virtues into

A. natural virtues and artificial virtues. C. moral virtues and intellectual virtues.
B. positive virtues and negative virtues. D. human virtues and divine virtues.

5. According to Aristotle, we should begin ethical inquiry by specifying

A. which things are intrinsically valuable
B. the aim of human life
C. what our fundamental duties are
D. what constraints on behavior it would be reasonable to agree to.

24
Lesson title: History of Information Age

Today we will deal with the History of Information Age. You will determine the progress of the development of
Technology through the years. At the end of the lesson, try to reflect how these affect you individually and the
society.

Pre-printed concept notes:

 The Information Age is defined as a “period starting in the last quarter of the 20 th century
when information became effortlessly accessible through publications and through the
management of information by computers and computer networks”.
 The means of conveying symbolic information (e.g., writing, math, other codes) among humans has
evolved with increasing speed.
 The Information Age is also called the Digital Age and the New Media Age because it was
associated with the development of computers.

 Nowadays, information could be shared or transferred quickly.

 People are becoming more interested in sharing information about themselves.
 Various aspects of our society are also being influenced by the Information Age especially
communication, economics, industry, health and the environment.
 The rapid upgrade of information poses both positive and negative impacts to our society.

 According to James R. Messenger who proposed the Theory of Information Age in 1982,
“the Information Age is a true new age based upon the interconnection of computers via
telecommunications, with these information systems operating on both a real-time and as-needed
basis. Furthermore, the primary factors driving this new age forward are convenience and user-
friendliness which, in turn, will create user dependence.”

BEFOR NOW
E
During Galileo’s and Newton’s time, people were viewed Today, the human mind is pictured as a
as complicated mechanical machines complicated computer
Thomas Alva Edison,
Alexander Graham Bell, Steven Jobs and William Gates
and Henry Ford
Microchip
Screw and bolt in the Industrial era (Inventors were awarded a Nobel Prize in
Physics in 2000)

Majority of labor force was into manufacturing of goods Majority are engaged in supply of services

25
3 dynamic advances or waves of transformation.

1. What are the features of information age?

The features of the Information Age include everything concerning the electronic storage and
transmission of information.

2. How do the Information Age help us?

It has made people lazier, but it also makes a large amount of the population smarter.
The Information Age has made industrial countries stronger.
With online companies being some of the most successful and economically stimulating businesses out
there, economies receive more from them and keep our world turning.

3. Why is the information age important?

The Information Age is the idea that access to and the control of information is the defining
characteristic of this current era in human civilization. More technological changes, such as the
development of fiber optic cables and faster microprocessors, accelerated the transmission and
processing of information.

26
Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age-Automation

Today, the lesson is about impacts of Automation, part of the Information Age. We will determine how
Automation affects the environment, society and day to day living.

 Highly modernized, automated, data-driven and technologically advanced – these best describe our
society nowadays, as evidenced by how information can be transferred or shared QUICKLY.
 The different areas of society have been influenced tremendously such as communications,
economics, industry, health and the environment.
 Despite our gains due to the growing development of information technology, the rapid upgrade of
information also has disadvantages.
 As man evolved, information and its dissemination has also evolved in many ways.
 Eventually, we no longer kept them to ourselves; instead, we share them and manage them in different
means. Information got ahead of us.
 It started to grow at a rate we were unprepared to handle.
(Source: Serafica, Janice Patria J. et al. (2018). Science, Technology and Society. 1 st Ed. Philippines)

ADVANTAGES
⁃ commonly attributed to automation include:
higher production rates and increased productivity,
more efficient use of materials,
better product quality,
improved safety,
shorter workweeks for labor, and
reduced factory lead times.

⁃ Higher output and increased productivity have been two of the biggest reasons in justifying the use
of automation.
⁃ Despite the claims of high quality from good workmanship by humans, automated systems
typically perform the manufacturing process with less variability than human workers, resulting in
greater control and consistency of product quality.
⁃ Also, increased process control makes more efficient use of materials, resulting in less scrap.

