St.

Louise de Marillac College of Bogo

Higher Education Department
Sor D. Rubio St., Bogo City, Cebu
Member: Daughters of Charity – St. Louise de Marillac Educational System (SLMES) –
Central/Eastern Visayas Cluster
Website: www.slmcb.edu.ph Tel. No. (032) 434-8687 Fax

Self-learning Module on Science, Technology, and Society

1st Semester of A.Y. 2022-2023

Prepared by

MARIA LOURDES S. ALCORIZA

Part time Instructor
St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo
Self-learning Module on Science, Technology, and Society
© 2020

Maria Lourdes S. Alcoriza

Part Time Instructor
St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo
Email: [email protected]
FB: Positivum Chakr
Contact number: 0999-107-9736

DISCLAIMER:
This module is only intended for SLMCB students. The lesson content and
parts of the module have been compiled from various sources for the convenience
of the users. Authors and sources of the information are duly cited and recognized in
the references section. The university and the compiler have no proprietary right on
the same except for some parts and activities originally developed by the writer.
St. Louise de Marillac College of Bogo

Science, technology, and society

A Modular Approach

MARIA LOURDES S. A
INSTRUCTOR

Source: https://studieren.univie.ac.at/en/degree-programmes/master-programmes/science-
technology-society-master/
Title of the Module :
SELF-
III. Course Content and Learning Experiences
INSTUCTIONAL
MODULE ON UNIT
1:
 Let’s Start

Let us know whether you are agreeable or not to each of the statement about
Science, Technology, and Society. All you need to do is put a check mark
under the column that
corresponds to your decision.

STATEMENTS

1. Science exactly began the time of the Big Bang.

2. According to Copernicus, the Earth is the center of
the universe.
3. Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of
evolution.
4. The Mayans are considered one of the most
scientifically advanced societies in Mesoamerica.
5. Science is concerned with evidence and with
theory.
6. Technology is simply an “applied science”.
7. The Inca Civilization develops the first suspension
bridge.
8. The Americans have more influence in the
development of science and technology in the
Philippines compared to the Spaniards.
9. Many of these Filipino scientists are products of
good school science.
10. Development of people in science, is the heart of
science, technology, and sicence.

Learning Task: Self-Instructional Activity #1

Instruction: From the pictures below, think of 4 words or phrases that would closely be associated to
each of them. Write your answers on the space provided at the right.
 1 pic 4
words
1.________________________________

2.________________________________

3.________________________________

4.________________________________

1.________________________________

2.________________________________

3.________________________________

4.________________________________

1._______________________________

2._______________________________

3._______________________________

4._______________________________
“The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to
We’re on our way:
discover new ways of thinking about them.” William Lawrence Bragg
 The discussion below tackles about the science revolution which
marks the birth of science as a discipline and as a field of inquiry.This also
talks about many intellectuals who made essential contributions in science
during the scientific revolution.

Lesson 1: Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society

Science is as old as the word itself. There is no individual that can exactly identify when and
where science began. From the genesis of time, science has existed. It is always interwoven with the
society. So, how can science be defined.
1. Science as an idea. It includes ideas, theories, and all available systematic explanations,
and observations about the natural and physical world.
2. Science as an intellectual activity. It encompasses a systematic and practical study of the
natural and physical world.
3. Science as a body of knowledge. It is a subject or a discipline, a field of study, or a body of
knowledge that deals with the process of learning about the natural and physical world.
4. Science as a personal and social activity. This explains that science is both knowledge and
activities done by human beings to develop better understanding of the world around them.

Human beings have embarked in scientific activities in order to know and understand
everything around them. They persistently studied the natural and physical world in order to
find answer to many of our questions. Humans also used religion to rationalize the origins of
life and all lifeless forms.
The idea of scientific revolution is claimed to have started in the early 16 th century up to the 18th
century Europe. Why in Europe? The probable answer is the invention of the printing machine
and the blooming intellectual activities done in various places of learning, and the growing
number of scholars in various fields of human interests. This, however does not mean that
science is foreign. Scientific revolution was the period of enlightenment when the
developments in the fields of mathematics, physics, astronomy, biology, and chemistry
transformed the views of society about nature. It explained the emergence of modern science
as a result of these developments from the disciplines mentioned. Scientific revolution was the
golden age for people committed to scholarly life in science but it was also a deeply trying
moment to some scientific individuals that led to their painful death from the religious
institutions who tried to preserve their faith, religion, and theological views.
 SCIENCE
IDEAS

SCIENTIFIC
REVOLUTIONS

HUMANS SOCIETY

Figure 1. Influences to Scientific Revolution

Scientific revolution is very significant in the development of human beings, transformation of

the society, and in the formulation of scientific ideas. It significantly improved the conduct of
scientific investigations, experiments, and observations. In many ways, scientific revolution
transformed the natural world and the world of ideas.

