STS REVIEWER nature and the universe work and that

the obligation of the scientists, besides

Definition of Terms studying the nature of the universe, is to
explain the possible uses and
Science- the word came from the Latin
applications of such scientific
"scientia," meaning "knowledge." It
knowledge. Along this line, Wolpert
refers to the systematic and methodical
made it clear that science is not the
activity of building and organizing
same as technology. Scientists are not
knowledge about how the universe
responsible for the application of
behaves through observation,
knowledge in technology. He further
experimentation, or both.
explained that the very nature of science
According to famous American science is that it is not possible to predict
historian, John Heilbron (2003), " scientific discoveries and how these
Modern science is a discovery of discoveries may be applied. While
regularity in nature, enough for natural scientists are not responsible for the
phenomena to be described by reliable conduct of the scientific inquiry
principles and laws. he also explained and its honest interpretation and
that science required invention to devise dissemination, technological
techniques, abstractions, apparatuses, applications of science are
and organizations to describe these influenced by other sectors such as
natural regularities and their law-like politics and governance, religion, and
descriptions. business.

Technology- it is the application of Nowadays, advancements in science

scientific knowledge, laws, and and technology have become pervasive.
principles to produce services, They are manifested in the activities that
materials, tools, and machines aimed at humans pursue and the tools they use
solving real-world problems. it came every day. The beauty of this is that an
from the Greek word techne, meaning advancement builds upon itself. As
'art, skill, or cunning of hand.' such, humans today live more
productive and more exciting lives than
Society- is composed of a group of their predecessors.
people living together in a more or
less ordered community. However, the dynamism and immensity
of scientific and technological progress
Wolpert (2005) made an interesting also pose challenges and drawbacks to
comparison between science and the way humans live. The introduction of
technology that is helpful in the study of machines tremendously cut the need for
their interaction with society, Wolpert the human workforce and gave rise to
explained that reliable scientific the question of whether machines will
knowledge has no moral or ethical eventually replace humans. The
value. It is meant simply to explain how
invention of drugs that cured the and society. The rise of STS as an
previously incurable diseases academic field resulted from the
introduced new strains of bacteria and recognition that many schools today do
viruses that are resistant to the very not really prepare students to respond
same drugs that once fought them-take critically, reflectively, and proactively to
an antibiotic-resistant strain of the challenges posed by science and
gonorrhea as an example. The rise of technology in the contemporary world.
social media drastically changed the
What is Dilemma?
way humans communicate, interact, and
share information; however, this tends to It is a situation where a person is forced
put people's privacy at risk. Indeed, to choose between two or more
science and technology have served a conflicting options neither of which is
predominantly double-edged function. acceptable.
As problems in science and technology What are Ethical Dilemmas?
continue to rise and become more
observable, the need to pay attention to Ethical/Moral Dilemmas -are situations
their interactions with various aspects of where persons, who are called "moral
human life, e.g. social, political, and agents" in ethics, are forced to choose
economic, becomes even more between two or more conflicting options,
necessary. How the different aspects neither of which resolves the situation in
of society shape and influence the a morally acceptable manner.
progression and further
developments of science and Three Conditions that must be
technology in the area of concern of a present in Moral Dilemmas
relatively new academic discipline called
Science, Technology, and Society. 1. The person or agent of moral
action is obliged to make a
Science and Technology and Society is
decision about which course
a relatively young field that previously
of action is best.
independent and older disciplines, such
2. There must be different
as the history of science, philosophy
courses of action to choose
of science, and sociology of science.
from.
As an academic field, STS, according to
3. No matter what course of
Harvard University's Kennedy School
action is taken, some moral
(2018) traces its roots from the
principles are always
interwar period and the start of the
compromised.
cold war. It was during the period when
historians and scientists found interest Ten Emerging Ethical Dilemmas
in the interconnections of scientific
1. Helix- a digital app store
knowledge, technological systems,
designed to read genomes.
 2. BlessU-2 Popper- first robot science and technology. The list points
priest and monk to the ever-growing challenges,
3. Emotion-Sensing Facial questions, and issues that need to be
Recognition- a software addressed and resolved when science
being developed to assess and technology, and humanity
your reactions to anything intertwine. However, methods of
such as shopping and playing critiquing these emerging ethical
games. dilemmas may come from similar
4. Ransomware- a way of methods used in previous critiques of
holding data hostage through science and technology issues. For
the backing and requiring a example, one can use methods used in
ransom to be paid. critiquing the rise of clinical trials of gene
5. Textalyzer- a device that therapy in the 1990s. Today's approach
analyzes whether a driver to critiquing emerging science and
was using his or her phone technology issues, such as the ones
during an accident. listed above, may be influenced by how
6. Social Credit System- a scientists and non-scientists evaluated
system of scoring citizens the positive and negative purpose, one
through their actions by can continue to specifically draw from
placing them under constant the tenets of philosophy, and
surveillance. sociology in making informed and
7. Google Clips- a hands-free critical judgments of the ethical and
camera that lets the user moral values of these innovations in
capture every moment science and technology.
effortlessly.
8. Sentencing Software- a Summary
mysterious algorithm
designed to and courts in In modern times, there are different
sentencing decisions. technological advancements in all forms
9. Friendbot- an app that stores and sizes may it be inside the home, the
the deceased's digital workplace, the learning place, or simply
footprint so one can still chat on the streets. It is not completely
with them. impossible for a person in the world to
10. Citizen App- an app that own at least one technological device.
notifies users of ongoing However, despite its usefulness and
crimes or major events in a beneficial characteristics, there are still
specific area. problems faced by technological
Even though several items in the list advancement. To be more specific,
sound unfamiliar to many, they can be a these problems are ethical in nature that
useful springboard in the study of involve not only the machine but also
mankind. It is not impossible for IOActive, recently demonstrated the
technology and humanity to cross paths vulnerability of a pacemaker by
because as one would argue, breaching the security of the wireless
technology has become a necessity for device from his laptop and
people. At the end of the day, ethics reprogramming it to deliver an 830-volt
should still be enforced in the field of shock. How do we make sure these
technology so as ensure the safety and devices are secure?
morality of these technologies to people.
3. Driverless Zipcars
What is Social Implication?
In three states -- Nevada, Florida, and
The social implications of an event or California -- it is now legal for Google to
action are the results, on society or part operate its driverless cars. Google's
of society, of the event or the action. The goal is to create a fully automated
idea of social implications can also be vehicle that is safer and more effective
extended to a law or a policy, that is, a than a human-operated vehicle, and the
planned set of repeated actions. company plans to marry this idea with
The link enumerates examples of the concept of the Zipcar. The ethics of
dilemmas and their social implications. automation and equality of access for
1. Personalized genetic people of different income levels are just
tests/personalized medicine a taste of the difficult ethical, legal, and
policy questions that will need to be
Within the last 10 years, the creation of addressed.
fast, low-cost genetic sequencing has
given the public direct access to 4. 3-D printing
genome sequencing and analysis, with Scientists are attempting to use 3-D
little or no guidance from physicians or printing to create everything from
genetic counselors on how to process architectural models to human organs,
the information. What are the potential but we could be looking at a future in
privacy issues, and how do we protect which we can print personalized
this very personal and private pharmaceuticals or home-printed guns
information? Are we headed toward a and explosives. For now, 3-D printing is
new era of therapeutic intervention to largely the realm of artists and
increase the quality of life or a new era designers, but we can easily envision a
of eugenics? future in which 3-D printers are
2. Hacking into medical affordable and patterns abound for
devices products both benign and malicious, and
that cut out the manufacturing sector
Implanted medical devices, such as completely.
pacemakers, are susceptible to hackers.
Barnaby Jack, of security vendor 5. Adaptation to climate
change
The differential susceptibility of people own, the ethical, legal, social and policy
around the world to climate change implications have grown exponentially.
warrants an ethical discussion. We need Who is responsible for the actions
to identify effective and safe ways to undertaken by autonomous systems? If
help people deal with the effects of robotic technology can potentially
climate change, as well as learn to reduce the number of human fatalities,
manage and manipulate wild species is it the responsibility of scientists to
and nature in order to preserve design these systems?
biodiversity. Some of these adaptation
8. Human-animal hybrids
strategies might be highly technical (e.g.
(chimeras)
building sea walls to stem off sea-level
rise), but others are social and cultural So far scientists have kept
(e.g., changing agricultural practices). human-animal hybrids on the cellular
level. According to some, even more,
6. Low-quality and counterfeit
modest experiments involving animal
pharmaceuticals
embryos and human stem cells violate
Until recently, detecting low-quality and human dignity and blur the line between
counterfeit pharmaceuticals required species. Is interspecies research the
access to complex testing equipment, next frontier in understanding humanity
often unavailable in developing and curing disease, or a slippery slope,
countries where these problems rife with ethical dilemmas, toward
abound. The enormous amount of trade creating new species?
in pharmaceutical intermediaries and
9. Ensuring access to wireless
active ingredients raise a number of
and spectrum
issues, from the technical (improvement
in manufacturing practices and Mobile wireless connectivity is having a
analytical capabilities) to the ethical and profound effect on society in both
legal (for example, India ruled in favor of developed and developing countries.
manufacturing life-saving drugs, even if These technologies are completely
it violates U.S. patent law). transforming how we communicate,
conduct business, learn, form
7. Autonomous systems
relationships, navigate, and entertain
Machines (both for peaceful purposes ourselves. At the same time,
and for warfighting) are increasingly government agencies increasingly rely
evolving from human-controlled to on the radio spectrum for their critical
automated, to autonomous, with the missions. This confluence of wireless
ability to act on their own without human technology developments and societal
input. As these systems operate without needs presents numerous challenges
human control and are designed to and opportunities for making the most
function and make decisions on their effective use of the radio spectrum. We
now need to have a policy conversation enhancement? How do we justify
about how to make the most effective enhancing human bodies when so many
use of the precious radio spectrum, and individuals still lack access to basic
to close the digital access divide for therapeutic medicine?
underserved (rural, low-income,
developing areas) populations. What is Antecedent?