A main DISADVANTAGE often associated with automation, worker displacement, has been discussed
above.
⁃ Despite the social benefits that might result from retraining displaced workers for other jobs, in almost
all cases the worker whose job has been taken over by a machine undergoes a period of emotional
stress.
⁃ In addition to displacement from work, the worker may be displaced geographically.
⁃ In order to find other work, an individual may have to relocate, which is another source of stress.

⁃ Other disadvantages of automated equipment include the high capital expenditure required to invest
in automation (an automated system can cost millions of dollars to design, fabricate, and install), a
higher level of maintenance needed than with a manually operated machine, and a generally lower
degree of flexibility in terms of the possible products as compared with a manual system (even
flexible automation is less flexible than humans, the most versatile machines of all).

(Source: https://www.britannica.com/technology/automation/Advantages-and-disadvantages-of-automation)

Concept Map Organizer

27
 Automation – the technique, method or system of operating or controlling a process by highly
automatic means, as by electronic devices.
INFORMATION AGE
Automation

Society

Positive effects Negative effects

Supplementary reading:

 The apparent changes brought by automation won’t hit everyone equally.

 Only 5 percent of current occupations stand to be completely automated if today’s cutting-edge
technology is widely adopted, while in 60 percent of jobs, one- third of activities will be automated.
 In fact, researchers summarize the impact of automation as: “technology destroys jobs, but not
work.”
 As an example, researchers examine the effects of the personal computer since 1980, and found out
that the invention led to the creation of 18.5 million new jobs, even when accounting for jobs lost.
(The same might not be true of industrial robots, which earlier reports suggest destroy jobs overall.)

 While it is true that economic forecasting is not an exact science, the study is one of the most
comprehensive in recent years, modeling changes in more than 800 occupations, and taking in some
46 countries, accounting for 90 percent of the world GDP.
 Furthermore, the report stressed that the effects of automation on work will differ from country to
country and that countries with developed economies are likely to be hit hardest by the coming
changes.

A. Positive effects of automation:

1. higher production rates and increased productivity;
2. more efficient use of materials;
3. better product quality;
4. improved safety;
5. shorter workweeks for labor; and
6. reduced factory lead times

B. Negative effects of automation:

1. worker displacement resulting in emotional stress;
2. high capital expenditure required to invest in automation;
3. a higher level of maintenance needed than with a manually operated machine; and
4. a generally lower degree of flexibility

28
1. How Automation changed the world?
Robots Replacing 20 million Manufacturing Jobs. This robotic revolution is propelled by technological
advances in automation, engineering, energy storage, AI and machine learning as a result of
robotization, tens of millions of jobs will be lost, especially in poorer local economies that rely on
lower-skilled workers.

2. How does Automation affect the environment?

The rising number of automated equipment has a significant impact on climate change. While it may
lead to loss of jobs done by manual workers, the overall effect on the environment is good. Automated
machines can help to reduce carbon emissions by half and thus allowing air to clear up.

3. Is Automation good for society?

Automation effectively opens the door for more new endeavors that will elevate our species to greater
heights.
Just as past generations turned away the mines for better careers, modern workers whose jobs are altered
by automation will see their roles in society evolve rather than disappear

Lesson title: Issues in STS: Information Age – Use of Gadgets, Web and Social Media
29
Today we will discuss the issues concerning the use of gadgets, web and social media. At the end of the
session, try to reflect how social media affect or influence our lives.

In his article “Truths of the Information Age” (n.d.), Robert Harris detailed some facts on the Information
Age.

1. Information must compete. There is a need for information to stand out and be recognized in the
increasing clutter.

2. Newer is equated with truer. We forgot the truth that any fact or value can endure.

3. Selection is a viewpoint. Choose multiple sources for your information if you want to receive a more
balanced view of reality.

4. The media sells what the culture buys. In other words, information is driven by cultural priorities.

5. The early word gets the perm. The first media channel to expose an issue often defines the context,
terms, and attitudes surrounding it.

