1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society

each planet to orbit once around

Lesson 1 - Intellectual the Sun.
Revolution that Defined Society
How can science be defined? • Charles Darwin
o Famous for his theory of evolution
• It is an idea
o He published his book The Origin
• It is an intellectual activity
of Species in 1589. His book
• It is a body of knowledge
presented evidence on how species
• It is a personal and social activity
evolved over time and presented
Scientific Revolution traits and adaptation that
differentiate species.
• It is the period of enlightenment when
o In his book The Descent of Man,
the developments in the fields of
he introduced the idea of all
mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology,
organic life, including human
and chemistry transformed the views of
beings, under the realm of
society about nature.
evolutionary thinking.
• The ideas generated during this period
o His unorthodox way of pursuing
enables the people to reflect, rethink,
science gave more value to
and reexamine their beliefs and their way
evidence-based science. It is
of life;
science marked by observation and
• It led to the creation of new research
experiment.
fields in science and prompted the
• Sigmund Freud
establishment of a strong foundation for
o Famous figure in the field of
modern science.
psychology
Some Intellectuals and their Revolutionary o Made a significant contribution
Ideas through the development of an
important observational method
• Nicolaus Copernicus
known as the method of
o His idea and model of the universe
psychoanalysis.
placed the Sun to be the
o His method was unorthodox–
centerpiece of the universe.
focusing on human sexuality and
o He outlined two kinds of planetary
the evil nature of man.
motion: (1) the orbits of Venus and
o According to Weiner (2016), his
Mercury lay inside the orbit of the
method of psychoanalysis was
Earth, thus, closer to the Sun; and
proven to be effective in
(2) the orbits of Mars, Saturn, and
understanding some neurological
Jupiter lay outside the Earth’s
conditions that were not
orbit, thus, further from the Sun.
understood by medicine at that
From this model, he would work on
time.
the length of time it will take for

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
Cradles of Early Science Development of scientific ideas and tools that they
Science in Mesoamerica developed to help them in everyday life:
o roads paved with stones;
• The Maya civilization is one of the
o stone buildings that surmounted
famous civilizations that lasted for
earthquakes and other disasters;
approximately 2000 years.
o irrigation system and technique
o They incorporated their advanced
for storing water for their crops
understanding of astronomy into
to grow in all types of land;
their temples and other religious
o calendar with 12 months to mark
structures.
their religious festivals and
o They are known for their
prepare them for planting season;
knowledge of predicting eclipse
o the first suspension bridge; quipu,
and using astrological cycles in
a system of knotted ropes to keep
planting and harvesting.
records that only experts can
o They are known for measuring
interpret; and
time using two complicated
o Inca textiles since cloth was one
calendar systems.
of the specialty prized artistic
o They developed the technology for
achievements.
growing different crops and
• The Aztec civilization has also made
building elaborate cities using
substantial contributions to science and
ordinary machineries and tools.
technology and to the society as a whole.
o They built looms for weaving cloth
Some of their contributions are the
and devised a rainbow of glittery
following:
paints made from mineral called
o Mandatory education. Their
mica.
children are mandated to get
o They are also believed to be one of
education regardless of their
the first people to produce rubber
social class, gender, or age. It is
products 3000 years before
an early form of universal or
Goodyear received its patent in
inclusive education.
1844.
o Chocolates. The Aztec in Mexico
o They are one of the world’s first
developed chocolate during their
civilizations to use a writing
time. The Aztec valued the cacao
system known as the Mayan
beans highly and made them as
hieroglyphics.
part of their tribute to their gods.
o They were also skilled in
o Antispasmodic medication. They
mathematics and created a number
used a type of antispasmodic
system based on numeral 20.
meditation that could prevent
o They independently developed the
muscle spasms and relax muscles,
concept of zero and positional
which could help during surgery.
value, even before the Romans did.
o Chinampa. It is a form of Aztec
• The Inca civilization is also famous in
technology for agricultural
Mesoamerica. The following were