10. Data collection and privacy Antecedent- it is defined as a

precursor to the unfolding or
How often do we consider the massive
existence of something.
amounts of data we give to commercial
entities when we use social media, store Thus, historical antecedents in
discount cards, or order goods via the science and technology are factors
Internet? Now that microprocessors and that paved the way for the presence
permanent memory are inexpensive of advanced and sophisticated
technology, we need to think about the scientific and technological
kinds of information that should be innovations today. Knowledge of the
collected and retained. Should we history of science and technology in use
create a diabetic insulin implant that in appraising these innovations today.
could notify your doctor or insurance By understanding how previous
company when you make poor diet generations influenced and were
choices, and should that decision make influenced can come up with informed
you ineligible for certain types of decisions on the proper application of
medical treatment? Should cars be science and technology to daily life.
equipped to monitor speed and other
The rise of ancient civilizations paved
measures of good driving, and should
the way for advances in science and
this data be subpoenaed by authorities
technology. These advances during the
following a crash? These issues require
ancient period allowed civilizations to
appropriate policy discussions in order
flourish by finding better ways of
to bridge the gap between data
communication, transportation,
collection and meaningful outcomes.
self-organization, and living in general.
11. Human enhancements
Some Inventions During Ancient
Pharmaceutical, surgical, mechanical,
and neurological enhancements are
Times
already available for therapeutic 1. Ancient Wheel- People from
purposes. But these same ancient civilizations used
enhancements can be used to magnify animals for transportation
human biological function beyond the long before the invention of
societal norm. Where do we draw the the wheel. No one knows who
line between therapy and exactly invented the wheel
 and when. There is, however, vast. Through its use,
a general agreement that the information dissemination
ancient wheel grew out of a became exponentially faster.
mechanical device called the records were kept and stood
potter's wheel- a heavy flat the test of time.
disk made up of hardened
clay that was spun
horizontally on an axis. The
invention of the wheel is often
credited to the Sumerians
since no other ancient
civilization used a similar
device at the time. Today,
cars, carts, bicycles, and
trucks are just some of the 3. Shadoof- The shadoof was
many offshoots of the wheels an early tool invented and
invented by the Sumerians. used by Egyptians to irrigate
the land. It is a hand-operated
device used for lifting water.
Its invention introduced the
idea of lifting things using
counterweights. Because of
this invention, irrigation and
farming became much more
efficient. The shadoof is also
believed to be an ancient
2. Paper- Roughly around 3000 precursor of more
B.C., the ancient Egyptians sophisticated irrigation tools.
began writing on papyrus, a Please click the video to
material similar to thick paper. watch how the shadoof is
Papyrus is made from the pith being made and used.
of the papyrus plant cyperus
papyrus. It is lightweight,
strong, durable, and portable. 4. Antikythera Mechanism-
Before the Egyptians invented Even before the invention of
the papyrus, writing was done the antecedents of the
on stone. With the advent of modern computer, the Greeks
the papyrus, documentation, had already invented the
and record-keeping become ancient world's analog
efficient, widespread, and computer orrery. Discovered
 in 1902 and retrieved from the The medieval Age occurred between the
waters of Antikythera, collapse of the Roman Empire in the 5th
Greece. Antikythera century AD and the colonial expansion
mechanism is similar to a of Western Europe in the late 15th
mantel clock and it is known century AD, and major advances in
as the antecedent of modern scientific and technological
clockwork. developments took place. The Middle
Age was not as stagnant as alternate
terms such as the Medieval Period of
Dark Ages.

1. Heavy Plow- This is one of

the most important
technological innovations
during the middle ages. The
heavy plow turned European
agriculture and economy on
its head. Clay soil, despite its
being more fertile than the
lighter types of soil, was not
5. Aeolipile- Also known as the cultivated because of its
Hero's engine, the aeolipile is heavyweight. However,
widely believed to be the through the invention of the
ancient precursor of the plow, it became possible to
steam engine. It is a harness clay soil. Professor
steam-powered turbine that Thomas Bernebeck Andersen
spun when the water of the University of Southern
container at its center was Denmark succinctly describes
heated, thus making it the impact of the invention of
practically the first the heavy plow: "The heavy
rudimentary steam engine. plow turned the European
agriculture and economy on
its head. Suddenly, the field
with the heavy, fatty, and
moist clay soil became those
that gave the greatest yields."
Because of this, Europe,
particularly its northern
territories, saw rapid
economic prosperity. the
heavy plow stirred an
 agricultural revolution in almost every new weapon
Northern Europe marked by used in war since its
higher and healthier invention. It ushered in an
agricultural yields. unprecedented advancement
in warfare and combat
throughout the Middle Ages.

2. Gunpowder- Around 850 3. Paper Money- Although it

A.D., Chinese civilization's was not until the 17th century
alchemists accidentally that banknotes began to be
invented black powder or used in Europe, the first
gunpowder. Multiple accounts known versions of paper
suggest that the gunpowder money could be traced back
might have been an to the Chinese in the 17th
unintended byproduct of century AD as an offshoot of
attempts made by the the invention of block
Chinese to invent the exilir of printing, which is similar to
life, which is why the Chinese stamping. Before the
called it huoyao or translated introduction of paper money,
as "fire potion." Prior to the precious metals, such as gold
invention of gunpowder, and silver were used as
swords and spears were used currency. However, the idea
in battles and wars. Towards of assigning value to a
the end of the 13th century, marked piece of paper did not
explosive invention crept into immediately become popular.
most parts of Europe and in fact, when the Mongols
Asia. Since its invention, attempted to introduce paper
gunpowder has allowed for money into the Middle East
more advanced warfare. market in the 13th century, it
from fiery arrows to cannons did not gain immediate
and grenades, gunpowder success. Nonetheless, traders
has prompted the foundation and merchants eventually
for the functionality of realized the huge advantage
 of using paper money
because it was easier to
transport around compared
to the previous forms of 6. Printing Press- After the
currency. Chinese developed
woodblock printing, Johann
Guttenberg was able to invent
the printing press, a more
reliable way of printing using
a cast type. He utilized
wooden machines that
extracted juices from fruits,
attached to them a metal
4. Mechanical Clock- Although
impression of the letters, and
devices for timekeeping and
pressed firmly the cast metal
recording sprung from ancient
into a piece of paper, which
times, such as the Antikythera
then made an exact
mechanism, it was not until
impression on paper. This
the middle ages that
general invention soon
clockwork technology was
evolved to be a mechanical
developed. The development
printing press which was
of mechanical clocks paved
eventually used all over the
the way for accurately
world.
keeping track the time.

5. Spinning Wheel- A machine

used for transforming fiber
into thread or yarn and
eventually woven into cloth on
As the
a loom. Please click the link to
world population steadily increased,
watch the video about the
people of the Modern Ages realized the
Spinning Wheel of India. The
utmost importance of increasing the
Spinning Wheel encouraged
efficiency of transportation,
the development of the
communication, and production.
industry of fabrics, clothes,
Industrialization took place with greater
and related products.
risks in human health, food safety, and
the environment which had to be
addressed as scientific and
technological progress unfolded at an
unimaginable speed.

Some Inventions During the

Modern Age
1. Compound Microscope- A
Dutch spectacle maker
named Zacharias Jansen is
credited for the invention of
the first compound
microscope in 1590. Together
with his father Hans, 2. Telescope- Perhaps the
Zacharias began single, most important
experimenting with lenses by technological invention in the
putting together several study of astronomy during the
lenses on a tube. This led to Modern Ages was the
an amazing discovery that an practical telescope invented
object, when placed near the by Galileo Galilei. This
end of the tube, can be invention could magnify
magnified far larger than what objects 20 times larger than
a simple magnifying lens can the Dutch perspective
do. Jansen's compound glasses. It was Galileo who
microscope was an important first used the telescope
progression from a single lens skyward and made important
microscope. It was capable astronomical discoveries, and
of magnifying objects three identified the presence of
times their size when fully craters and mountains in the
closed and up to ten times moon. Galileo's remarkable
when extended to the technological contribution
maximum. Today, the drastically changed the study
compound microscope is an of astronomy. For the first
important instrument in many time, it became clear that the
scientific studies, such as in universe is far larger than
the areas of medicine, previously imagined and the
forensic studies, tissue earth far smaller compared to
analysis, atomic studies, and the entire universe.
genetics.
 a series of cards with punch
holes automatically created
complex textile designs and
made mass production easier.
The Jacquard loom is also an
important antecedent of
modern computer technology
as it demonstrated the use of
punched cards to instruct a
machine to carry out complex
tasks. For further information
on a Jacquard loom, please
click the link to watch the
video.

