UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INC.

Santiago City, Isabela

Philippines

MODULE 1

GEC 008- SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND

SOCIETY

Prepared by:

DOLORES C. SAGUN, MaSSE, LPT.

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 MODULE 1
Prepared by: Dolores C. Sagun, MaSSE, LPT.

General Concepts and Historical Developments

INTRODUCTION

This module introduces students to the study of Science, Technology, and

Society (STS) beginning with general concepts and its historical development.it
also covers the impact of science and technology and their interactions with
various social contexts, with emphasis on the role of science and technology in
Philippine nation building.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

This section introduces Science, Technology, and Society (STS) as a field of

study. After defining science and technology, the section traces the historical roots
of STS as an academic field. It also enumerates emerging ethical dilemmas that
reinforce the importance of the study of STS in an age of scientific progress and
technological development.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this lesson, the learner should be able to:

1. Identify issues or problems in science and technology and explain the
impact to the well- being of human today;
2. Prepare a report regarding the emerging ethical and policy issues in
Science, Technology and Society and explain the societal implication of
these dilemmas.
3. Describe some notable developments of science and technology and its
significance to the society.

TOPIC OUTLINE

1. Definition of Science and Technology

2. Historical roots of Science, Technology and Society as an academic field
3. Emerging ethical dilemmas that reinforce the importance of the study of
Science, Technology and Society in an age of scientific progress and
technological development.
MOTIVATION

Instructions: On the space provided, write TRUE if the statement is correct or

FALSE if it is not.

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 _______ 1. Science is a methodical way of acquiring knowledge.
_______ 2. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes.
_______ 3. Science and technology can be dangerous.
_______ 4. Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is the study of how science and
technology shape and are shaped by social influence.
_______ 5. STS deals with the historical development of science and technology but
does not cover their philosophical underpinnings.
_______ 6. The study of STS primarily concerns students of science and technology
programs, and not non-science students as much.
_______ 7. STS is an important area of study because science and technology
permeate every aspect of everyday life.
_______ 8. Science and technology are not crucial factors in nation building.
_______ 9. History cannot teach people about evaluating present-day science and
technology.
_______ 10. STS draws from other disciplines, such as history, sociology,
philosophy, economics, political science and international
relations, and science policy.

CONTENT

Science comes from the Latin word scientia, meaning ‘knowledge.’ It

refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing
knowledge about how the universe behaves through observation, experimentation
or both. According to the famous American science historian, John Heilbron (2003,
p. vii), “Modern science is a discovery as well as an invention.” Heilbron
considered science as a discovery of regularity in nature, enough for natural
phenomena to be described by principles and laws. He also explained the science
required invention to device techniques, abstractions, apparatus, and
organizations to describe these natural regularities and their law-like descriptions.

Technology, for its part, is the application of scientific knowledge, laws,

and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving
real-world problems. It comes from the Greek root word techne, meaning ‘art, skill,
or cunning of hand.’ During a live public Q&A in December 2014, one member of
the audience asked Mark Zuckerberg what his definition of a technological tool is,
and the CEO of Facebook responded:
“What defines a technological tool---one historical definition---is something
that takes a human’s sense or ability and augments it and makes it more powerful.
So, for example, I wear contact lenses or glasses; that is technology that enhances
my human ability of vision and makes it better,”

Wolpert (2005) made an interesting comparison between science and

technology that is helpful in the study of their interaction with society. In his
landmark paper, The Medawar Lecture 1998: Is Science Dangerous? Wolpert
explained that reliable scientific knowledge has no moral and ethical value. It is
meant simply to explain how nature and the universe work and that the obligation

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 of scientists, besides studying the nature of the universe, is to explain the possible
uses and applications of such scientific knowledge. Along this line, Wolpert made it
clear that science is not the same as technology. Scientists are not responsible for
the application of knowledge in technology. He further explained that the very
nature of science is that it is not possible to predict scientific discoveries and how
these discoveries may be applied. While scientists are responsible for the reliable
conduct of scientific inquiry and its honest interpretation and dissemination,
technological application of science are influenced by other sectors such as politics
and governance, religion, and business. With this distinction, one can surmise the
need for the study of the various ways in which science and technology act and are
enacted in society. This is a particularly timely and relevant concern because of the
advancements in science and technology today.

Nowadays, advancements in science and technology have become pervasive.

They are manifested in the activities that humans pursue and the tools they use
every day. The beauty of this is that an advancement builds upon itself. As such,
humans today live more productive and more exciting lives than their
predecessors. With the way things go, it could be expected that this generation’s
children, and the children of their children have the chance to lead even better
lives than this generation already does.