Some Intellectuals and their Revolutionary Ideas

To further understand what exactly happened during the scientific revolution, it is important to
examine the different individuals whose ideas have shaken and contested the dominant
theories and ideas during this period- the truths of their time. Before the mention of the different
individuals who contributed so much to the scientific revolution, let me show you first in figure
2. Variables that influence development of science ideas, science discoveries, and technology.

Creativity Scientists
Science Ideas
Passion to
Curiosity Science
Know
Discoveries
Passion to
Technology
Critical Thinking Discover

Figure 2. Variables that Influence the Development of Science Ideas, Science Discoveries, and Technology
Scientist are not driven by clamor for honor and publicity. They are ordinary people doing
extraordinary things. In this part, we will discuss three notable scientist had shaken the world.
Though there were many scientist who worked before these three took the world by storm with
their discovered knowledge and ideas.

Nicolaus Copernicus
One of the Renaissance men, particularly in the field of science, is Nicolaus Copernicus.
Copernicus resembled the Greek ancient philosophers or thinkers- he did not do anything
extensive such observing heavenly bodies or inviting people to test his ideas. His ideas were
an example of what is presently called thought experiment. Copernicus was an appointed
canon at Frombork Cathedral in Poland. Despite his duty as canon, he had plenty of time to
sustain his interest in astronomy.
Copernicus’s idea and model of the universe was essentially complete in 1510. Not long
after that, he circulated a summary of his ideas to his few close friends in a manuscript called
Commentariolus ( Little Commentary ). His duty as a canon and as a doctor affected his time to
formally publish his work and advance his career in astronomy. The publication of his book De
revolutionibus orbiu coelestiu ( On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres ) in 1543 is often
cited as the start of the scientific revolution.
In his book, he wanted a model of the universe in which everything moved around a
single center at unvarying rates. (Gribbin, 2003). Copernicus placed the sun to be the
centerpiece of the universe. The Earth and all the planets are orbiting the Sun each year. The
Moon, however, would still be seen orbiting the Earth. In this model, Copernicus outlined two
kinds of planetary motion: ( 1 ) the orbits of Venus and Mercury lay inside the orbit of the Earth,
thus, closer to the Sun; and ( 2) the orbits of Mars, Saturn and Jupiter lay outside the Earth’s
orbit, thus, farther from the Sun. One of the great problems in the Copernicus model, however,
was the position of the stars. The Stars cannot be placed in a fixed position like crystals in a
distance sphere. Although, the Copernican model makes sense now, during those times, it was
judged to be heretic and therefore it was an unacceptable idea to be taught to Catholics. The
Catholic Church banned the Copernican model and was ignored by Rome for the rest of the
16th century.
Charles Darwin
Charles Darwin is famous for his theory of evolution. Johnson (2012) described Darwin
as a genius who came from a line of intellectually gifted and wealthy family. According to
Johnson, Darwin went to the best schools but was observed to be a mediocre student. He
struggled in his study in medicine and ministry, which his father has imposed him. Darwin’s life
soon changed when one of his professors recommended him to join a five-year voyage
through the HMS Beagle on the Islands of Galapagos.
Darwin published his book The Origin of Species in 1589. This book is considered to be
one of the most important works in scientific literature. His book presented evidence on how
species evolved over time and presented traits and adaptation that differentiate species.
Darwin’s observational skills as a scientist were extraordinary that moved beyond the
realms of plants and animals into the realms of humans. His book The Descent of Man was so
impressive yet very controversial. He introduced the idea of all organic life, including human
beings, under the realm of evolutionary thinking. This replaced the dominant views of a
religious or biblical design that places human beings in a privileged position of having been
created by God. Darwin’s theory of evolution scientifically questioned this view. This made
Darwin truly remarkable because of his courage to challenge religious and unscientific ideas
that are deemed to be prominent during those days. He provided a different framework for
doing scientific activities. It is science marked by observation and experiment.