3. Jacquard Loom- As the

industrial Revolution reached
4. Engine- Powered Airplane-
full speed, the Jacquard loom
Orville Wright and Wilbur
was considered as one of the
Wright are credited for
most critical drivers of the
designing and successfully
revolution. Built by French
operating the first
weaver Joseph Maxie
engine-powered aircraft. The
Jacquard, the Jacquard loom
Wright brothers approached
simplifies textile
the design of powered aircraft
manufacturing. Built by
and flight scientifically. Orville
French weaver Joseph Maxie
and Wilbur proved the air
Jacquard, the Jacquard loom
crafts could fly without
simplifies textile
airfoil-shaped wings. Their
manufacturing. Prior to the
pioneering success marked
invention of the Jacquard
an age of powered flights.
loom, a drawloom was used
Sans modern knowledge on
which required two individuals
aerodynamics and a
to operate- the weaver and a
comprehensive understanding
"drawboy"- if figured on
of the working of the aircraft
textiles were needed. As
wings, the Wright brothers
such, intensified manual labor
were brilliant scientists who
and greater effort had to be
paved the way for modern
exerted to produce complex
aircraft technology.
designs. In 1801, Jacquard
demonstrated the ingenuity of
his version of a loom in which
 5. Television- The Scottish BS in Mechanical Engineering
engineer John Logie Baird is in 1926. The two-way
largely credited for the televisions or videophones
invention of modern 1955 were patented as a
television. Baird successfully "photophone signal
televised objects in outline in separator network."
1924, recognizable human 2. Agapito Flores- He invented
faces in 1925, and moving the fluorescent lamp, which
objects in 1926, and projected is the most widely used
colored images in 1928. source of lighting in the world
Baird's television technology today. The fluorescent lamp
caught on really swiftly. In reportedly got its name from
fact, the British Broadcasting Flores. The fluorescent lamp,
Corporation (BBC) used this however, was not invented in
for its earliest television a particular year. it was the
programming in 1929. Despite product of 79 years of the
being the first television development of the lighting
invented. Baird's television method that began with the
was later on criticized for its invention of the electric bulb
fuzzy and flickering images, by Thomas Edison.
primarily because it was 3. Daniel Dingel- He invented
mechanical compared to the water-powered car.
electronic versions that were Daniel Dingel started working
developed much later. on a water-powered car and
prototype in 1969. His
This time, we will put emphasis on
hydrogen reactor uses
important inventions and discoveries by
electricity from a 12-volt car
the Filipinos. It emphasizes the various
battery to transform ordinary
social, cultural, economic, and political
tap water with salt into
impacts of scientific and technological
deuterium oxide or heavy
innovation throughout history.
water. However, Dingel's car
Please be ready to share your ideas has never been patented and
about the various Filipino inventions. commercialized because of
what he suspects is an
1. Gregoria Zara- He invented anti-Dngel car conspiracy by
the first videophone. A native multinational companies.
of Lipa, Batangas and 4. Eduardo San Juan- He
enrolled at the Massachusetts invented Lunar Rover.
Institute of Technology (MIT) Eduardo San Juan's invention
in the United States, and is known as the Moon Buggy.
graduated with a degree in
 The Moon Buggy was the car chips and technologies
used by Neil Armstrong and developed by Banatao.
other astronauts when they 6. Angel Alcala- He invented
first explored the moon in the artificial coral reefs.
1969. He worked for This was used for fisheries in
Lockheed Corporation and Southeast Asia.
conceptualized the design of 7. Roberto del Rosario- He
the Moon Buggy that the invented karaoke in 1975.
Apollo astronauts used while Roberto del Rosario
on the moon. As a NASA developed a sing-along
engineer, San Juan reportedly system in 1975 and was
used his Filipino ingenuity to patented in the 1980s called
build a vehicle that would run his sing-along system
outside the Earth's "Minus-One," now holds the
atmosphere. he constructed patent for the device now
its model using homemade commonly known as the"
materials. However, San Juan karaoke machine."
was not listed as the inventor 8. Juan Salcedo Jr. -He
of the Moon Buggy in developed the" Enriched
American Scientific journals, Rice," a variety of rice fortified
instead, it was attributed to a with vitamins B1, which helps
Polish inventor. prevent beriberi. His
5. Diosdado Banatao- He discovery helped in the
invented the GUI (Graphical prevention and reduction of
User Interface). Banatao is beriberi in the Philippines
known for introducing the first and in other countries.
single-chip graphical user
Other Inventions by Filipino
interface accelerator that
made computers work a lot Scientists
faster and for helping develop
the Ethernet controller chip The Philippines boasts of its own history
that made the internet and tradition of scientific and
possible. In 1989, he technological innovations. Filipinos have
pioneered the local bus long been known for their ingenuity. As
concept for personal with all inventions, necessity has
computers and in the always been the mother of Philippine
following year developed the inventions. Most of the inventions
first Windows accelerator appealed to the unique social and
chip. Intel is now using the cultural context of the archipelagic
nation. Throughout Philippine history,
Filipinos are responsible for developing
many scientific and technological was the first woman
innovations focused on navigation, pediatrician to be admitted to
traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food the prestigious Harvard
processing, indigenous arts and University School of Medicine.
techniques, and even cultural Del Mundo's incubator was
inventions. The following are some of particularly outstanding as it
the most important inventions by Filipino addressed the state of
scientists. Philippine rural communities
that had no electricity to aid
1. Electronic Jeepney
the regulation of body
(e-jeepney)- The jeepney is
temperatures of newborn
perhaps one of the most
babies.
recognizable national symbols
4. Mole Remover- In 2000, a
of the Philipines and the most
local invention that had the
popular mode of
ability to easily remove moles
transportation in the country. It
and warts on the skin without
is also perhaps one of the
the need for any surgical
most enduring symbols of
procedure shot to fame.
Filipino ingenuity. Jeepneys
Rolando Dela Cruz is
were designed and
credited for the invention of a
improvised from scratch out of
local mole remover that made
military jeeps that the
use of extracts of cashew
Americans left in the country
nuts, which are very common
after WW II.
in the Philippines.
2. Erythromycin- One of the
5. Banana Ketchup- Filipino
most important medical
food technologist, Maria
inventions is Erythromycin.
Orosa, is credited for the
The Ilonggo scientist
invention of banana ketchup,
Abelardo Aguilar invented
a variety of ketchup different
the antibiotic out of the strain
from the commonly known
of bacterium called
tomato.
Streptomyces erythreus, from
which this drug derived its Intellectual Revolution
name.
3. Medical Incubator- The intellectual revolution changed the
World-renowned Filipino way people perceive the influence of
pediatrician and national science on society in general. It focuses
scientist, Fe del Mundo, is on three of the most important
called for the invention of the intellectual revolutions in history:
incubator and jaundice Copernican, Darwinian, and Freudian.
relieving device. Del Mundo By discussing these intellectual
revolutions in the context of science, model, Copernicus repositioned the
technology, and society, the attention of earth from the center of the Solar
students is drawn again toward the System and introduced the idea that the
complex interplay of the various social earth rotates on its own axis. The model
contexts and the development of illustrated the earth, along with the other
modern science. heavenly bodies, to be rotating around
the sun.

The idea that the sun is at the

center of the universe instead of the
earth proved to be unsettling to many
when Copernicus first introduced his
model. In fact, the heliocentric model
was met with huge resistance, primarily
from the church, accusing Copernicus of
heresy. At the time, the idea that it was
not the earth, and, by extension, not
The picture above is Nicolaus
man, that was at the center of all
Copernicus, one of the three famous
creation was unthinkable. Copernicus
scientists. He postulated a model,
faced persecution from the church
known as the "heliocentric model."
because of this. However, despite the
The Copernican persecution and the problems with the
model, the heliocentric model was soon
accepted by other scientists of the time,
Revolution most profoundly by Galileo Galilei.

The Copernican Revolution refers to The contribution of the Copernican

the 16th-century paradigm shift named Revolution is far-reaching. It served as a
after the Polish mathematician and catalyst to sway scientific thinking away
astronomer, Nicolaus Copernicus. from age-long views about the position
Copernicus formulated the heliocentric of the earth relative to the position to an
model of the universe. At the time, the enlightened understanding of the
belief was that the earth was the center universe. This marked the beginning of
of the solar system based on the modern astronomy. Although very
geocentric model of Ptolemy. slowly, the heliocentric model eventually
caught on among other astronomers
Copernicus introduced the who further refined the model and
heliocentric model in a 40-page outline contributed to the recognition of
entitled Commentariolus. He heliocentrism. This was capped off by
formalized his model in the publication Isaac Newton's work a century later.
of his treatise, The Revolution of Thus, the Copernican Revolution
Celestial Spheres in 1543. In his
marked a turning point in the study of
cosmology and astronomy making it a
truly important intellectual revolution.
Below is the Copernicus Theory.

As you can see from the image, the sun

is at the center of the solar system
instead of the earth as postulated by
Ptolemy.
Charles Darwin

Famous for his theory of evolution,

which posited that populations pass Sigmund Freud
through a process of natural selection in
which only the fittest would survive. He Sigmund Freud is known for his school
published his book The Origin of of thought known as
Species in 1589. His book presented "Psychoanalysis." This school of
evidence of how species evolved over thought is a scientific method of
time and presented traits and understanding inner and
adaptations that differentiate species. unconscious conflicts embedded
within one's personality, springing
In his book The Descent of Man, he from free associations, dreams, and
introduced the idea of all organic life, fantasies of the individual. Below is
including human beings, under the Freud's comparison of the mind to an
realm of evolutionary thinking. His iceberg.
unorthodox way of pursuing science
gave more value to evidence-based Psychoanalysis immediately shot into
science. It is a science marked by controversy for it emphasized the
observation and experiment. existence of the unconscious where
feelings, thoughts, urges, emotions, and
memories are contained outside of one's
conscious mind. Psychoanalytic phallic stage where the child develops
concepts of psychosexual development, complexes, the Electra complex (the girl
libido, and ego were met with both is attracted to the father) and the
support and resistance from many Oedipal complex ( the young boy is
scholars. Freud suggested that humans attracted to the mother); the fourth stage
are inherently pleasure-seeking is the latency stage where the child's
individuals. These notions were focus is on education or learning, and
particularly caught in the crossfire of the last stage is the genital stage where
whether Freud's psychoanalysis fit in the there is a recurrence of the sex organs
study of the brain and mind. as the source of satisfaction.
Pre-Colonial Period
Scientists working on biological
approaches to studying human behavior Scientific and technological
criticized psychoanalysis for lack of development in the Philippines began in
validity and bordering on being scientific the pre-colonial period. Even before the
as a theory. Particularly, the notion that Spaniards came to the Philippine
all humans are destined to exhibit islands, early Filipino settlers were
Oedipus and Electra complexes (the already using certain plants and herbs
sexual desire towards the parent of the as medicines. Systems of farming and
opposite sex and exclusions of the animal raising were also implemented.
parent of the same sex) did not seem to Moreover, early Filipinos had also
be supported by empirical data. In the developed different modes of
same way, it appeared to critics that transportation, whether terrestrial or
psychoanalysis, then, was more of an maritime.
ideological stance than a scientific one.
A complicated engineering feat was
Amidst controversy, Freud's achieved by the natives of the
psychoanalysis is widely credited for Cordilleras when they built rice terraces
dominating psychotherapeutic practice by hand. Through these terraces, the
in the early 20th century. people were able to cultivate crops on
the mountainsides in cold temperatures.
He discussed the three mental
They incorporated an irrigation system
structures of the mind which are the id,
that uses water from the forests and
ego, and superego. These three
mountain tops to achieve an elaborate
structures are continuously in conflict
fishing system. The rice terraces of the
with one another. Also, he mentioned
Cordilleras, which are still functional,
the stages of psychosexual
show the innovative and ingenious way
development of individuals. The first is
of the natives to survive in an otherwise
the oral stage where the child gets its
unfriendly environment.
satisfaction from the mouth; the second
is the anal stage, the child undergoes Colonial Period
toilet training; the third stage is the
Colonization by the Spaniards provided ● He mandated the Department
the Philippines with modern means of of Education and Culture
construction. Walls, roads, bridges, and (DECS) to promote science
other large infrastructures were built and technology courses in
using some of the engineering skills and public schools.
tools brought by the Spaniards. In ● He established the National
addition, the Spanish government Academy of Science and
developed health and education Technology (NAST)
systems that were enjoyed by the ● Philippine Atmospheric
principalia class. Geophysical and
Astronomical Services
The American occupation modernized
Administration (PAGASA) in
almost all aspects of life in the
place of the abolished
Philippines. They established a
Weather Bureau;
government agency, the Bureau of
● Agencies and organizations
Science, for the sole purpose of
○ Philippines
nurturing development in the field of
Coconut Research
science and technology.
Institute
Post-Colonial Period (PHILCORIN),
○ Philippine Textile
After achieving independence from the Research Institute
colonizers, the Philippines, under (PTRI),
different administrations, continued to ○ Philippines Atomic
pursue programs in science and Energy
technology. Each leadership had its own Commission
science and technology agenda. (PAEC)/Philippine
Nuclear Institute
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos (PNI),
○ National Grain
Authority(PGA)
/National Food
Authority (NFA),
○ Philippine Council
for Agricultural
Research (PCAR)
One of the presidents who ushered in /Philippine Council
advancements in science and for Agriculture,
technology was the former president Aquatic, and
and dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Natural Resources

A milestone in Science and Technology

 and Development) production sector,
(PCAANRD) improve research
○ Philippine National activities and
Oil Company develop
(PNOC), infrastructures.
○ Plant Breeding
Institute (PBI),
○ International Rice Pres. Fidel Ramos
Research Institute
(IRRI),
○ Bureau of Plant
Industry (BPI),
○ Bureau of Forest
Products (BFP),
and
○ National Committee
on Geological
Sciences (NCGS)

Pres. Corazon Aquino

A milestone in Science and Technology

● Competent scientists and

engineers increased to
approx. 3,000.
● Doctors to barrio program
● National program for gifted
Filipino children in science
and technology.
● Laws and Statutes
○ RA 8439 -Magna
Carta for Scientist
Engineers,
A milestone in Science and Technology Researchers, and
other personnel in
● National Science and
government.
Technology Authority (NSTA)
○ RA 7687 - Science
was renamed to Department
and Technology
of Science and Technology
Scholarship Act of
(DOST)
1994
○ DOST aimed to
update the
 ○ RA7459 - Inventors
and Inventions
Incentives Act
○ RA 8293 - The
Intellectual
Property Code of
the Philippines.