6. You are what you eat and so is your brain. Do not draw conclusions unless all ideas and information
are presented to you.

7. Anything in great demand will be counterfeited. The demand for incredible knowledge, scandals, and
secrets is ever- present; hence, many events are fabricated by tabloids, publicists, or other agents of
information fraud.

8. Ideas are seen as controversial. It is almost certainly impossible to make any assertion that will not find
some supporters and some detractors.

9. Undead information walks ever on. Rumors, lies, disinformation and gossips never truly die down.
They persist and continue and continue to circulate.

10. Media presence creates the story. People behave much differently from the way they would if being
filmed when the media are present, especially film news or television media.

11. The medium selects the message. Television is mainly pictorial, partially aural and slightly textual, so
visual stories are emphasized: fires, chases and disasters.

12. The whole truth is a pursuit. The information that reaches us is usually selected, verbally charged,
filtered, slanted and sometimes fabricated. What is neglected is often even more important than what is
included.
(Source: Harris, R. (n.d.). “Truths of the Information Age.” Accessed February 26, 2017.
http://www.virtualsalt.com/infotrue.htm.)

30
HOW TO CHECK THE RELIABILITY OF THE WEB SOURCES

The internet contains a vast collection of highly valuable information but it may also contain unreliable, biased
information that mislead people.

The following guidelines can help us check the reliability of web sources that we gather.

It is noteworthy to consider and apply the following guidelines to avoid misinformation.

1. Who is the author of the article/site?

Look for an “About” or “More About the Author” link at the top, bottom, or sidebar of the webpage.
Try searching on the internet for information about the author.

2. Who published the site?

Look at the domain name of the website that will tell you who is hosting the site.
Search the domain name at http://www.whois.sc/.
The site provides information about the owners of the registered domain names.
Do not ignore the suffix on the domain name. Here are some examples:
.edu = educational; .com = commercial; .mil = military; .gov = government; .org = nonprofit

3. What is the main purpose of the site?

Why did the author write it and why did the publisher post it?

4. Who is the intended audience? scholars or the general public?

Which age group is it written for? Is it aimed at people from a particular geographic area? Is it aimed
at members of a particular profession or with specific training?

5. What is the quality of information provided on the website?

Timeliness: When was the website first published? Is it regularly updated? Check for dates at
the bottom of each page on the site.

Does the author cite sources? Just as in print sources, web sources that cite their sources are
considered more reliable.

What type of other sites does the website link to? Are they reputable sites? What types of sites
link to the website are you evaluating? Is the website being cited by others?

(Source: Lee College Library. (n.d.). “How Can I Tell if a Website is Reliable?” Accessed August 2017.
https://www.edb.utexas.edu/petrosino/Legacy_Cycle/mf_jm/Challenge%201/website%20reliable.pdf

31
Concept Graphic Organizer

Use of Gadgets, Web and Social Media

Positive Effects Negative Effects

Stimulate senses & imagination, Difficulty concentrating on studies,
promote listening ability, encourage less physical activity, health
cognitive learning, develop problems (obesity), decreased social
analytical skills, improve manual relationship, poor writing skill, etc.
dexterity, etc.

Web Media Social Media

⁃ Computer-mediated technologies that facilitate the

⁃ The Web is a collection of interconnected creation and sharing of information, ideas, career
documents (web pages) and other web interests and other forms of expression via
resources, linked by hyperlinks and URLs. virtual communities and networks.
⁃ the World Wide Web or the Web is only one of a
large number of Internet services ⁃ User-generated content, such as text posts or
⁃ Hypertext Transfer Protocol, or HTTP, is the comments, digital photos or videos, and data
language used on the Web for information transfer generated through all online interactions, is the
lifeblood of social media.

1. What impact does technology have on society?

Technology affects the way individuals communicate, learn, and think. It helps society and
determines how people interact with each other on a daily basis. Technology plays an important
role in society today. It has positive and negative effects on the world and it impacts daily lives.

