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Republic of the Philippines 2. Science is a systematic field

CAVITE STATE UNIVERSITY ➔ The term “systematic” simply means that
it follows steps and procedures when
Don Severino de las Alas Campus performing an observation.
Indang, Cavite ➔ This is where the scientific method
comes into play wherein we start with
observation, we come up with a
hypothesis, collect data, analyze and
Lecture 1: Introduction to STS Module lastly, arrive at a correct conclusion.
Lecture Overview
➔ Definition of science, technology &
society
➔ Emergence of STS as a new field of
study

What is Science
Science is a systematized body of
knowledge.

➔ On a daily basis, we do things

systematically.
3. Science covers general truths and facts
You can obtain general truths and facts
through observation and
experimentation.
Unless you observe and make good use
of your five senses, you won’t be able to
More specifically, have a good result.
1. Science is an empirical field, 4. Science is a total societal enterprise
➔ which means that it is any kind of ➔ Achieves social impact alongside
knowledge based on experiences, financial returns
observations and not depending on ➔ Balance between traditional charity and
feelings or opinions. traditional business
➔ For example, in the field of science, you ➔ When we say traditional charity, it has a
cannot just take a guess about the result main goal of helping people without
of your study; nonetheless, you have to expecting anything in return; whether it
conduct an experimentation and be money or income.
observation to be able to come up with a ➔ Traditional business focuses on getting
decent result. profit or income from investments.
➔ When we say empirical, it requires the ➔ An example of why science is a societal
use of our five senses. enterprise is this: when we conduct
research and prove it is impactful and
beneficial to the field of science, you will
be granted an incentive. Basically, as
you make a contribution with your
research, you are also gaining
something out of it.
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material) to meet an objective or solve a

problem.
What is Technology? ➔ The methodology or procedures on how
these things are made are also a
technology.
3. Technology can change and modify the
world

➔ Due to the rise of

technology that is
beyond the control of
humans, it can totally
change the entire world
in a sense that there
have been numerous
inventions present
1. Technology is an applied science today that aid in the
➔ The scientific knowledge of inventors or needs of humans.
scientists have been used and applied ➔ In the prehistoric times,
to make a certain type of technology. when people got
➔ Smartphones exemplify applied science; infected by plague, they
they would not have been invented if it
would succumb to
were not for the scientific knowledge of
people. death as there is no
➔ Technology can also be discovered by cure or treatment for it,
chance in a sense that during the but now, in the present
prehistoric times, the early humans have time, we have vaccines
been able to harness fire, which is a and medication that we
technology, without applying any take to cure certain
scientific knowledge on it.
diseases.
➔ Technology can also be given rise by
trial and error.
2. Technology is a body of knowledge and 4. Technology is a societal enterprise
skills ➔ The social welfare of people should be
prioritized but due to capitalism,
financial value is being focused on.

What is Society?

➔ Technology is a body of knowledge used

to create tools, develop skills, and extract
➔ A society, or a human society, is a group
or collect materials.
of people involved with each other
➔ It is also the application of science (the through persistent relations, or a large
combination of the scientific method and social grouping sharing the same
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geographical or social territory, typically book entitled The Structure of Scientific

subject to the same political authority Revolutions, a book published by
and dominant cultural expectations. Thomas Kuhn in 1962 was the product
➔ A school of fish, an army of ants, a of this interest.
group of religious organizations is ➔ STS was exclusively offered at
considered as a society. University of the Philippines Diliman, but
in 2013, the Commission on Higher
Interconnection of Science, Technology & Education included STS in the list of
Society General Education and offered it across
the various universities in the
Philippines.

Prepared by:

RYAN V. JULIAN
Instructor

➔ Science aims to improve society, and

once it improves, it becomes hungry and
asks for more improvements from
science.
➔ Society benefits from technology as it
makes our lives easier and convenient
with its innovations.
➔ Technology benefits society, however,
when a problem arises, it needs to be
improved, that’s why it demands more
from science.

Emergence of STS as a new field of study

➔ STS will deal with the possible impact of
both science and technology on society,
wherein, it will give students an insight
about its advantages and
disadvantages, its pros
and cons.
➔ The relationship
between scientific
knowledge,
technological
systems and society
has taken a great
interest to historians
and sociologists and a