Module 1 Lesson 1.

Introduction to Science,
Technology, and Society
Dr. Josephine E. Tuliao
Faculty
School of Social Sciences and Education
Intended Learning Outcomes

Explain general
concepts related to
Science and
Technology.

Explain the scope

Demonstrate
of the study of
preparedness and
Science,
readiness in the
Technology, and
study of STS.
Society (STS).
 Science
Defined
Refers to a systematic and methodical
activity of building and organizing
Comes from the Latin word, ‘scientia’ How about Wolpert? How did he
knowledge about how the universe
meaning ‘knowledge’ define Science?
behaves through either observation or
experimentation or both
Science Defined

According to the
famous American
science historian John
Heilbron (2003, p. vii),
 “modern science is a
discovery as well as
an invention.”
Technology Defined

the application of scientific comes from the

knowledge, laws, and principles Greek root word,
How did Wolpert
to produce services, materials, technē, meaning ‘art,
define technology?
tools, and machines aimed at skill, or cunning of
solving real-world problems hand’
Mark Zuckerberg’s
definition of technology  

“What defines a
technological tool — one
historical definition — is
something that takes a
human’s sense or ability
and augments it and makes
it more powerful. So, for
example, I wear contact
lenses or glasses; that is a
technology that enhances
my human ability of vision
and makes it better.”
Challenges and Downsides of S&T
“We live in a society absolutely dependent on
science and technology and yet have cleverly
arranged things so that almost no one
understands science and technology. That’s a
clear prescription for disaster.” -popular American
scientist Carl Sagan quoted in Tom Head’s (1994)
 book
Science, Technology, and Society Defined
• traces its roots during the interwar period and into the start of the
Cold War
• resulted from a recognition that many schools today do not really
prepare students to respond critically, reflectively, and proactively to
the challenges of the contemporary world, in this case S&T
Science, Technology, and Society Defined
• a result of questions about its dynamic interaction with various
aspects of society and was thus viewed as a socially embedded
enterprise 
• seeks to bridge the gap between two traditionally exclusive cultures
of humanities (interpretive) and natural sciences (rational)
Lewis Wolpert’s (2005) The Medawar
Lecture 1998 Is science dangerous?

“In contrast to technology, reliable scientific knowledge

is value-free and has no moral or ethical value” (p. 1254)
SCIENCE ≠
TECHNOLO
GY
CONFLATION
 Access video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JcYEXeK0g8

On ‘Eugenics’
‘Socially responsible science’ is
more than ‘good science’ (Bird,
2014).
• accurate and reliable research
• oppose misuse or abuse in the
application of research findings
• attend to both the limitations and the
foreseeable impacts of their work
• participate in discussions and decisions
regarding the appropriate use of science
in addressing societal issues and
concerns
• bring their specialized knowledge and
expertise to activities and discussions
that promote the education of students
and fellow citizens
• enhance and facilitate informed decision
making and democracy
PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE

Access video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgxhVOoScp0

 10. Deep Fakes
5. Class Dojo and
2020’s ten emerging Classroom Surveillance

ethical dilemmas and 4. The HARPA

SAFEHOME Proposal
policy issues in S&T
1. The Pseudoscience 3. Predatory Journals
of Skincare

2. AI and Gamification
in Hiring

6. Grinch Bots

7. Project Nightingale

8. Student Tracking
Software 9. The Corruption of
Tech Ethics
Group Work 1 (GW 1)
Review the ten emerging ethical dilemmas of 2020 compiled by the
John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values of the
University of Notre Dame. You have been assigned groups of five
members each and one emerging ethical dilemma per group. Research
about the nature of the S&T innovation assigned to you and be
prepared to report the highlights of your group research in class. Use
the following guide questions in preparing your output. Create a no
more than five-slide PowerPoint presentation to highlight the summary
of your research:
Group Work 1
• What is the S&T issue all about?
• What factors or events led to the introduction of this S&T?
• What ethical dilemmas does the introduction of the S&T assigned to
your group pose?
• Why is it important to question the moral and ethical issues
surrounding the assigned S&T?
• In the face of this new S&T innovation, why is it important to study
Science, Technology, and Society?
 Module 1 Lesson 1.
Introduction to Science,
Technology, and Society
Dr. Josephine E. Tuliao
Faculty
School of Social Sciences and Education