2. How the social media affect our life?

People use social media for many things, such as socializing, finding and sharing information,
shopping and simply as a diversion. Some of these activities are fairly neutral while others may
cause strong emotions. Positive connections with people are important for your mental and even
physical health.

32
Lesson title: The Nano World

We will deal with Nanotechnology. How small is nano- small? We will continue to explore the effect of
technology as we were done discussing about Information Age during our previous meetings. Stay connected!

Nanotechnology
⁃ is the convergence of science, technology, and engineering where the observation, characterization,
design, and controlled fabrication of materials and devices are at the scale of less than 100 nanometers
(1 nanometer = 10-9 m).

⁃ The ideas and concepts behind nanoscience and nanotechnology started with a talk entitled “There’s
Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by physicist Richard Feynman (the father of nanotechnology) at an
American Physical Society meeting at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) on December
29, 1959, long before the term nanotechnology was used.

⁃ In his talk, Feynman described a process in which scientists would be able to manipulate and control
individual atoms and molecules.

⁃ Over a decade later, in his explorations of ultraprecision machining, Professor Norio Taniguchi
coined the term nanotechnology.

⁃ It wasn't until 1981, with the development of the scanning tunneling microscope that could "see"
individual atoms, that modern nanotechnology began.

⁃ There are two fundamental approaches to NANOMANUFACTURING:

1. Bottom-up fabrication
– it manufactures products by building them up from atomic- and molecular-scale components.
However, this method can be time-consuming.
Scientists and engineers are still in search for effective ways of putting up together molecular
components that self-assemble and from the bottom-up organized structures.

2. Top-down fabrication
⁃ it trims down large pieces of materials into nanoscale.
⁃ This process needs larger amounts of materials and discards excess raw materials.

Concept graphic organizer

33
 Nanotechnology

Nanoscale

Nanomedicine,
Nanoelectronics,
etc.

Health, Environment
and Society

Nanotechnology is already making today’s products, such as:

Medieval stained Lighter, stronger, Transparent Sunscreen: Nanoplex biomarker detection:

glass windows faster, smaller and conductive coating: provide broad- robust, ultrasensitive, highly-
more durable photographic film, spectrum UV multiplexed biomarker
touchscreen protection

BENEFITS AND CONCERNS OF THE APPLICATION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY

Example of Areas
Affected by Possible Benefits Concerns
Nanotechnology
 Improved detection and removal of  High reactivity and toxicity
contaminants  Pervasive distribution in the environment
Environment  Development of benign industrial  No nano-specific EPA regulation
processes and materials

 Ability to cross cell membranes and

Health  Improved medicine translocate in the body
 No FDA approval needed for cosmetics or
supplements
 Redistribution of wealth
Economy  Better products  Potential cost of cleanups and healthcare
 New jobs  Accessibility to all income levels

34
1. What is nanotechnology in simple words?
Nanotechnology is a part of science and technology about the control of matter on the atomic
and molecular scale - this means things that are about 100 nanometres across. Nanotechnology
includes making products that use parts this small, such as electronic devices, catalysts, sensors,
etc.

2. What is nanotechnology and its application?

Nanotechnology is being used in developing countries to help treat disease and prevent health
issues. The umbrella term for this kind of nanotechnology is Nanomedicine. In industry,
applications may include construction materials, military goods, and nano-machining of nano-
wires, nano-rods, few layers of graphene, etc.

35
Lesson title: Biodiversity and the Healthy Society

We will tackle our new topic for today about the importance of Biodiversity and its effect to the
biosphere. Try to reflect how are we going to contribute in the preservation/conservation of the different
organisms that exist in the community to balance the ecosystem. Goodluck!

BIODIVERSITY
 the richness and variety of life – of genes, species and ecosystem.
 maintains the health of the earth and its people.
 provides us with food & medicine and contributes to our economy.
 the greater the variety of species, the healthier the biosphere.
 is not evenly distributed, it varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions; among other
factors, the diversity of all living things depends on temperature, precipitation, altitude, soils,
geography and the presence of other species.

 Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a thorough study on the relationship
of living (biotic) and the nonliving (abiotic)organisms.

 Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem.

 BIODIVERSITY plays a major role in this natural dynamics.

For example, a large number of golden snails in a certain area of a rice field can help predict a low
production of rice harvest, since eggs of the golden snails are considered pest for rice plant.

On a positive view, the larger number of different species in a certain area can be a predictor of
sustainable life in that area.

Sustainability of the ecosystem ensures a better survival rate against any natural disaster.

Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, MUST PRESERVE and CONSERVE THE
BIODIVERSITY of all creatures.

CHANGES IN BIODIVERSITY
 Alteration in any system could bring varied effects.
 A change in biodiversity could have erratic effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in human
beings.

For example, humans inhabiting the forest would disturb the natural order of life.
Trees and plants would be affected in the land–clearing operations where the houses would be built. The
animals, insects, and all types of life forms in the cleared area would be either be displaced or most
likely be killed.
The loss of these life forms could affect the entire ecosystem governing that environment. The food
chain might be damaged.

From this, we can clearly infer that when our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity
encounters changes that may impact human health on such different levels.

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THREATS TO BIODIVERSITY
There are major threats to biodiversity that were identified by the United Nations’ Environment Programme
(WHO, n.d.).
These are the following:

1. Habitat loss and destruction.

Major contributing factor is the inhabitation of human beings and the use of land for economic gains.
2. Alterations in ecosystem composition.
Alterations and sudden changes, either within species groups or within the environment, could begin to
change entire ecosystems. Alterations in ecosystems are a critical factor contributing to species and habitat
loss.

3. Over-exploitation.
Over-hunting, overfishing, or over-collecting of species can quickly lead to its decline. Changing
consumption patterns of humans is often cited as the key reason for this unsustainable exploitation of
natural resources.

4. Pollution and contamination.

Biological systems respond slowly to changes in their surrounding environment. Pollution and
contamination cause irreversible damage to species and varieties.

5. Global climate change.

Both climate variability and climate change cause biodiversity loss. Species and populations may be lost
permanently if they are not provided with enough time to adapt to changing climatic conditions.

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Concept Graphic Organizer

Habitat loss and destruction

Over-exploitation Alterations in
ecosystem composition

Pollution and
contamination Global climate
change

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 1. Why is biodiversity important to human society?
Importance of biodiversity. Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. Ecological life
support— biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water,
pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of biodiversity?

By having more biodiversity the environment can be conserved and saved from disturbance of
ecosystem. More plants means the better environment and lesser effect of greenhouse gases or
temperature rising. The biodiversity helps to maintain the food web circle, disturbing can result in the
scarcity of food.

Lesson title: The Ethics and Implications of GMOs to Human Health and the Society

Today’s topic seems to be a controversial one. Why? Because it involves food that has been manipulated.
So let us find out as we continue with our discussion.

Golden Rice (left) contains beta

carotene, the same vitamin A precursor
that makes carrots orange (credit-IRRI)

Philippines Approves GMO Rice to Fight Malnutrition

39
 Science & Health By Steve
Baragona December 19,
2019 03:55 PM
A breed of rice genetically engineered to combat vitamin A deficiency has received approval from regulators
in the Philippines. Supporters say "Golden Rice" could remedy a condition that kills up to 250,000 children
each year worldwide and blinds twice that number, according to the World Health Organization.
It's the first genetically modified organism (GMO) designed to fight a public health issue to get a green light
from food safety officials in the developing world.

 Golden Rice has faced vigorous opposition from GMO opponents throughout its development, citing
safety concerns and other issues.
Protesters destroyed test fields in the Philippines in 2013.
The Philippine Department of Agriculture Bureau of Plant Industry announced Wednesday that Golden
Rice is as safe as conventional rice. Regulators in the United States, Canada, Australia and New
Zealand have also cleared the grain of safety issues.

 After 20 years of development, "it feels absolutely tremendous" to reach this stage, said Adrian
Dubock, Executive Secretary of the Golden Rice Humanitarian Board, the nonprofit working to take
the crop from the lab to the field.

