10 things we can understand about Science, Technology and Society

Touches of Science and Technology is found everywhere. Cellphones, bath soaps, ice creams, clothing, transportation and other countless things are products of ST. Some people might be using some of these things at a daily basis but fail to appreciate the ST behind all of these.

This article will provide you with 10 things you should know about science and technology.

1. Science defined.

There are various definitions of science but let us consider this definition: science observes a systematic way of gaining facts in the natural world through the scientific method. It is to know the truth. Since science is for facts, therefore its enemy are the lies that are found in the society. A lot of people's lives were negatively affected due to their beliefs on lies. Through the scientific method, science can provide us with the truth that we need everyday, regardless of what we feel about it.

2. Science is philosophy.

Honestly, I really did not appreciate my philosophy class when I was in college. However as I learned more about science, I realized that philosophy is (and always will be) an integral part of science. Since philosophy appreciates more on questions than answers, science needs to question things around us to arrive at a certain truth or fact. Historically, science was called as the philosophy of the natural world, where ancient Greek philosophers such as Aristotle, Socrates and Plato question and reason out the events of the natural world. Philosophical thoughts are still significant in the modern-day setting of the natural world.

3. Classifying objects was the basis of knowledge.

Ancient philosophers are so obsessed in knowing the truth, using their reasoning skills. They considered that the first step of knowing is to know how to classify things found in nature. Like classifying those that are animals and plants, which ones are solid, liquid or gas, and etc. Language was also appreciated as the carrier of these knowledge from one person to another.

4. Technology defined.

The Greek words i tekhne and -logia mean 'craft/art' and 'interest', respectively. It is very interesting to note that technology have an artistic component. This is one instance where the arts touch the realms of the sciences. Technological designs (sports, medicine, culinary, electronics, etc) are all products of the arts. This is one good reason why we should incorporate artists in our technological and scientific endeavors.

5. Application of ST

Technology can then be understood as the application of our understanding about nature for the betterment of human lives. Note that it is for the betterment, and not destruction. That is why we can see that all of our tools, gadgets, food and medicine are all products of innovations in science and technology, whose materials are all coming from nature.

6. Interdisciplinarity of Science, Technology and Society

This subject has been mandated by CHED via Memorandum Order No. 20 to be implemented in all colleges and universities in the Philippines. All college students are required to take this subject for them to appreciate that science and technology is for everybody, regardless of what they do.

7. STS is for reflection.

Some may find it weird, but STS is actually touches your reflective side. It allows you to think and comprehend the impacts, both positive or negative, of the advances of science and technology in our society. Hence, the subject is not to make those in the non-science degrees to become scientists and technologists, but to allow you to know that ST will always be part of our lives, regardless of what you do. It also allows students to understand that even though we can modify our environment and spend our resources for our own comfort, still we need to put limits on our utilization of these precious resources.

8. Science has influence our lives.

Our existence and that of other creature is influence by science. This is the very reason why science is an indispensable tool in our society, since it seeks to find ways in making our lives more comfortable and progressive.

9. Technology links our lives.

Science only progresses when technology are innovated. As you see, there are just scientific discoveries that were once imaginable by previous scientists. This is in full courtesy of technological advances. For instance, Galileo uses a telescope and discovered the revolution of the heavenly bodies. Never in his imagination that we will be able to put up a telescope in space (Hubble Space Telescope) that see celestial bodies beyond our galaxies in great details. Another is our communication technology. If Alexander Graham Bell is alive today, I just could not imagined that his simple technology could lead to our latest smartphones with all the apps and features. You can think of other technologies that place our lives closer than ever.

10. STS if for appreciation.

Aside from its reflective nature on the impacts of ST, the subject is also for students to appreciate the efforts of scientists and technologists to painstakingly innovate what we have today. All of their efforts is to make our live better.