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
farming in which the land was o Indian astronomer and
divided into rectangular areas and mathematician Aryabhata (476-
surrounded by canals. 550), in his Aryabhatiya,
o Aztec calendar. This enabled introduced a number of
them to plan their activities, trigonometric functions, tables
rituals, and planting season. and techniques, as well as
o Invention of the canoe. A light algorithms of algebra.
narrow boat used for traveling in o Another Indian, Brahmagupta, also
water systems. suggested that gravity was a force
of attraction, and lucidly explained
Development of Science in Asia
the use of zero as both a
• India placeholder and a decimal digit.
o Another Indian named Madhava of
The Indians creatively developed various ideas
Sangamagrama is also considered
and technologies useful in everyday lives.
as the founder of mathematical
o Their iron steel is considered to analysis (Joseph, 1991).
be the best and held with high • China
regard in the whole Roman Empire. o It is one of the ancient
o Ayurveda, a system of traditional civilizations with substantial
medicine that originated in ancient contributions in many areas of life
India before 2500 BC, is still like medicine, astronomy, science,
practiced as a from of alternative mathematics, arts, philosophy, and
medicine. music, among others.
o They discovered some medicinal o Known for traditional medicines, a
properties of plants that led them product of centuries of
to develop medicines to cure experiences and discovery of the
various illnesses. Chinese people.
o The Susruta Samshita describes o Discovered various medical
different surgical and other properties and uses of different
medical procedures famous in plants and animals to cure human
Ancient India. illness; an example is the practice
o They developed theories on the of acupuncture.
configuration of the universe, the o Among the famous discoveries and
spherical self-supporting Earth, inventions of the Chinese
and the year of 360 days with 12 civilizations were compass,
equal parts of 30 days each papermaking, gunpowder, and
o The people of this civilization, printing tools.
according to Bisht {1982}, tried to o They also invented other tools like
standardize measurement of iron plough, wheelbarrow, and
length to a high degree of propeller, among others.
accuracy and designed a ruler, the
Mohenjodaro ruler
GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca
1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
o They developed a design of system, such as the introduction
different models of bridges of decimal point notation.
(Zhongguo ke xue yuan, 1983), o Some scholars considered Jabir
invented the first seismological ibn Hayyan to be the “Father of
detector, and developed a dry Chemistry” (Derewenda, 2007;
dock facility (Needham et al., Warren, 2005)
1971) o Ibn Sina pioneered the science of
o Made significant records on experimental medicine and was
supernovas, lunar and solar the first physician to conduct
eclipses, and comets, which were clinical trials (Jaquart, 2008)
carefully recorded and preserved o Ibn Sina two most notable works in
to understand better the heavenly medicine, the book of Healing and
bodies and their effects to our the Canon of Medicine, were used
world. (Mayall, 1939) as standard of medicinal texts in
o They observed the heavenly bodies both Muslim world and in Europe
to understand weather changes during the 17th century
and seasons that may affect their
Development of Science in Africa
daily activities. They used lunar
calendars. Africa is blessed with natural and mineral
• Middle East Countries resources
o With the spread of Islam in the
Science also emerged in this part of the planet
7th and 8th centuries, a period of
long before the Europeans colonized it.
Muslim scholarship, or what is
called the Golden Age of Islam Astronomy was also famous in the African
lasted until the 13th century. region.
o Muslim scientist placed greater
Documents show that Africans used three types
value on science experiments
of calendars: lunar, solar, and stellar, or a
rather than plain-thought
combination of the three.
experiments
o A Muslim scientist named Ibn al- North Africa and the Nile Valley imported iron
Maytham is also regarded as the technology from the developments during the
Father of Optics, especially for Bronze Age until the Iron Age.
his empirical proof of the
o Mathematics was also known to be
intromission theory of light
prominent in the life of early
o Mathematician Muhammad ibn
people in the African continent.
Musa al-Khwarizmi gave his name
o The Lebombo Bone, which may
to the concept of algorithm while
have been a tool for multiplication,
the term algebra is derived from
division, and simple mathematical
al-jabr.
calculation or a six-month lunar
o Muslim mathematicians did make
calendar, is considered to be the
several refinements to the number