Two added genes turn rice golden, one from maize and one from a soil bacterium.

Under their direction, rice grains produce beta carotene, the vitamin A precursor that makes carrots
and sweet potatoes orange. A third bacterial gene serves as a traceable marker.

In the Philippines, vitamin A deficiency among children has increased from 15.2% in 2008 to 20.4%
in 2013, despite a national supplement program, according to the Philippines-based International Rice
Research Institute, which is developing the crop.

Golden Rice could provide up to half of a young child's daily needs, IRRI says.

GMO corn is transforming farmers’ lives

in Philippines
BY NKECHI ISAAC; JANUARY 25, 2019
 The Philippines is the first country in Southeast Asia to approve the commercial cultivation of a
genetically modified crop for feed and food.
 Bangladesh was the first country in South Asia to approve such a crop with its commercialization of
pest-resistant Bt brinjal, or eggplant.

 Bt corn in the Philippines was designed to be resistant to the Asiatic corn borer (ACB), Ostrinia
furnacalis (Guenee), one of the nation’s most destructive corn pests.

The crop also presents a practical and ecologically sustainable solution for poor corn farmers everywhere
to increase their yields and decrease pesticide use, thus improving their health and livelihoods, alleviating
poverty.

Paraluman, who shared his story with an audience at last November’s United Nations Conference on
Biodiversity, said that growing Bt corn changed his life. It gave him peace of mind and more time to do
other things, like care for his family and take up side jobs.
“In December 2003, Bt corn was commercialized and I was the first farmer that planted it. The first time I
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 planted Bt corn, I was so amazed that in seven hectares that I planted I didn’t see any corn borer,” he
recalled. “There was no more damage to my corn. I planted the corn and it changed my life. Before now
my house was just so small but now it is really big. Now, my income is good and I can make the right
budgeting for my family. It increased my income and I am now going around telling other farmers that
this technology is very good.”

Paraluman refuted claims that genetically modified crops cause health problems.
“The people that were saying this would make you sick when we started initially have seen it is not true
because I have proven it,” he noted. “I have been eating it for the past 14 years and I am still hale and
hearty. So, it’s 14 years that I’ve been planting this corn and there’s not been any adverse effect on our
health.” Adopting Bt technology has made the Philippines self-sufficient in corn production, he said. The
country no longer imports corn and the farmers are now planning to export the crop because they have
surplus.

 Genetically modified organism (GMO)

⁃ is the term used for an organism created through genetic engineering.
⁃ The World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) defines GMO as an “ organism, either plant, animal or
microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally
by mating or natural recombination.”

Genetic engineering is accomplished in three basic steps. These are:

1. The isolation of DNA fragments from a donor organism;
2. The insertion of an isolated donor DNA fragment into a vector genome and
3. The growth of a recombinant vector in an appropriate host.

1. How is a safety assessment of GM food conducted?

The safety assessment of GM foods generally focuses on:
a. direct health effects (toxicity),
b. potential to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity);
c. specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties;
d. the stability of the inserted gene;
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 e. nutritional effects associated with genetic modification; and
f. any unintended effects which could result from the gene insertion.

2. What are the main issues of concern for human health?

While theoretical discussions have covered a broad range of aspects, the three main issues debated
are the potentials to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity), gene transfer and outcrossing.

3. Are GM foods safe?

Different GM organisms include different genes inserted in different ways.
This means that individual GM foods and their safety should be assessed on a case-by-case basis
and that it is not possible to make general statements on the safety of all GM foods.
GM foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and are
not likely to present risks for human health. In addition, no effects on human health have been
shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries
where they have been approved.