Pres. Joseph Estrada

A milestone in Science and Technology

● Filipinovation - the Philippines

as an innovation hub in Asia
○ Laws
■ RA 9367
- Biofuel
Act
■ RA
10601 -
Agricultur
A milestone in Science and Technology e and
● He mandated and Fisheries
implemented the following Mechani
Laws: zation
○ RA 8749 - The (AFMEC
Philippine Clean Air H)
Act of 1999
○ RA 8792 -
Electronic Pres. Benigno Aquino III
Commerce Act of
2000
● He implemented cost-effective
irrigation technologies and
provided basic health care
services.

Pres. Gloria M. Arroyo

A milestone in Science and Technology
 ● Philippine Space Technology of science and technology. The goal is
Program launched Diwata-1 to prepare the whole country and its
in 2016 people to meet the demands of a
● New scientists were technologically driven world and
acknowledge capacitate the people to live in a world
driven by science.
○ Gavino C. Trono
○ Angel C. Alcala
○ Ramon C. Barba
○ Edgardo D. Gomez

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte

The National Research Council of the

Philippines (NCRP) clustered these
policies into four, namely:

1. Social Sciences, Humanities,

Education, International
Policies and Governance
A milestone in Science and 2. Physics, Engineering and
Technology Industrial Research, Earth
and Space Sciences, and
● Budget research and
Mathematics
development (R&D) increased
3. Medical, Chemical, and
six times over the same
Pharmaceutical Sciences
period.
4. Biological Sciences,
● Give importance to agriculture
Agriculture, and Forestry
and disaster preparedness.
● Philippine Space Technology DOST Projects
Program launched Diwata-2
in 2018 There are also other existing
● Build, Build, Build Project programs supported by the
Philippine government through the
Philippine Government
Department of Science and
Technology (DOST).
The Philippine government introduced
and implemented several programs, Some of these projects are the
projects, and policies to boost the area following:
 ● Providing funds for basic ● Establishment of regional
research and patents related centers to support specific
to science and technology industries;
● Providing scholarships for ● Establishment of science and
undergraduate and graduate technology business centers
studies of students in the field to assist, advise, and incubate
of science and technology technopreneurship ventures;
● Establishing more branches and
of the Philippine Science High ● Strengthen science education
School System at an early stage through the
● Balik Scientist Program to Philippine Science High
encourage Filipino scientists School system.
abroad to come home and
Philippine-California Advanced
work in the Philippines
Research Institutes (PCARI)
● Developing science and
technology parks on The Philippine-California Advanced
academic campuses to Research Institutes (PCARI) Project is a
encourage academe and new approach to enhance the skills and
industry partnerships expertise of faculty and staff of
● The establishment of the Philippine universities and colleges,
National Science Complex through scholarships, training, and
and National Engineering research partnerships with top-notch
Complex within the University research universities in California, USA,
of the Philippines campus in in the priority areas of information
Diliman. infrastructure development (IID) and
health innovation and translational
The Philippine-American Academy of
medicine (HITM).
Science and Engineering (PAASE,
Information infrastructure development
2008) identified several
refers to the technological and human
capacity-building programs such as:
components, networks, systems, and
● Establishment of national processes that contribute to the
centers of excellence; creation, flow or exchange, processing,
● Manpower and institutional and management of electronic
development programs, such information (adapted from Braa et al.,
as the Engineering and 2007).
Science Education Program Health innovation and translational
(ESEP) to produce more medicine refer to the bench-to-bedside
Ph.D. graduates in science translation of basic scientific research to
and engineering practicable diagnostic procedures and
therapies with meaningful improvements
to physical, mental, or social health and UC-based experts in
outcomes (adapted from Zerhouni, order to build research
2005). capabilities and infrastructure
VIRTUAL INSTITUTES in Philippine universities and
The project is going to be implemented colleges;
by two virtual institutes: ● Attracts the best and the
1. The Institute for Information brightest with full support for
Infrastructure Development research, which includes
will direct projects in modern equipment,
information technology, attendance in conferences
energy, e-government, and and state-of-the-art
e-education; and laboratories; and
2. The Institute for Health ● Addresses important
Innovation and problems of society using the
Translational Medicine will best technologies, including
direct projects in health care the development of
through strategic technology, technologies close to
delivery, and training, to commercialization.
improve diagnosis, treatment, BENEFITS OF THE PCARI PROJECT
and health services delivery in ● Jobs in new competitive
the ten major causes of high-value-added industries
morbidity and mortality in the and related support services
Philippines, such as asthma, in information infrastructure in
diabetes, tuberculosis, support of disaster risk
dengue, and diarrhea. management and response,
energy generation monitoring,
e-governance, water
OUTSTANDING FEATURES OF THE resources management, and
PCARI PROJECT monitoring of civil
The PCARI Project: infrastructures, among others
● Involves scholarship, training, ● Affordable and efficient
and research; diagnostic kits, medical
● Focuses on two fields: devices, and inexpensive
information infrastructure drugs and the creation of jobs
development (IID) and health to produce such to improve
innovation and translational the diagnosis and treatment
medicine (HITM); of the ten highest causes of
● Provides opportunities for mortality and morbidity in the
direct collaboration between Philippines, such as dengue,
Philippine faculty researchers
 asthma, diabetes, skills and using science
tuberculosis literacy in understanding the
● Increase in the number of natural world and activities in
faculty-scientists and everyday life.
faculty-researchers with the
Science Education in Basic and
capacity to generate effective
Tertiary Education
technologies to benefit society
● Improved research ● In basic education, science
management skills especially education helps students
in research grants learn important concepts and
administration and facts that are related to
international linkages everyday life including
● World-class research important skills such as
institutes with state-of-the-art process skills, critical thinking
facilities for Information skills, and life skills.
Infrastructure Development ● In tertiary education, science
Health Innovation and education deals with
Translational Medicine developing students’
Science Schools in the understanding and
appreciation of science ideas
Philippines and scientific works. It also
focuses on the preparation of
The Concept of Science Education science teachers, scientists,
Science education focuses on engineers, and other
teaching, learning, and understanding professionals in various
science. science-related fields.

● Teaching science involves Science Schools in the Philippines

exploring pedagogical ● Philippine Science High
theories and models in School System (PSHSS)
helping teachers teach
scientific concepts and -A government program for gifted
processes effectively. students in the Philippines
● Learning science includes
-A service institute of the Department
both pedagogy and the most
of Science and Technology (DOST)
interesting aspect, which is
helping students understand -Offers free scholarship basis for the
and love science. secondary courses with special
● Understanding science emphasis on subjects pertaining to the
implies developing and sciences.
applying science-process
 ● Special Science Elementary ● Central Visayan Institute
Schools (SSES) Project Foundation

-This project started in June 2007 with -It is the home and pioneer of the
57 (or 60 since its inception) identified prominent school-based innovation
elementary schools that participated or known as the Dynamic Learning
were identified as science elementary Program (DLP).
schools in the country.
● DLP is a synthesis of classical
The SSES Project aims to develop and modern pedagogical
Filipino children equipped with scientific theories adapted to foster the
and technological knowledge, skills, and highest level of learning,
values. Its mission is to: creativity, and productivity.

1. provide a learning -The school takes pride in its Research

environment to Center for Theoretical Physics (RCTP).
science-inclined children
through a special curriculum
that recognizes the multiple
intelligences of the learners;
2. promote the development of Summary
lifelong learning skills; and In order to understand this topic, here
3. foster the holistic are the following discussion points to
development of the learners. remember:
● Quezon City Regional Here are the following Philippine
Science High School Governments such as:
The school envisions to serve as a ● National Research Council of
venue for providing maximum the Philippines (NCRP)
opportunities for science-gifted students ● Department of Science and
to develop a spirit of inquiry and Technology (DOST)
creativity. ● Philippine-American Academy
of Science and Engineering
-The focus of its curriculum is on (PAASE)
science and technology. ● Philippine-California
Advanced Research Institutes
-It is well-supported by the local
(PCARI)
government unit and by the Parents and
Teachers Association (PTA). Here are the following Science Schools
in the Philippines:
● Manila Science High School
● Philippine Science High
-It is the first science high school in the
School System (PSHSS)
Philippines.
 ● Special Science Elementary
Schools (SSES) Project Essence of technology
● Quezon City Regional The Greek concept of the essence of
Science High School technology was investigated by Martin
● Manila Science High School Heidegger. The meaning of technology
● Central Visayan Institute for the Greeks was assumed to be part
Foundation of our everyday life. To clarify further,
the term technology was defined into
two categories.
7.1 Human Flourishing
1. Technology is a means to an
The concept of technology was end.
controversial in the field of philosophy. 2. Technology is a human
Martin Heidegger, a German activity.
philosopher, problematized how a
human person relates to technology. He The first definition treated
investigated the meaning of technology technology as an instrument to achieve
in ancient and modern times. Moving a purpose or end. For example, student
on, you will also learn the essence of A bought a laptop and smartphone to be
technology, technology as a way of used for online learning since students
revealing, the problem and dangers of were not allowed to attend a face to face
modern technology, art as the saving learning. Laptops and smartphones are
power and questioning thought. To instruments for the student to achieve
further understand technology from the his/her purpose which is to participate in
philosophical perspectives, you will get online learning.
to know Martin Heidegger who wrote a The second definition pointed
philosophical treatise on technology. out that technology is part of our daily
He was a German philosopher who is activities of the human person which is
fun of thinking about 'being', to invent technology such as gadgets for
technology and etc. online learning, protective equipment to
1. He rejected the idea of fight COVID-19, agricultural machines to
positivist thinkers and critical produce foods and etc.
to technological domination in
the modern world. The two definitions of
2. Heidegger was critical to the technology are interconnected with each
essence and modern other in such a way that the outcomes of
technology and human activities are meant to serve
3. He reconstructed the meaning their purpose. However, this definition
of technology that reflected in of technology became problematic when
his essay entitled " The technology does not serve its purpose
Question Concerning (essence). For example, imagine that
Technology". COVID-19 will die naturally. You might
think that those PPEs and gadgets for people. For example, people exploited
learning are meaningless because the the natural resources without minding
purpose is not being served. The revival the negative effects on the ecology, the
of face-to-face learning will make a modernization of extracting gold, coal,
gadget for online learning less and petroleum from the ground
significant in the traditional classroom. compromised the bodies of water, using
of synthetic dyes and artificial flavoring
jeopardize human health, and the use of
7.1. 2 The Problems on chemicals in the agriculture poses threat
Modern Technology to food safety and health security.