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
oldest known mathematical treatment and prognosis for the
artifact dated from 35,000 BCE treatment of diseases.
o The Islamic regions in Africa
during the medieval period was
also benefiting from mathematical
learning, which is considered
Lesson 2 - Science, Technology,
advanced during those times, such and Nation Building
as algebra, geometry, and
trigonometry. Brief Historical Background of Science and
Technology in the Philippines

• Pre-Spanish Philippines
• The ancient Egyptian civilization has
o The early inhabitant of the
contributed immensely and made
archipelago had their own belief
significant advances in the fields of
system and indigenous knowledge
astronomy, mathematics, and medicine.
system.
For example:
o Science was observed in the way
o They are good in the four they interpreted the movements
fundamental mathematical of heavenly bodies to predict
operations and other mathematical seasons and climates, and in
skills. They have knowledge of the organizing days into months and
basic concepts of algebra and years.
geometry. o Scientific knowledge was observed
in the way they planted their
o The rules of geometry were
crops, in taking care of animals,
developed and used to build
and for food production.
rectilinear structures, the post of
o They used science in preparing the
lintel architecture in Egypt.
soil for agricultural purposes and
o The Great structures of the like any other ancient cultures.
Egyptian pyramids and the early They also discovered the medicinal
dams built to divert water from uses of plants.
the Nile River are some proofs of o They developed tools for planting,
the advanced civilization. hunting, cooking, and fishing; for
fighting enemies during war or
o Egypt was known to be a center of
tribal conflicts.
alchemy, which is known as the
o They also developed technologies
medieval forerunner of chemistry.
in creating musical instruments.
o They tried to study human o The Metal Age had a significant
anatomy and pharmacology, and influence on the lives of early
applied important components such Filipinos.
as examination, diagnosis, o Sophisticated designs of gold and
silver jewelry, ceramics, and metal

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
tools proved that their o They established a modern
technological ideas helped in the research university, the
development of the different University of the Philippines.
tools. o They created more private
• Spanish Era hospitals that the former colonial
o The Spaniards brought with them master.
their own culture and practices. o The mineral resources of the
o They established schools for boys country were also explored and
and girls and introduced the exploited during the American
concept of subjects and time.
disciplines. o Transportation and communication
o It was the beginning of formal systems were improved, though
science and technology in the not accessible throughout the
country, known now as school of country.
science and technology. o The Protest church missions in
o The Filipinos developed ways to different places in the country
replicate the technology brought also brought hospitals and schools
by the Spaniards using indigenous to far-flung areas.
materials. o However, World War II had
o Medicine and advanced science destabilized the development of
were introduced in formal colleges the country in many ways.
and universities established by the Institutions and public facilities
catholic orders. were turned into ashes, houses
o The Galleon trade had brought were burned, and many lives were
additional technology and destroyed.
development in the Philippines. o Since the establishment of the
o Filipino students who were able to new republic, the whole nation had
study in Europe also contributed been focusing on using its limited
to the advancement of medicine, resources in improving its science
engineering, arts, music, and and technology capability
literature in the country.
Government Policies on Science and Technology
• American Era
o The Americans established the The Philippine government introduced and
public education system and implemented several programs, projects, and
improved the engineering works policies to boost the area of science and
and the health conditions of the technology.
people.
The goal is to prepare the whole country and its
o They reorganized the learning of
people to meet the demands of a technologically
science and introduced in public
driven world and capacitate the people to live in
and private schools.
a world driven by science.