Sigmund Freud
Freud is a famous figure in the field of psychology. However, this is not only in
psychology Freud is known for. He also made a significant contribution in the scientific world
through the development of an important observational method to gather reliable data to study
human’s inner life. The method of psychoanalysis is a scientific way to study the human mind
and neurotic illness. Moreover, his method of psychoanalysis had great impact on the scientific
way of understanding human nature.

According to Weiner (2016), his method of psychoanalysis was proven to be effective in

understanding some neurological conditions that were not understood by medicine at that time.
His method was unorthodox- focusing on human sexuality and the evil nature of man. To
some, they found his ideas not easy especially in his explanations of human sexuality.
 Freud was born in a much later period from the scientific revolution but his contribution
to knowledge can be seen in many aspects of the human scene, including art, literature,
philosophy, politics, and psychotherapy. Whether he is more of a psychologist or a scientist is
for people to decide. The fact remains that Freudian ideas and theories are still considered
nowadays as a great inspiration to examine hu man mind and behavior in a more scientifically
accepted way.

Cradles of Early Science

Development of Science in Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica includes the entire area of Central America from Southern Mexico up to
the border of South America. There are three important civilizations, namely Maya civilization,
Inca civilization, and Aztec civilization. The table below describes each civilization and their
corresponding contribution to world.

Civilization Description Contributions

Maya  Approximately lasted  Developed the
2,000 years technology for growing
 Known for their works in different crops and
astronomy building elaborate cities
 Incorporated their using ordinary
advanced understanding machineries and tools.
in astronomy into their They built hydraulics
temples for astronomical system with
observation. sophisticated waterways
 Known to measuring to supply water to
time using two different communities.
complicated calendar  Using astrological cycles
systems. in planting and
harvesting.
 Used various tools and
adapt themselves to
innovations especially in
 the field of arts.
 Built looms for weaving
cloth and devised a
rainbow of glittery paints
made from a mineral
called mica.
 Believed to be one of the
first people to produce
rubber products 3,000
years before Goodyear
received its patent in
1844.
 The first civilization to
use a writing system
known as the Mayan
hieroglyphics.
 Created a number
system based on the
numeral 20. Also
developed the concepts
of zero and positional
value, even before the
Romans did.
Inca Made an advanced scientific  Roads paved with
ideas considering their stones
limitations as an old civilization.  Stone buildings that
surmounted earthquakes
and other disasters
 Irrigation system and
technique for storing
water for their crops to
grow in all types of land.
 Calendar with 12 months
 to mark their religious
festivals and prepare
them for planting season
 The first suspension
bridge
 quipo, a system knotted
ropes to keep records
that only experts can
interpret
 Inca textile since cloth
was one of the specially
prized artistic
achievements.
Aztec They also made substantial  Mandatory education.
contributions to science and Aztecs puts value on
technology and to the society education that is why
as a whole. their children are
mandated to get
education regardless of
their social status,
gender, and age.
 Chocolates. The Aztec in
Mexico developed
chocolate during their
time. The Aztec valued
the cacao beans highly
and made it a part of
their tribute to their gods.
 Antispasmodic
medication. They used a
type of antispasmodic
medication that could
prevent muscle spasms
 and relax muscles,
which could help during
surgery.
 Chinampa. It is a form of
Aztec technology for
agricultural farming in
which the land was
divided into rectangular
areas and surrounded by
canals.
 Aztec calendar. This
enabled them to plan
their activities, rituals,
and planting season.
 Invention of the canoe. A
light narrow boat used
for traveling in water
systems.

Development of Science in Asia

Asia is the biggest continent in the world and hoe of the many ancient civilizations. In the field
of science, technology, and mathematics, great civilizations have stood out: India, China, and
the Middle East civilizations. These civilizations were incomparable in terms of their
Contributions to the development of knowledge during their time.