Modern Technology as
The Greek definition of technology as a
human activity designed for a specific Enframing
purpose was restructured in modern
times. Technology in the modern era According to Martin Heidegger,
was reduced to calculative thinking that modern technology is enframing. The
controls nature. For instance, the term 'enframing' derives from the word
invention of the telescope, the steam 'frame' which means putting something
machine, and other devices were used into a box. This metaphorical term of
to master nature. In the mastery of Heidegger connotes that modern
nature, we used technology to technology put nature into a box through
manipulate things around us. To see a scientific knowledge. Enframing,
clear picture, Heidegger provided three according to Heidegger, is akin to two
revelations on modern technology as ways of looking at the world; calculative
challenging forth, enframing and thinking and meditative thinking.
dangerous; Humans put an order to nature and
control it through calculative thinking.
Modern Technology as
The Dangers of Technology
Challenging Forth
Heidegger at this point is critical to
Heidegger claimed that ancient
the dangers of modern technology by
and modern technology are revealing.
pointing out its defects as enframing
However, modern technology is
nature, challenging forth, treat nature as
revealing not in the sense of bringing
a standing reserve. In this case, modern
forth but rather challenging nature.
technology deviated from the essential
Modern technology challenges nature
notion of technology and revealing or
through extracting, transforming, storing,
poiesis. Heidegger sees this as a
and distributing it. Challenging forth
danger to humanity.
reduced nature as standing 'reserve' or
something to be disposed of by the
 Recognizing the dangers of The term 'good life is one of the
technology requires critical and concerns of Greek thinkers like Aristotle.
reflective thinking on its use. For In the Nichomachean Ethics, Aristotle
example, social media has indeed says that every action aims at some
connected people in the most efficient good. Some goods are classified as
and convenient way but it is prone to instrumental or intrinsic. The
abuse such as the invasion of privacy, instrumental good is a means to achieve
online disinhibition, and proliferation of something else while intrinsic good is
fake news. good in itself or ultimate good
(Eudaimonia or human
The real threat of technology
flourishing/happiness). At this point,
comes from its essence, not its activities
Aristotle is suggesting that if we want to
or products. The correct response to the
live a good life then we must develop
danger of technology is not simply
intellectual and moral virtues.
dismissing technology altogether.
Heidegger explained that people are Eudaimonia
delivered over to technology in the worst
possible way when they regard it as Eudaimonia is a Greek word that
something neutral (Heidegger, 1997). means human flourishing or happiness.
Eudaimonia as ultimate good is the final
end of our action. However, Aristotle
categorized well into different aspects;
8.1 Good Life instrumental good and intrinsic good.
Instrumental good aims at something
A brief overview of Aristotle's else while intrinsic good is the final end
or good in itself. For example, enrolling
Life
in this course is good because you will
Aristotle, who lived from 384 - learn something and get a grade at the
322 BC, is probably the most important end of the day. Why do you want a
ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. grade? because I want to get a college
He was a student of Plato and founded degree. Why do you want to get a
a school named Lyceum. In his own degree? to secure a job. As you push
school, Aristotle's students compiled the question, you will end up in the final
their lecture notes and came up with a end which is the eudaimonia. So
book entitled Nichomachean Ethics. studying in college is instrumental good
This Nichomachean Ethics, dedicated to if it helps you to achieve happiness. On
his son Nichomachus, became a the other hand, studying in college is
foundation of Aristotle's ethics intrinsic good if you are happy with what
composed of ten books. you are doing right now. Sometimes,
there are people who wrongly assumed
What is a good life? bodily pleasure or wealth, fame, and
honor as eudaimonia. This assumption applied to the action of generosity,
is wrong because eudaimonia is courage, anger and etc. to make them
exclusive only to a human being who virtuous.
exercises the faculty of reason.
Arete
Human Person
Arete is one of the significant
The table above reflects concepts of Aristotle in achieving a good
Aristotle's concept of the human soul life/Eudaimonia or happiness. Arete is a
and its hierarchy of functions and Greek term that means 'excellence of
activities. The soul was divided into any kind in terms of intellectual and
three; rational, sensitive, and nutritive. moral virtues. Intellectual virtue is
The rational part of the soul is the ability achieved through education and
of a human person to think either based experience. On the other hand, moral
on theoretical or practical knowledge. virtue is developed through the constant
Aristotle formulated the principle of 'man practice of an action that promotes good
as a rational animal' to achieve life. For instance, courage became a
eudaimonia/happiness. Achieving virtue when it is properly displayed at
eudaimonia/happiness is possible only the right time, right manner, and right
when a human person learns to identify place in the face of danger. A person
and choose the mean of their action who does not properly assess the
between excess and deficiency. By danger and reserve any fear may
doing this, we can moderate our actions develop the vice of foolhardiness or
to achieve the ultimate good or virtuous rashness. However, a person may
action. For example, integrating develop the vice of cowardice if he/she
advanced technology into human becomes fearful and incapable of acting
activities aided workers to produce on the problem in the face of danger.
outputs faster and easier. Almost
everything is run by machines. But, too Science, Technology, and Good
much dependent on machines has Life
negative effects on human well-being.
However, those societies that never The rapid development of science
upgrade their technology were left and technology is manifested through
behind in the fast-changing industrial the current trend in integrating machines
revolution and considered backward into human affairs. The automation of
societies. Between the two extremes of communication, transportation, food
actions, a rational animal who aims to production, education, modernization of
reach eudaimonia should choose the medicine, etc. must be geared towards
mean of action of the advanced a good life. Guided by the concept of a
technocratic society and backward good life, policymakers, state leaders,
society. Aristotle's method can be and technocrats can work hand-in-hand
to make our world a better place to live core of continued scientific and
in. A world is in a state of balance technological progress and
between excess and deficiency. development. Such is the focus of the
human rights-based approach to
science, technology, and society by S.
10.1 When Technology Romi Mukherjee.
and Humanity Cross The following are the three
H - human beings' important documents:

U - unequivocal 1. Universal Declaration of

Human Rights -This
M - means document affirms
everyone's right to
A - and privilege that participate in and benefit
N - need to be from scientific advances,
and be protected from
R- respected scientific misuse. The right
to the benefits of science
I - in order to comes under the domain of
'culture,' so it is usually
G - gain success for humanity examined from a cultural
rights perspective.
T - today and tomorrow in relation
2. UNESCO Recommendation
to of the Status of Scientific
Researchers- This
S- Science and Technology document that all advances
in scientific and
What are human rights?
technological knowledge
Human rights are rights inherent to all should solely be geared
human beings, whatever our nationality, toward the welfare of the
place of residence, sex, national or global citizens, and calls
ethnic origin, color, religion, language, upon member states to
and the like. develop necessary protocol
policies to monitor and
Human rights in the face of secure this objective.
technological and scientific Countries are asked to show
advancement are critical factors in one's that science and technology
journey toward a good life. Protecting are integrated into policies
the well-being and protecting the dignity that aim to ensure a more
of the human person must be at the humane and just society.
 3. UNESCO Declaration on the but rather the very heart of sustainable
Use of Scientific futures.
Knowledge- This document
Human rights should be integrated into
states, "Today, more than
the journey toward the ultimate good.
ever, science and its
They should guide humans not only to
applications are indispensable
flourish as individual members of society
for development. All levels of
but also to assist each other in
government and the private
flourishing collectively as a society.
sector should provide
Human rights are rights to
enhanced support for
sustainability, as Mukherjee put it.
building up adequate and
They may function as the "golden
evenly distributed scientific
mean," particularly by protecting the
and technological capacity
weak, poor, and vulnerable from
through appropriate
deficiencies and excesses of science
education and research
and technology. By imposing upon
programs as an
science and technology the moral and
indispensable foundation
ethical duty to protect and uphold
for economic, social,
human rights, there can be a more
cultural, and
effective and sustainable approach to
environmentally sound
bridging the gap between poor and rich
development. This is
countries on both tangible and intangible
particularly urgent for
aspects. Ultimately, all these will lead
developing countries." This
humans to flourish together through
declaration encompasses
science and technology.
issues such as pollution-free
production, efficient resources
use, biodiversity protection, 11.1 Why the Future
and brain drains.

A human rights- approach to science,

Does Not Need Us?
technology, and development sets the The article, "Why the Future Does Not
parameters for the appraisal of how Need Us?" was written by William
science, technology, and development Nelson Joy, an American computer
promote human well-being. scientist of Sun Microsystems. In his
article, Joy warned against the rapid rise
Thus, the discussion on human rights in
of new technologies. He explained that
the face of the changing scientific and
21st-century technologies are
technological contexts must not serve
becoming very powerful that they can
as merely a decorative moral dimension
potentially bring about new classes
of scientific and technological policies
of accidents, threats, and abuses. He
further warned that these dangers are
even pressing because they do not technologies has received both
require large facilities or even rare raw criticisms and expressions of shared
materials-knowledge alone will make concern. Critics dismissed Joy's article
them potentially harmful to humans. for deliberately presenting information in
an imprecise manner that obscures the
Joy argued that robotics, genetic
larger picture or state of things. For one,
engineering, and nanotechnology
John Seely and Paul Duguid (2001), in
pose much greater threats than
their article, A Response to Bill Joy
technological developments that
and doom-and-gloom
have come before. He particularly cited
Technofuturists, criticize Joy's failure
the ability of nanobots to self-replicate,
to consider social factors and only
which quickly gets out of control. In the
deliberately focused on one part of the
article, he cautioned humans against
larger picture. Others go as far as
over-dependence on machines. He
accusing Joy of being a neo-Luddite,
also stated that if machines are given
someone who rejects new
the capacity to decide on their own, it
technologies and shows
will be impossible to predict how they
technophobic leanings.
might behave in the future. In this case,
the fate of the human race would be at As a material, Joy's article tackles the
the mercy of machines. unpleasant and uncomfortable
possibilities that a senseless approach
Joy also voiced his apprehension about
to scientific and technological
the rapid increase in computer power.
advancements may bring. Whether
He was concerned that computers will
Joy's propositions are a real possibility
eventually become more intelligent than
or an absolute moonshot, it is
humans, thus ushering societies into
unavoidable to think of the future that
dystopian visions, such as robot
will no longer need the human race. It
rebellions. To illuminate his concern, Joy
makes thinking about the roles and
drew from Theodore Kaczynski's book,
obligations of every stakeholder a
Unabomber Manifesto, where Kaczynski
necessary component of scientific and
described that the unintended
technological advancement. In this
consequences of the design and use of
case, it is preeminently necessary that
technology are clearly related to
the scientific community,
Murphy's Law: " Anything that can go
governments, and businesses
wrong will go wrong." Kaczynski
engage in a discussion to determine
argued further that over-reliance on
the safeguards of humans against
antibiotics led to the great paradox of
the potential dangers of science and
emerging antibiotic-resistant strains of
technology.
dangerous bacteria.