1. What does GMO stands for?

a. Genetically modified organism c. Good marketing option
b. Grand money order d. Genuine motivation only
2. GMOs cause allergies, toxins, new diseases and nutritional problems.
a. True b. False
3. No GM fish, fowl, or livestock is approved yet for human consumption. However, plenty of non-
organic foods are produced from animals raised on GM feed such as grains.
a. True b. false
4. Genetic Modification (GM) of food involves the laboratory process of artificially inserting genes into the
DNA of food crops or animals.
a. True b. false
5. When you purchase products labeled “100% organic’” “organic,” or “made with organic
ingredients,” all ingredients in these products are not allowed to be produced from GMOs.
a. True b. false
6. Companies are required by law to label their products as “non-GMO” or GMO free.
a. True b. false
7. Which ingredient is one of the most commonly engineered in processed foods?
a. Wheat flour c. vegetable oil
b. Gluten d. unevaporated cane sugar
8. Canned foods do not contain GM ingredients
a. True b. false
9. Which breakfast food is likely to include GMO ingredients because it is often made with corn and
soy products?
a. cereal c. orange juice
b. eggs d. tempeh
10. Which is the only commercialized GM fruit?
a. Bananas c. papaya
b. Apples d. plums

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Lesson title: Science, Technology and Climate Change

Today’s topic is a global problem, the climate change. Take note, it is not just your personal problem but
worldwide, just like this pandemic we have experienced in the beginning of this year.

Climate change
 is a worldwide issue that we have to face.
 It refers to the statistically significant changes in climate for continuous period of time.
 Factors that contribute to climate change can be natural internal process, external forces and
persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use.
 It can also be due to natural occurrences or contributed by acts of human beings.

NATURAL CAUSES
 Volcanic Eruptions.
When volcanoes erupt, it emits different natural aerosols like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxides, salt
crystals, volcanic ashes or dust, and even microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.

 Orbital Changes.
This was proposed by Milankovitch theory that states that, “as the earth travels through the space
around the sun, cyclical variations in three elements (eccentricity, obliquity, precession) of earth-
sun geometry combine to produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches earth
(Academic Emporia, 2017).

 The Carbon Dioxide Theory.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is added when power and heat are produced by burning coal, oil and other
fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide is transparent to sunshine but not invisible to infrared (heat) radiation
leaving the ground. Carbon dioxide absorbs part of the infrared radiation in the air and returns it to
the ground keeping the air near the surface warmer than it would be if the carbon dioxide did not
act like a blanket. Doubling the carbon dioxide raises the temperature to 2oC to 3oC.

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HUMAN ACTIVITIES
 contribute to climate change.
 The largest known contribution comes from the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide
gas to the atmosphere.
 Greenhouse gases and aerosols affect climate change by altering incoming solar radiation and outgoing
infrared (thermal) radiation that are part of earth’s energy balance.
 Changing the atmospheric abundance or properties of these gases and particles can lead to a warming
or cooling of the climate system.

1. What are the challenges of climate change?

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times.
Climate change is already happening:
temperatures are rising, drought and wild fires are starting to occur more frequently, rainfall
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 patterns are shifting, glaciers and snow are melting and the global mean sea level is rising.

2. What are impacts of climate change?

For example, climate change can alter rainfall, influence crop yields, affect human health, cause
changes to forests and other ecosystems, and even impact our energy supply. Climate-related
impacts are occurring across the country and over many sectors of our economy.

Lesson title: Environmental Awareness

The topic for today is asking you to forget your problems for the meantime and focus on the your
surroundings.

Environmental awareness is an integral part of the movement's success. By teaching our friends and family
that the physical environment is fragile and indispensable we can begin fixing the problems that threaten it.

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1. What are the simple ways to help the environment?
Use Reusable Bags. Plastic grocery-type bags that get thrown out end up in landfills or in other parts
of the environment; print as little as necessary; Recycle; Use a reusable beverage containers; Save
electricity; save water.
2. How do environmental awareness help us to protect our environment?
This is by getting rid all the factors that may lead to pollution in the environment.
Awareness of how good to conserve environment can develop interest of keeping
environment clean to avoid the consequences of unclean environment.

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Lesson title: The Ethical and Social Issues of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Research

Like all great new technologies, gene therapy does not come free from controversies.