India
India is a huge peninsula surrounded by vast bodies of water and fortified by huge mountains
in its northern borders. India are known for manufacturing iron and in metallurgical works.
Their iron steel is considered to be the best and held with high regard in the whole Roman
Empire.
Below are the list of their contribution to science and technology.
1. Medicine – Ayurveda a system of traditional medicine that originated in ancient India
before 2500 BC, is still practiced as a form of alternative medicine.
- Susruta Samhita, describes different surgical and other medical procedures
famous in Ancient India.
2. Astronomy – developed theories on the configuration of the universe, the spherical
self – supporting Earth, and the year of 360 days with 12 equal parts of 30 days
each.
Siddhanta Shiromani, an ancient text in the 12 th century covered topics such as :
mean longitude of the planets; true longitudes of the planets; the three problems of
diurnal rotation; syzygies; lunar eclipses; solar eclipses; latitudes of the planets;
risings and settings; the moon’s crescent; conjunctions of the planets with each
other; conjunctions of the planets with the fixed stars; and the paths of the Sun and
Moon.
3. Mathematics. Bisht (1982) noted that the earliest traces of mathematical knowledge
in the Indian subcontinent appeared in the Indus Valley Civilization. According to
BIsht people from this time tried to standardized measurement of length to a high
degree of accuracy and designed a ruler, Mohenjodaro ruler.
4. Aryabhatiya, by mathematician Aryabhata, introduced a number of trigonometric
functions, tables, and techniques, as well as algorithms of algebra. Another Indian,
Brahmagupta, also suggested that gravity was a force of attraction, and lucidly
explained the use of zero as both a placeholder and a decimal digit, along with the
Hindu-Arabic numerical syste now used universally throughout the world (Clifford,
2008; Bose, 1998) . Madhava of Sangamagrama, is also considered as the founder
of mathematical analysis (Joseph, 1991).

China
China is one of the ancient civilizations with substantial contributions in many areas of
life like medicine, astronomy, science, mathematics, arts, philosophy, and music, among
others.
Below are the list of their contribution to science and technology.

1. Medicines – they discovered various medical properties and uses of different plants
and animals to cure human illness. A very good example is acupuncture.
 2. Technology - Well known Inventions were compass, papermaking, gunpowder, and
printing tools that became known in the West only by the end of Middle Ages
(Davies, 1995). Other tools like iron plough, wheelbarrow, and propeller. Developed
a design of different models of bridges (Zhongguo ke xue yuan, 1983). They also
invented the first seismological detector, and developed a dry dock facility
(Needham, et al, 1971).
3. Astronomy – made significant records on supernovas, lunar and solar eclipses, and
comets, which were carefully recorded and preserved to understand better the
heavenly bodies and their effects to our world (Mayall, 1939).

Middle East Countries

The Middle East countries are dominantly occupied by Muslims. With the spread of
Islam in the 7th and 8th centuries, a period of Muslim scholarship, or what is called the Golden
Age of Islam lasted until the 13th century. The common language of Arabic, access to Greek
texts from the Byzantine Empire, and their proximity to India were contributory to the
intellectualization of the Muslims and provided their scholars knowledge to create innovations
and develop new ideas.
Muslim scientist placed greater value on science experiments rather than plain thought
experiments. This led to the development of the scientific method in the Muslim world, and
made significant improvements by using experiments to distinguish between competing
scientific theories set within a generally empirical orientation.
1. A Muslim scientist named Ibn al- Haytha is regarded as the Father of Optics,
especially for his empirical proof of the intromission theory of light.
2. Mathematics – Muhammad ibn Musa al- Khwarizmi gave his name to the concept of
the algorithm while the term algebra is derived from al-jabr, the beginning of the title
of one of his publications. What is now known as the Arabic Numeral System
originally came from India, but Muslim mathematicians did make several refinements
to the number system, such as the introduction of decimal point notation.
3. Chemistry – Muslim chemist also played an important role in the foundation of
modern chemistry (Durant, 1980). In particular, some scholars considered Jabir ibn
Hayyan to be the “Father of Chemistry” (Derewenda, 2007; Warren, 2005).
4. Medicine – Ibn Sina pioneered the science of experimental medicine and was the
first physician to conduct clinical trials (Jacquart, 2008). His two most notable works
in medicine, the Book of Healing and The Canon of Medicine, were used as standard
medicinal texts in both the Muslim world and in Europe during the 17 th century.
Among his many contributions are the discovery of the contagious nature of
infectious diseases and the introduction of clinical pharmacology (Craig & Walter,
2000).