Since the publication of the article, Joy's

argument against twenty-first-century
 place hours; (2) Enigma was made by
13.1 Information Age Britain to encipher the machine that the
(1) There are certain facts to remember German armed forces used to securely
that the age of information has the send messages; (3) Alan Turing, an
following developments: (1.1) The English mathematician who hired in
Gutenberg Press was invented by 1936 by British top-secret Government
German goldsmith, Johannes Code and Cipher School at Bletchley
Gutenberg around 1440 which resulted Park to break the Enigma code; (4)
in the improvement of the manual, Alan Turing invented “Bombe” an
tedious, and slow printing methods. This electromechanical machine that
method of the printing press is a device encrypted messages of the German
that applies pressure to an inked Enigma machine. Thus, this contribution
surface lying on a print medium, such as had shortened the war by two years.; (5)
cloth or paper, to transfer ink; (1.2) The Universal Machine became the
mass communication was traced back foundation of computer science and the
to the invention of the printing press. invention of a machine later called a
The development of a fast and easy way computer that can solve any problem in
of disseminating information in print performing any task from a written
permanently reformed the structure of program; (6) Steve Wozniak, co-founder
society; and (1.3) The rise of the printing of Apple I designed the operating
press had threatened the political and system, hardware, and circuit board of
religious authorities which impacted the the computer all by himself; (7) Steve
tremendous social change on the wide Jobs, Wozniak’s friend suggested to sell
circulation of information. Thus, the the Apple I as fully assembled printed
production of books made accessible circuit board.
not only in the upper class but in the
middle class and lower class.

13.1.1 Pioneers
Some people had contributed to the
development of the information age: (1)
Harvard Mark 1 made by the US to
address the problem of a serious
shortage of human computers for
military calculations. This Harvard Mark
1 is the general-purpose
electromechanical computer that was 50
feet long and capable of doing
calculations in seconds that usually took
 caused biodiversity to decline. Even
13.1.2 Social Media greater losses will occur in the future if
Platforms humanity continues its present
unsustainable use of natural resources.
In documenting this decline, there has
been a focus on species extinctions, the
most obvious manifestation of
biodiversity loss. In addition, there is a
loss of ecosystems, populations, and
genes. All these are the only truly
irreversible consequences of
These are the development of platforms environmental change. When any of
since then (1) in 1973 onwards, social these is lost, it is gone forever. Species
media platforms are being introduced in losses are also the aspect of biodiversity
variations of multi-user chat rooms; (2) loss that is most often considered, for
instant-messaging applications: AOL, Yahoo example, by the U.N. Convention on
messenger, MSN messenger, Windows Biological Diversity. Even a species that
messenger; (3) bulletin-board forum survives can lose much of its genetic
systems, game-based social networking diversity if local populations are lost
sites: Facebook, Friendster, Myspace; (4)
from most of its original range.
business-oriented social networking
Furthermore, ecosystems may shrink in
website: Xing; (5) messaging, video, and
the area dramatically and lose many of
voice calling services: Viber, Skype; (6)
blogging platform, image and video hosting their functions, even though their
websites: Flicker; (7) discovery and constituent species manage to survive.
dating-oriented websites: Tagged, Tinder; The loss of ecosystems, species,
(8) video sharing services: Youtube; (9) populations, and genes all have
real-time social media feed aggregator: implications for human health (Chivian,
FriendFeed; (10) live-streaming: Justin.tv, 2003).
Twitch.tv; (11) photo-video sharing
websites: Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, The research and reports in
Keek, Vine; and (12) question-and-answer Biodiversity Studies by Roy (2016:5
platforms: Quora.
15-27) reported that due to the
ever-increasing demand for natural
14. 1 Biodiversity and resources, the earth is on the verge of
global mass extinction. The biodiversity
Healthful Society hotspots are the remnant natural areas
of high terrestrial biodiversity which are
Biodiversity is the variety of life—its
rapidly degrading and constitute more
ecosystems, species, populations, and
than half of the global endemic species
genes. Human actions towards the land,
in approximately 2% of the global land
freshwater, and oceans have already
area which requires conservation and
protection along with an effort to identify draw on locally available foods, food
new areas. Presently, data gaps and the variety, and traditional food cultures. In
nonavailability of adequate information practice, this process involves empirical
across the biodiversity hotspots have research, public policy, promotion, and
resulted in unsustainable commercial applied action in support of
exploitation in these areas. In this paper, multi-sectoral, community-based
an effort has been made to assess the strategies linking rural producers and
status of the various biodiversity urban consumers, subsistence and
hotspots across the globe with respect market economies, and traditional and
to the geographic distribution, the area modern food systems. Implementation
under natural vegetation, the of the International Plant Genetic
concentration of endemic plants, and Resources Institute's Global Nutrition
the human development index in these Strategy in Sub-Saharan Africa offers a
areas. Monitoring such a large extent useful case study. Relevant policy
across the globe has its difficulties. The platforms, in which biodiversity
use of recent tools and technologies conservation and nutrition are and
including earth observation systems and should be linked, include the Millennium
information technology can help in Development Goals, Millennium
monitoring and identification of the Ecosystem Assessment, Convention on
global biodiversity hotspots and help in Biological Diversity, Global Strategy on
the conservation and protection of these Diet, Physical Activity and Health,
areas. It is suggested to identify the Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, Right to
biodiversity-rich areas at a coarse-scale Adequate Food and UN Human Rights
and have a detailed study of the Commission's Permanent Forum on
biodiversity-rich areas to design Indigenous Issues. The largely
appropriate conservation and protection unexplored health benefits of cultivated
of the biodiversity hotspots. and wild plants include micronutrient
intake and functions related to energy
Johns and Eyzaquirre (2006) density, glycaemic control, oxidative
conducted a study on Linking stress, and immuno-stimulation.
Biodiversity, Diet, and Health in Police Research on the properties of neglected
and Practice that the simplification of and underutilized species and local
human diets associated with increased varieties deserves higher priority. In
accessibility of inexpensive agricultural tests of the hypothesis that biodiversity
commodities and erosion of is essential for dietary diversity and
agrobiodiversity leads to nutrient health, quantitative indicators of dietary
deficiencies and excess energy and biological diversity can be combined
consumption. Non-communicable with nutrition and health outcomes at the
diseases are growing causes of death population level. That traditional
and disability worldwide. Successful systems once lost are hard to recreate
food systems in transition effectively
underlines the imperative for timely The demographic factors, such as
documentation, compilation, and income and the number of programs
dissemination of eroding knowledge of and projects implemented in their areas,
biodiversity and the use of food culture probably determine the status of their
for promoting positive behaviors. community participation.

This study was conducted in the

Philippines by Tumbaga, Hipolito, and
Gabriel (2020) on
Links to an external site.
Community participation toward
biodiversity conservation among
protected areas in Pangasinan,
Philippines. They said that the
understanding of community
participation in biodiversity conservation
among developing countries, such as
the Philippines, is still lacking and needs 14.1.1 Definition and
to be supplemented. This study aimed
to determine the community Types
participation toward biodiversity
conservation in two communities located
at two Protected Areas in Pangasinan,
Philippines: Hundred Islands National
Park and Manleluag Spring Protected
Landscape. The knowledge, attitude,
and community participation in the two
communities vary, considering that they
possess a unique ecosystem dimension
(coastal ecosystem and forest
ecosystem). Moreover, their knowledge
of threats and importance on
biodiversity, including their attitudes, is Biodiversity offsets are an increasingly
considered high. Despite their popular yet controversial tool in
ecosystem uniqueness, there were no conservation. Their popularity lies in
observed differences in both areas in their potential to meet the objectives of
terms of their knowledge and attitude. biodiversity conservation and of
However, in terms of community economic development in tandem; the
participation, coastal communities show controversy lies in the need to accept
a higher level of community participation ecological losses in return for uncertain
as compared to forested communities. gains. We are at a critical stage:
biodiversity offsets risk becoming are found at all these levels of
responses to immediate development organisms. Biodiversity is the shorter
and conservation needs without an form of the word biological diversity
overriding conceptual framework to which means diversity in the biological
provide guidance and evaluation criteria. world. Thus one can define biodiversity
We clarify the meaning of the term as the degree of variety in nature with
biodiversity offset and propose a regard to biological species.
framework that integrates the
consideration of theoretical and practical Definition:
challenges in the offset process. We
The living world is a complex
also propose a research agenda for
combination of different levels of
specific topics around metrics,
organisms. The key components of life
baselines, and uncertainty (Bull, 2013).
are at one extreme and communities of
According to the Millennium species at the other extreme. The
Ecosystem Assessment, common manifestations of all types of diversities
indicators are needed to monitor the are found at all these levels of
loss of biodiversity and the implications organisms. Biodiversity is the shorter
for the sustainable provision of form of the word biological diversity
ecosystem services. Special emphasis which means diversity in the biological
was placed on comparing indicators of world. Thus one can define biodiversity
biodiversity and ecosystem services as the degree of variety in nature with
across ecosystems (forests, grass- and regard to biological species.
shrublands, wetlands, rivers, lakes,
soils, and agro-ecosystems) and spatial Types of Biodiversity:
scales (from patch to global scale). The
application of biological indicators was (a) Genetic diversity:
found most often focused on regional
and finer spatial scales with few It is the variation of genes within the
indicators applied across ecosystem species. This results in a distinct
types (Feld et al. 2009). population of one, even the same
species. It gives genetic variation within
Biodiversity Types: Genetic, a population or varieties within one
Species, and Ecological Diversity species. There are two reasons for
differences between individual
The living world is a complex organisms. One is a variation in the
combination of different levels of gene which all organisms possess
organisms. The key components of life which is passed from one to its
are at one extreme and communities of offspring.
species at the other extreme. The
manifestations of all types of diversities
The other is the influence of the Colder regions support less than the
environment on each individual warmer regions for species diversity. A
organism. The variation in the sequence good climate with good physical
of four base pairs in the DNA chain geography supports a better species
forms the genetic variation in the diversity. Species richness is a term that
organism. The recombination) of genetic is used to measure the biodiversity of a
material during cell division makes it given site.
imperative for genetic diversity within a
In addition to species richness, species
species. The loss of genetic diversity
endemism is a term used to measure
within a species is called genetic
biodiversity by way of assessing the
erosion.
magnitude of differences between
The whole area of agricultural species. In the taxonomic system,
productivity and development depends similar species are grouped together in
on genetic diversity. The plant, as well general, similar genera in families,
as animal genetic resources, play an families in orders, and so on till in the
important role in the economy of a level of the kingdom. This process is a
country. Genetic diversity is the whole genuine attempt to find relationships
basis for a sustainable life system on between organisms. The higher taxa
earth. have thousands of species. Species that
are very different from one another
Scientists in many parts of the world are
contribute more to overall biodiversity.
trying to introduce genetically modified
seeds in the agriculture sector for better (c) Ecological diversity:
yield as well as for resistance to drought
and flood situations. The local people or This is the number of species in a
farmers are not showing any interest to community of organisms. Maintaining
preserve the natural way of genetic both types of diversity is fundamental to
diversity. the functioning of ecosystems and
hence to human welfare. Thus,
(b) Species diversity: ecological diversity is decided on the
basis of species and genetic diversity.
This refers to the variety of species
Ecological diversity is the scale of
within a particular region. The number of
biodiversity of an ecosystem. It
species in a region is a measure of such
describes the level of biodiversity in an
diversity. The richness of species in a
ecosystem.
given region provides a yardstick for
species diversity. Species diversity Ecosystem diversity deals with the
depends as much on genetic diversity variations in ecosystems within a
as on environmental conditions. geographical location and its overall
impact on human existence and the
environment. Ecological diversity is a
type of biodiversity. It is the variation in
the ecosystems found in a region or the
variation in ecosystems over the whole
planet. Biodiversity is important because
it clears out our water, changes our
climate, and provides us with food.
Ecological diversity includes the
variation in both terrestrial and aquatic
ecosystems. Ecological diversity can
also take into account the variation in
the complexity of a biological
community, including the number of
different niches, the number of trophic 14.1.3 Protocols on Biodiversity
levels, and other ecological processes.
Living in Harmony with Nature
An example of ecological diversity on a
global scale would be the variation in The Convention on Biological
ecosystems, such as deserts, forests, Diversity (CBD) is an international
grasslands, wetlands, and oceans. legally binding treaty with
Ecological diversity is the largest scale three main goals: conservation of
of biodiversity, and within each biodiversity; sustainable use of
ecosystem, there is a great deal of both biodiversity; and the fair and
species and genetic diversity (All cited equitable sharing of the benefits arising
by your article library, n.d.) from the use of genetic resources. Its
overall objective is
to encourage actions that will lead to a
14.1.2 Benefits sustainable future.