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
• The National Research Council of the • The Philippine-American Academy of
Philippines (NCRP) clustered these Science and Engineering (PAASE, 2008)
policies into four namely: identified several capacity-building
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, programs such as:
Education, International Policies and 1. Establishment of national centers of
Governance excellence
2. Physics, Engineering and Industrial 2. Manpower and institutional
Research, Earth and Space Sciences, development programs, such as the
and Mathematics Engineering and Science Education
3. Medical, Chemical, and Pharmaceutical Program (ESEP) to produce more PHD
Sciences graduates in science and engineering
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and 3. Establishment of regional centers to
Forestry support specific industries
• There are also other existing programs 4. Establishment of science and
supported by the Philippine government technology business centers to assist,
through the Department of Science and advice, and incubate
Technology (DOST): technopreneurship ventures; and
1. Providing funds for basic research 5. Strengthen science education at an
and patents related to science and early stage through the Philippine
technology. Science High School system.
2. Providing scholarships for
The current K to 12 education program
undergraduate and graduate studies
includes Science, Technology, Engineering,
of students in the field of science
and Mathematics (STEM)
and technology.
3. Establishing more branches of the The Commission on Higher Education has
Philippine Science High School launched its Philippine-California Advanced
System. Research Institutes (PICARI) project to
4. Balik Scientist Program to encourage strengthen the STEM competitiveness of the
Filipino scientist abroad to come country.
home and work in the Philippines.
The Philippine Congress has also created
5. Developing science and technology
various laws related to science and
parks in academic campuses to
technology. These laws vary according to
encourage academe and industry
different themes such as:
partnerships.
6. The establishment of the National Conservation, health-related, technology-
Science Complex and National building, and supporting basic research,
Engineering Complex within the among others.
University of the Philippine campus in
• Some laws and policies are in line
Diliman
with international treaties such as:
1. The United Nations (UN)

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
2. United Nations Educational, There are other outstanding Filipino Scientists
Scientific and Cultural Organization who are recognized here and abroad for their
(UNESCO); and outstanding contributions in science:
3. Association of Southeast Asian
• Caesar A. Saloma – an internationally
Nations (ASEAN).
renowned physicist
• Edgardo Gomez – famous scientist in
marine science
Famous Filipinos in the Field of Science
• William Padolina – chemistry and
1. Ramon Cabanos Barba president of the National Academy of
• For his outstanding research on Science and Technology (NAST) –
tissue culture in Philippine mangoes. Philippines
2. Josefino Cacas Comiso • Angel Alcala – marine science
• For his works on observing the
characteristics of Antarctica by
using satellite images.
3. Jose Bejar Cruz Jr.
Lesson 3 – Science Education in
• Known internationally in the field the Philippines
of electrical engineering; was
elected as officer of the famous The Concept of Science Education
Institute of Electrical and
• Science education focuses on teaching,
Electronic Engineering.
learning and understanding science.
4. Lordes Jansuy Cruz
• Teaching science involves exploring
• Notable for her research on sea
pedagogical theories and models in helping
snail venom.
teachers teach scientific concepts and
5. Fabian Millar Dayrit
processes effectively
• For his research on herbal
• Learning science includes both pedagogy
medicine.
and the most interesting aspect, which is
6. Rafael Dineros Guerero III
helping students understand and love
• For his research on tilapia culture.
science
7. Enrique Mapua Ostrea Jr.
• Understanding science implies developing
• For the invention of the meconium drug
and applying science-process skills and
testing.
using science literacy in understanding
8. Lilian Formalejo Patena
the natural world and activities in
• For doing research on plant
everyday life.
biotechnology.
9. Mari-Jo Panganiban Ruiz Science Education in Basic and Tertiary
• For being an outstanding educator and Education
graph theorist.
• In basic education, science and education
10. Gregory Ligot Tangonan
helps students learn important concepts
• For his research in the field of
and facts that are related to everyday
communications technology