This technology has the power to completely alter and change the course of humanity, in a potentially positive
or maybe negative way.

Gene Therapy

Several approaches to gene therapy are being tested, including:

⁃ Replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene
⁃ Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is functioning improperly
⁃ Introducing a new gene into the body to help fight a disease

 In general, a gene cannot be directly inserted into a person’s cell.

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 It must be delivered to the cell using a carrier, or vector.
Vector systems can be divided into:
Viral Vectors
Non-viral Vectors

 Currently, the most common type of vectors are viruses that have been genetically altered to carry
normal human DNA (see also Wiley database on vectors used in gene therapy trials).
Viruses have evolved a way of encapsulating and delivering their genes to human cells in a pathogenic
manner.
Scientists have tried to harness this ability by manipulating the viral genome to remove disease-causing
genes and insert therapeutic ones.

 Target cells such as the patient's liver or lung cells are infected with the vector.
The vector then unloads its genetic material containing the therapeutic human gene into the target cell.
The generation of a functional protein product from the therapeutic gene restores the target cell to a normal state

What is a Stem Cell?

- A cell that has the ability to continuously divide and differentiate (develop) into various other kind(s) of
cells/tissues.
- Stem cells are different from other cells of the body in that they have the ability to differentiate into
other cell/tissue types. This ability allows them to replace cells that have died. With this ability, they
have been used to replace defective cells/tissues in patients who have certain diseases or defects.

What is Stem Cell Therapy?

- Stem-cell therapy is the use of stem cells to treat or prevent a disease or condition.
- Bone marrow transplant is the most widely used stem-cell therapy, but some therapies derived from
umbilical cord blood are also in use.

Controversies in Stem Cell Therapy

- Stem-cell therapy has become controversial following developments such as the ability of scientists to
isolate and culture embryonic stem cells, create stem cells using somatic cell nuclear transfer and their
use of techniques to create induced pluripotent stem cells. This controversy is often related to abortion
politics and to human cloning. Additionally, efforts to market treatments based on transplant of stored
umbilical cord blood have been controversial.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem-cell_therapy

Concept Graphic Organizer

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is an experimental technique that uses
genes to treat or prevent disease. In the future, this
technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by
inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs
or surgery. Researchers are testing several approaches to
gene therapy, including: a.) Replacing a mutated gene that
causes disease with a healthy copy of the gene. b.) Social Issues48
Inactivating, or “knocking out,” a mutated gene that is
functioning improperly. c.) Introducing a new gene into
the body to help fight a disease.
 Ethical Issues

Stem Cell Therapy

Ethical Issues Social Issues

TWO TYPES OF GENE

THERAPY
SOMATIC CELL GENE THERAPY GERMLINE GENE THERAPY (GGT)
(SCGT)
⁃ the therapeutic genes are transferred ⁃ germ cells (sperm or egg cells) are modified by the
into any cell other than a gamete, germ introduction of functional genes into their
cell, gametocyte, or undifferentiated genomes.
stem cell the modifications affect the
individual patient only, and are not ⁃ modifying a germ cell causes all the organism's
inherited by offspring. cells to contain the modified gene.

⁃ the change is therefore heritable and passed on to

⁃ represents mainstream basic and later generations
clinical research, in which therapeutic ⁃ Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Switzerland,
DNA (either integrated in the genome and the Netherlands prohibit GGT for application
or as an external episome or plasmid) is in human beings, for technical and ethical reasons,
used to treat disease. including insufficient knowledge about possible
risks to future generations.

1. What are the ethical and social issues concerning gene therapy?
Gene therapy could be targeted to egg and sperm cells (germ cells), however, which would allow the
inserted gene to be passed to future generations. Because of these ethical concerns, the U.S.
Government does not allow federal funds to be used for research on germline gene therapy in people.

2. What are the moral and ethical issues with stem cells?
In the case of embryonic stem cell research, it is impossible to respect both moral principles. To obtain
embryonic stem cells, the early embryo has to be destroyed. This means destroying a potential human
life.

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