The conservation of biodiversity is a

common concern of humankind. The
CBD covers
biodiversity at all levels: Ecosystems,
species, and genetic resources. It also
covers
biotechnology through the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. In fact, it covers
all possible
domains that are directly or indirectly
related to biodiversity and its role in
development, ranging
from science, politics, and education to
agriculture, business, culture, and much ensure the safe handling, transport,
more. and use of living modified organisms
(LMOs) resulting from modern
biotechnology that may have adverse
The governing body of the CBD is the
effects on biological diversity, taking
Conference of the Parties (COP). This
into account risks to human health. It
ultimate authority
makes a precautionary approach by
of all governments (or Parties) that have
making sure that countries are
ratified the treaty meets every two years
provided with the data necessary to
to review
make informed decisions before
progress set priorities, and commit to
agreeing to the import of such
work plans.
organisms into their territory.

The Philippines recognizes the

In 2010, Parties to the CBD adopted the
technologies that can be of particular
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
help for its development. Since the
2011–2020, a ten-year
Philippines is one of the biodiversity
framework for action by all countries and
"hotspots" in the world, it is helpful
stakeholders to safeguard biodiversity
to know how biotechnology will
and the
progress in the country.
benefits it provides to people.

The Secretariat of the Convention on

15. Nanotechnology
Biological Diversity (SCBD) is based in Scientific researchers have developed
Montreal, new technological tools that greatly
Canada. Its main function is to assist improve different aspects of our lives.
governments in the implementation of The use of nanoscale is one important
the CBD and interdisciplinary area generated by
its programs of work, organize advancement in science and technology.
meetings, draft documents, coordinate Scientists and engineers were able to
with other build materials with innovative
international organizations and collect properties as they manipulate
and spread information. The Executive nanomaterials.
Secretary is the
head of the Secretariat. Nanotechnology refers to the science,
engineering, and technology conducted
Cartagena Protocol on at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to
Biodiversity 100 nanometers. Nanoscience and
nanotechnology employ the study and
Cartagena Protocol is an application of exceptionally small things
international agreement that aims to in other areas of science including
material science, engineering, physics,
biology, and chemistry.
15.1.2 Applications of
Nanotechnology
You may not be aware of it, but many of
the things you are using now are a
product of nanotechnology. This is only
possible through decades of basic
nanoscience research and decades of
focused research and development.
Applications of nanotechnology are now
delivering in both expected and
unexpected ways on nanotechnology’s
promise to benefit society.

Nanotechnology is helping to
considerably improve, even
revolutionize, many technologies and
industry sectors: information technology,
homeland security, medicine,
transportation, energy, food safety, and
environmental science, among many
others.

Nanotechnology deals with the very 15.1.3 Challenges of

smallest components of our world –
atoms, and molecules. Trying to Nanotechnology
understand just how small the
The emergence of nanoscience in the
nanoscale is can be very difficult for
previous decades as a new
people. A nanometer is a unit of
multidisciplinary scientific research area
measurement for length just as you
has attracted a great deal of attention in
have with meters and centimeters. A
both synthesis methodologies and wide
nanometer is one-billionth of a meter,
applications in medicine, energy,
0.000000001 or 10-9 meters. The word
environment, electronics, etc. Despite
“nano” comes from the Greek word for
significant progress in nanotechnology
“dwarf.” The term nanoscale is used to
and the rise of many commercialized
refer to objects with dimensions on the
products involving nanomaterials,
order of 1-100 nanometers (nm).
nanoscience, and technology are still
facing many new challenges, especially
in the areas of great concern to the transistors and nanowires.
public: energy and health. While we can use
nanoparticles to build things
The reservation created against
like tennis rackets and make
nanotechnology is rational in the basic
wrinkle-free fabrics, we can't
sense. Nanoscience and technology are
make really complex
relatively new and there are many new
microprocessor chips with
discoveries happening every now and
nanowires yet.
then related to the said discipline. It
● If molecular manufacturing
cannot be denied that due to less
becomes a reality, how will
familiarity, people may have skeptical
that impact the world's
views. Below are some of the
economy? Assuming we can
challenges, risks, and skeptical views
build anything we need with
about the use of nanoscience and
the click of a button, what
technology:
happens to all the
● Because elements at the manufacturing jobs? If you
nanoscale behave differently can create anything using a
than they do in their bulk replicator, what happens to
form, there's a concern that currency? Would we move to
some nanoparticles could be a completely electronic
toxic. Some doctors worry economy? Would we even
that the nanoparticles are so need money?
small, that they could easily
cross the blood-brain barrier,
a membrane that protects the
15.1.4 Ethical Dilemmas
brain from harmful chemicals of Nanotechnology
in the bloodstream. If we plan
on using nanoparticles to coat
everything from our clothing Being a relatively new industry,
to our highways, we need to nanotechnology and the people behind
be sure that they won't poison it should pick a lesson or two from
us. history, and never ignore public policy
● Closely related to the and issues. Such issues may include
knowledge barrier is the possible health and environmental
technical barrier. In order for hazards from genetically modified foods
the incredible predictions - which may invite potential public
regarding nanotechnology to backlash. If nanotechnology is billed as
come true, we have to find the "Next Industrial Revolution",1 then it
ways to mass-produce also must raise a host of important
nano-size products like
social and ethical questions that we catastrophe or other
need to consider now. undesirable events are
possible, then we should
The following are some of the issues in
pause to conduct more
"nanoethics" cited by Patrick Lin, a
investigation to avoid these
research director for The Nanoethics
scenarios. But how strong is
Group, a nonpartisan organization
this principle, really? After all,
based in Santa Barbara, California, that
other products, such as
studies the ethical and social
mobile phones, are brought to
implications of nanotechnology. Many of
market amid continuing
them are familiar with philosophy and
questions about their safety.
ethics, but considering them in the
● Society - How will
context of nanotechnology is important
nanosensors evolve our
and can reveal new insights.
concept of privacy, particularly
● Regulation - Do we have a if they are ubiquitous (such as
right to research, or is some "smart dust") and virtually
too dangerous to publish or invisible? Does national
conduct, such as a recently security justify a tradeoff of
published recipe for making our rights? Nanotechnology
the 1918 killer influenza also promises to enhance our
virus? Nanotechnology has capabilities, but does this
the potential to be even more threaten the idea of being
destructive since it gives us human? For instance, if some
the power to precisely people are enhanced to
manipulate the very building become smarter or to see in
blocks of our world and may infrared, that may create a
even enable such things as "nano divide" that gives
self-aware artificial significant advantages to only
intelligence systems – though these people and creates a
that same power can also communication gap, if others
profoundly help humanity. cannot have the same basic
● Environmental and Health - experiences.
How much safety must we ● Politics and Markets - How
prove in nanomaterials, will nanotechnology affect
before introducing them into global security and the
the marketplace or distribution of power, if it can
environment? The radically change the face of
precautionary principle seems war and terrorism? Suppose a
to require that if the impact of nondemocratic country
our research is unclear, but develops it first. Will nanotech
 create a new arms race? In
the long term, if nano
16.1 Genetically
factories enable us to make Modified Organisms
anything we want, what will
be the impact on local and
global economies? These
issues speak to a need for
cooperation, regulation, as
well as forethought to
minimize any political or
economic disruption.
● Personal - A critical
application for
nanotechnology will be in
medicine, such as repairing
16.1.1 Bioethical
cellular damage to reverse or Dilemmas Using GMOs
retard aging. But how does a
longer lifespan affect Social
Security, overpopulation, and
retirement? Is living in the
shadow of death an essential
part of being human? Will we
lose our personal identity as
we become more integrated
with our technologies, when
humans and machines
become one, as the "theory of
Singularity" predicts?
 European Medicines Agency endorsed
16. 2 Gene Therapy the gene therapy treatment called
Strimvelis which was approved by
European Commission in June 2018.
Human gene therapy was actually first
realized in 1971 when the first Some Studies transplanted genes to
recombinant DNA experiments were speed up the destruction of cancer cells.
planned. It can be simply viewed as the Gene therapy or cell therapies have
insertion of foreign DNA into a patient's emerged as realistic prospects for the
tissue that hopes to successfully treatment of cancer and involve the
eradicate the targetted disease. In 1972, delivery of genetic information to a
Theodore Friedman and Richard Roblin tumor to facilitate the production of
proposed that people with genetic therapeutic proteins. This area of gene
disorders can be treated by replacing therapy still needs further studies before
defective DNA with good DNA. an efficient and safe gene therapy
procedure is adopted Gene Revolution:
In 1985, Dr. W. French Anderson
Issues and Impacts, n. d., Wirth et al.,
and Dr. Michael Blasse worked together
2013).
to show that cells of patients with
Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency
can be corrected in tissue culture. In 16.2. 1 Ethical Issues in
1990, the first approved gene therapy
clinical research took place at the Genetic Engineering
National Institutes of Health (NIH) under
the team of Dr. Anderson. It was Various concerns on genetic
conducted on a four-year-old girl who engineering arise, making gene therapy
had ADA deficiency. In 1993. the first and GMOs very controversial
somatic treatment that proposed a innovations in science and technology.
permanent genetic change was Others support that it is unethical for
performed. humans to have a hand in genetically
altering and engineering organisms.
The first commercial gene therapy There are instances when genetic
product Gendicine was approved in engineering has caused severe
China in 2003 for the treatment of repercussions to public health. Until
certain cancers. Due to some clinical today, cloning is still unacceptable to
successes since 2006, gene therapy many for it violates the belief that only
gained greater attention from higher beings should be responsible for
researchers but was still considered an the existence of organisms on earth.
experimental technique. There are also ethical and moral issues
on stem cell therapy as it makes use of
In 2016, the Committee for Medicinal
stem cells sourced from human
Products for Human Use of the
embryos and thus destroys them. These
concerns regarding genetic engineering
and gene therapy are rooted in the
question of whether or not humans are
playing gods in the alteration of genes of
organisms.
17.1 Climate Change
As how the United Nations explained,
Genetic engineering also poses
Climate Change is the defining issue of
problems in agriculture. Hence, there is
our time and we are at a defining
a need to study the ecological
moment. From shifting weather patterns
processes applied to agricultural
that threaten food production to rising
production systems. Agroecology is a
sea levels that increase the risk of
field of study that presents novel
catastrophic flooding, the impacts of
management approaches to farming
climate change are global in scope and
systems that may help address
unprecedented in scale. Without drastic
concerns regarding the effect of GMOs
action today, adapting to these impacts
on biodiversity and the health of the
in the future will be more difficult and
consumers. Further research, as well as
costly.
clinical experiments to outline functional
mechanisms, predictive approaches, Climate is not similar to the weather
patient-related studies, and upcoming which is constantly changing. Climate
challenges, should be done to address refers to the long-term weather patterns
existing problems in the development of prevailing over a given area of the
and to acquire future perspectives in planet. The term comes from “klinein”
gene therapy. (to slope) and later evolved into “klima”
connoting a zone or region of the Earth
characterized by its atmospheric
conditions.