Development of Science in Africa

Africa is blessed with natural and mineral resources. Science also emerged in
this part of the planet long before the Europeans colonized it. The history of science and
mathematics show that similar to other ancient civilizations, the early civilizations in
Africa are knowledge producers, too.

1. Ancient Egyptian civilization – developed geometry – it was a product of necessity to

preserve the layout and ownership of farmlands of the Egyptians living along the Nile
River. The rules of geometry were developed to improve the quality of life of the
Egyptians especially in building their early homes and cities. The great structures of
the Egyptian pyramids and the early dams built to divert water from the Nile River
are some proofs of their advanced civilization.
2. Chemistry – Egypt was known to be the center of alchemy, which is known as the
medieval forerunner of chemistry. They tried to study human anatomy and
pharmacology, and applied important components such as examination, diagnosis,
treatment, and prognosis for the treatment of diseases. These components
dtisplayed strong parallels to the basic empirical method of studying science.
3. Astronomy – Documents show that Africans used three types of calendars: lunar,
solar, and stellar, or a combination of the three.
4. Metallurgy – North Africa and the Nile Valley imported iron technology from the Near
East region that enabled them to benefit from the developments during the Bronze
Age until the Iron Age. They invented metal tools used in their homes, in agriculture,
and in building their magnificent architecture.
5. Mathematics – The Lebombo Bone from the mountains between Swaziland and
South Africa, which may have been a tool for multiplication, division, and simple
 mathematical calculation or a six- month lunar calendar, is considered to be the
oldest known mathematical operations and other mathematical skills. They have
knowledge of the basic concepts of algebra and geometry. The Islamic regions in
Africa during the medieval period was also benefiting from mathematical learning,
which is considered advanced during those times, such as algebra, geometry, and
trigonometry.

Let’s
Complete the table below. The first column gives the
Contribution of a scientist/civilization/country. In the second
Column write the answer whether a name of the scientist,
A civilization, or a country.

Contribution Scientist/Civilization/Country
He wrote the book “The Origin of
Species”.
Responsible for the Copernican
model of the universe.
Invented the first suspension bridge.
Devised a rainbow of glittery paints
made from a mineral called mica.
Made the quipo.
They have a mandatory education.
Considered as the founder of
mathematical analysis.
Father of Optics
The Lebombo Bone
Invented the first seismological
detector.
Answer the following questions briefly.

1. What is the contribution of Copernicus in the philosophy of science?

___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
2. What is Darwin’s contribution to modern science?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
3. By looking for other sources and literatures, what are the controversies or questions
on Freud’s ideas?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
4. How did society shape science and how did science shape society?
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

A. Review the history of science and make a timeline highlighting the major discoveries and
developments in science. You may base your history here in this module or read further
from other sources. See example below. You may choose one out of the three format
given. Write your answer in the next page of this module.

Rubrics for the Timeline

Criteria / Remarks Exceptional Good Incomplete
Content and The content is There are errors The paper has no
Relevance complete, clear and committed. Content is correct content and
relevant. somewhat not clear irrelevant. Many errors
20 pts and not so relevant. were encountered.
Flow The flow and Its flow is not well The content is very
And arrangement of arranged. disarranged and
Arrangement concepts is sequential. difficult to understand.

20 pts

Neatness and Very neat output and Somewhat ugly to look No impact at all.
Impact with good impact. at with less impact.
10 pts
Your TimeLINE
 I learned/realized ….

Self- Check:
What I feel…. new

I will …

insights/realizations did you get about the lessons in Module?

Talk Back: Module Evaluation

WOW’S and WISHES

Please fill in the matrix below by highlighting what you liked in this unit and what you wish to improve.

WOW’S WISHES
(What you liked in this unit) (What you wish to improve in this unit)
Please encircle the corresponding emoji for the over-all rating of the module. Thank you!

I. References
Book Sources
Serafica, Janice Patria et.al. (2018). Science, Technology, and Society (pp 2-20).
Rex Bookstore.
Electronic Sources

Martin Bridgstock, David Burch, John Forge, John Laurent and Ian Lowe
1998.Science Technology and Society: An Introduction. CAMBRIDGE
UNIVERSITY PRESS.