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
life including important skills, critical through a special
thinking skills, and life skills. curriculum that
• In tertiary education, science education recognizes the multiple
deals with developing students’ intelligences of the
understanding and appreciation of science learners;
ideas and scientific works. It also o Promote the
focuses on the preparation of science development of lifelong
teachers, scientists, engineers, and other learning skills; and
professionals in various science-related o Foster the holistic
fields. development of the
learners.
Science Schools in the Philippines
3. Quezon City Regional Science High
1. Philippine Science High School School
System (PSHSS) • The school envisions to serve
• A government program for as a venue in providing
gifted students in the maximum opportunities for
Philippines science-gifted students to
• A service Institute of the develop spirit of inquiry and
Department of Science and creativity.
Technology (DOST) • The focus of its curriculum is
• Offers free scholarship basis on science and technology.
for secondary course with • It is well-supported by the
special emphasis on subjects local government unit and by
pertaining to the sciences the Parents and Teachers
2. Special Science Elementary Association (PTA).
Schools (SSES) Project 4. Manila Science High School
• This project started in June • It is the first science high
2007 with 57 (or 60 since its school in the Philippines.
inception) identified • It aims to produce scientists
elementary schools that with souls.
participated or were identified • The organization and
as science elementary schools curriculum of the school
in the country. puts more emphasis on
• The SSES Project aims to science and mathematics.
develop Filipino children • The school administers an
equipped with scientific and entrance exam, the Manila
technological knowledge, skills, Science High School Admission
and values. Its mission is to: Test (MSAT), for students
o provide a learning who wish to enroll.
environment to science- • MSAT has five parts; aptitude
inclined children for science, aptitude test in

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca

1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
mathematics, problem-solving • Classifying different types of soil for
test in science, problem-solving planting based on cultural properties;
test in mathematics, and • Producing wines and juices from tropical
proficiency in English. fruits; and
5. Central Visayan Institute • Keeping the custom of growing plants and
Foundation vegetables in the yard.
• It is the home and pioneer of
the prominent school-based
innovation known as the Indigenous Science
Dynamic Learning Program
Indigenous science is part of the indigenous
(DLP).
knowledge system practiced by different groups
• DLP is a synthesis of classical
of people and early civilizations.
and modern pedagogical
theories adapted to foster the It includes complex arrays of knowledge,
highest level of learning, expertise, practices, and representations that
creativity, and productivity. guide human societies in their enumerable
• The school takes pride in its interactions with the natural milieu: agriculture,
Research Center for medicine, naming and explaining natural
Theoretical Physics (RCTP). phenomena, and strategies for coping with
changing environments.

Indigenous science helps the people in

Lesson 4 – inDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND understanding the natural environment and in
coping with everyday life.
TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
1. Indigenous science uses science
Indigenous Knowledge System process skills such as observing,
comparing, classifying, measuring,
Some examples of indigenous knowledge that are
problem solving, inferring, communicating,
taught and practiced by the indigenous people
and predicting.
are:
2. Indigenous science is guided by
• Predicting weather conditions and seasons culture and community values such as the
using knowledge in observing animals’ following:
behavior and celestial bodies; • The land is a source of life. It
• Using herbal medicine; is a precious gift from the
• Preserving foods; creator;
• Classifying plants and animals into • The Earth is revered as
families and groups based on cultural “Mother Earth”. It is the origin
properties; of their identity as people;
• Preserving and selecting good seeds for • All living and nonliving things
planting are interconnected and
• Using indigenous technology in daily lives; interdependent with each
• Building local irrigation systems; other;
GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca
1 – General Concepts and Historical Events in Science, Technology, and Society
• Human being are stewards or
trustee of the land and other
natural resources. They have a
responsibility to preserve it;
and
• Nature is a friend to human
beings—it needs respect and
proper care.
3. Indigenous science is composed of
traditional knowledge practiced and
valued by people and communities such as
ethno-biology, ethno-medicine, indigenous
farming methods, and folk astronomy.

GESSci-6 BSAccty1-02, Cosca