17.1.1. Causes of
Climate Change
Indeed, Climate Change is a threat to
both developing and developed nations
around the world. But what exactly
causes it? Scientists like those from
NASA attribute the global warming trend
observed since the mid-20th century to
the human expansion of the
"greenhouse effect"
Links to an external site. dioxide gas into the
atmosphere. Human activities
— warming that results when the
result in emissions of four
atmosphere traps heat radiating from
principal greenhouse gases:
Earth toward space. But overall, there
○ carbon dioxide
are three major causes of climate
○ Methane
change, though it could be natural or
○ nitrous oxide
human activities such as:
○ Halocarbons
● Volcanic Eruptions - When
volcanoes erupt, it emits
different natural aerosols like
17.1.2. Effects of
carbon dioxide, sulfur Climate Change
dioxides, salt crystals,
volcanic ashes or dust, and Climate change has devastating effects
even microorganisms like on all living things, especially humans.
bacteria and viruses all of The effects are so enormous that
which are greenhouse gases; discussing it for a day may not be
Can cause a cooling effect on enough. However, we may deduce it by
the lithosphere because its looking into its effects on society as a
emitted aerosol can block a whole. Such effects include but are not
certain percentage of solar limited to the following:
radiation.
● It directly affects the basic
● Orbital Changes - Also known
elements of people’s lives like
as the Earth’s movement
water, food, health, use of
around the sun
land, and the environment.
Earth’s orbit can also cause
● Declining crop yields due to
climate change, this was
drought, especially in Africa,
proposed by the Milankovitch
are likely to leave hundreds of
theory. As the Earth travels
millions without the ability to
through space around the
produce or purchase sufficient
Sun, cyclical variations in
food.
three elements of Earth-Sun
● It will increase worldwide
geometry combine to produce
deaths from malnutrition and
variations in the amount of
heat stress.
solar energy that reaches
● Ecosystems will be
Earth.
particularly vulnerable to
● Human Activities - The largest
climate change.
known contribution comes
● Ocean edification will have
from the burning of fossil
major effects on marine
fuels, which releases carbon
ecosystems, with possible
 adverse consequences on
fish stocks.
● Melting or collapse of ice
sheets would raise sea levels
● It will increase flood risks
during the wet season and it
will strongly reduce
dry-season water supplies.
The stratosphere is the second major
layer of the atmosphere and lies above
17.1.3. Stratosphere the troposphere, the lowest layer. It
and Ozone Depletion occupies the region of the atmosphere
from about 12 to 50 km above the
Earth's surface, although its lower
boundary tends to be higher nearer the
In your high school and elementary
equator and lower nearer the poles.
days, you were constantly reminded
about the layers that protect the Earth Concentrations of ozone in the
from rays of the sun and other external stratosphere fluctuate naturally in
objects. You must also take note that the response to variations in weather
depletion of the Earth's protective layers conditions and amounts of energy being
- such as the Stratosphere is also released from the Sun, and to major
affected by Climate Change. volcanic eruptions.
Ozone is both beneficial and harmful to Ozone depletion results in harmful
us. Near the ground, ozone-forming as a effects on human health, plants, marine
result of chemical reactions involving ecosystems, and biochemical cycles
traffic pollution and sunlight may cause among others.
a number of respiratory problems,
particularly for young children. However,
high up in the atmosphere in a region 17.1.4. Acid Deposition
known as the stratosphere, ozone filters
Another devastating effect of Climate
out incoming radiation from the Sun in
Change on living things is acid rains.
the cell-damaging ultraviolet (UV) part of
Acid rain describes any form of
the spectrum. Without this ozone layer,
precipitation that contains high levels of
life on earth would not have evolved in
nitric and sulfuric acids. It can also occur
the way it has.
in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of
dry material that settle to Earth. Normal
rain is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6,
while acid rain generally has a pH
between 4.2 and 4.4.
Rotting vegetation and erupting
volcanoes release some chemicals that
17.1.5. Thermal
can cause acid rain, but most acid rain Inversion
is a product of human activities. The
biggest sources are coal-burning power Another devastating effect of Climate
plants, factories, and automobiles. Change is the fact that the temperature
in certain areas tends to become
When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur inverted. But what exactly is
dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides temperature inversion or thermal
(NOx) are released into the atmosphere. inversion? According to Britannica
Those air pollutants react with water, Encyclopedia, Temperature inversion,
oxygen, and other substances to form also called thermal inversion, is a
airborne sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds reversal of the normal behavior of
may spread these acidic compounds temperature in the troposphere (the
through the atmosphere and over region of the atmosphere nearest to
hundreds of miles. When acid rain Earth’s surface), in which a layer of cool
reaches Earth, it flows across the air at the surface is overlain by a layer of
surface in runoff water, enters water warmer air. (Under normal conditions air
systems, and sinks into the soil. temperature usually decreases with
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are height.)
not primary greenhouse gases that Although temperature inversion may be
contribute to global warming, one of the somewhat a normal phenomenon, it
main effects of climate change; in fact, may have an adverse effect if coupled
sulfur dioxide has a cooling effect on the with climate change and global
atmosphere. But nitrogen oxides warming. Temperature inversions have
contribute to the formation of a great effect on air pollution. Whether
ground-level ozone, a major pollutant it's a blanket of smog over a city or the
that can be harmful to people. Both melting of ice packs due to ozone
gases cause environmental and health depletion, atmospheric temperature
concerns because they can spread inversions are intricately involved. They
easily via air pollution and acid rain. influence the scope and intensity of the
Acid deposits damage physical effects of air pollution on a temporary,
structures such as limestone buildings localized basis as well as long-term and
and cars. And when it takes the form of globally.
inhalable fog, acid precipitation can If climate change is not controlled,
cause health problems including eye temporary inversion may lead to its
irritation and asthma. permanence. Permanent temperature
inversions occur high above the surface
of the planet. In regard to air pollution,
the most important of these is the animal life. Going green might also
stratosphere. This atmospheric layer involve using an all-natural hair-care
stretches from an average of seven product, instead of a can of aerosol
miles to 31 miles above the earth's spray containing toxic chemicals.
surface. The stratosphere sits atop the
When people ''go green,'' they are
troposphere, which is the lowest layer of
practicing environmental awareness.
the atmosphere and home to the
The term means exactly what you
majority of all-weather. The
expect it to be aware of the natural
stratosphere’s temperature inversion
environment and making choices that
impacts global, long-term air pollution.
benefit--rather than hurt--the earth. In
recent years, environmental awareness
has gained increased attention. It is fair
to say it has become a bit of a trend:
17.1.6. Environmental from environmentally friendly tiny homes
Awareness to organic food, environmental
awareness is a hot topic. However, it is
nothing new and it ought to be more
than just a passing fad because of its
Obviously, we humans are one of the
importance. Let's dig deeper and learn
agents of Climate Change. Our actions
more about environmental awareness.
and inactions can lead to harmful effects
on our planet. It is essential, therefore, Environmental awareness is to
to raise our environmental awareness. understand the fragility of our
Mother Earth as we speak, has its own environment and the importance of its
way to heal herself. protection. Promoting environmental
awareness is an easy way to become
Maybe some of you have seen posters,
an environmental steward and
ads, and the like carrying the
participate in creating a brighter future
exhortation ''Go Green!'' But, what does
for our children.
it mean to ''go green''? It takes a variety
of forms, but essentially, going green
means being mindful of the natural 17.1.7. Disaster Risk
environment and making economic
choices that aren't harmful to the earth. Management
For example, this might mean
Research conducted by the United
purchasing a glass or ceramic water
Nations indicates that the Earth’s
bottle instead of using disposable plastic
climate is changing at a rate that has
water bottles. Plastic takes an incredibly
exceeded most scientific forecasts.
long time to break down, and a
Some families and communities have
significant percentage of plastic makes it
already started to suffer from disasters
to the oceans, where it kills plant and
and the consequences of climate
change, which has forced them to leave
their homes in search of a new
beginning.UNHCR recognizes that the
consequences of climate change are
extremely serious, including for refugees
and other people of concern. The Global
Compact on Refugees, adopted by an
overwhelming majority in the UN
General Assembly in December 2018,
directly addresses this growing concern.
It recognizes that ‘climate,
environmental degradation, and natural
disasters increasingly interact with the
drivers of refugee movements.’