However, the dynamism and immensity of scientific and technological

progress also pose challenges and drawbacks to the way human live. The
introduction of machines tremendously cut the need for human workforce and gave
rise to questions about whether, machines will eventually replace humans. The
invention of drugs that cured the previously incurable diseases introduced was
strains of bacteria and viruses that are resistant to the very the same drugs that
once fought them---take an antibiotics-resistant strain of gonorrhea as an example.
The rise of social media drastically changed the way humans communicate,
interact, and share information; however, this tends to put people’s privacy at risk.
Indeed, science and technology have served a predominantly double-edged
function. This is succinctly captured in a famous line of popular American scientist,
Carl Sagan, quoted in Tom Head’s (2006) book:
“We live in a society absolutely dependent on science and technology and
yet have cleverly arranged things so that almost no one understands science and
technology. That’s a clear prescription for disaster.”
As problems in science and technology continue to rise and become
observable, the need to pay attention to their interactions with various aspects of
human life, e.g., social, political, and economic, becomes ever more necessary.
How the different aspects of society shape and influence the progression and
further development of science and technology is the area of concern of a
relatively new academic discipline called Science, Technology, and Society.
Science, Technology, and Society (STS) is a relatively young field that
combines previously independent and older disciplines, such as the history of
science, philosophy of science, and sociology of science. As an academic field, ST,
according to Harvard University’s Kennedy School (2018), traces its roots from the
interwar period and the start of the Cold War. It was during this period when

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 historians and scientists found interest in the interconnections of scientific
knowledge, technological systems, and society. The rise of STS as an academic
field resulted from recognition that many schools today do not really prepare
students to respond critically, reflectively, and proactively to the challenges posed
by science and technology in the contemporary world.
In general, STS applies methods drawn from history, philosophy, and
sociology to study the nature of science and technology and ultimately judge their
value and place in society. As an interdisciplinary field, the emergence of STS was
a result of questions about science and technology’s dynamic interaction with
various aspects of society and was thus viewed as a socially embedded enterprise.
Thus, as the Kennedy School effectively encapsulates, STS seeks to bridge the gap
between two traditionally exclusive cultures---humanities (interpretive) and natural
sciences (rational) – so that humans will be able to better confront the moral,
ethical, and existential dilemmas brought by the continued developments in
science and technology.

The John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values of the
University of Notre Dame is responsible for listing the ten emerging ethical
dilemmas and policy issues in science and technology every year is the list for
2018:
1. Helix – a digital app store designed to read genomes
2. BlessU-2 and Pepper – first robot priest and monk
3. Emotion-Sensing Facial Recognition – a software being develop to assess
your reactions to anything such as shopping and playing games
4. Ransom ware – a way of holding data hostage through hacking and requiring
a ransom to be paid
5. Textalyzer – a device that analyze whether a driver was using his or her
phone during an accident
6. Social Credit System – a system of scoring citizens through their actions by
placing them under constant surveillance (which China plays to adopt)
7. Google Clips – a hands-free camera that lets the user capture every moment
effortlessly
8. Sentencing Software – a mysterious algorithm designed to aid courts in
sentencing decisions
9. Friendbot – an app that stores the deceased’s digital footprint so one can
still “chat” with them
10.Citizen App – an app that notifies users of ongoing crimes or major events in
a specific area

Even though several items in the list sound unfamiliar to many, it can be a
useful springboard in the study of science and technology. The list points to the
ever growing challenges, questions, and issues that need to be addressed and
resolved when science and technology and humanity intertwine. However,
methods of critiquing these emerging ethical dilemmas may come from similar
methods used in previous critiques of science and technology issues. For example,
one can use methods used in critiquing the rise of clinical trials of gene therapy in
the 1990s. Today’s approach in critiquing emerging science and technology issues,

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 such as the one listed above, may be influenced by how scientists and non-
scientists evaluated the positive and negative implications of clinical trials of gene
therapy in the 1990s. For this purpose, one can continue to specifically draw from
the tenets of history, philosophy, and sociology in making informed and critical
judgments of the ethical and moral values of these innovations in science and
technology.

Now that you have learned the general concepts and historical
developments of science, technology and society, it’s time for you to take the
challenge!

Exercise 1: Our View of Science and Technology

Instructions: In a short bond paper, create a slogan that reflects your view of
science and technology. It should specifically state whether you view science and
technology as good or bad, both, or neutral. Be creative. You can use different art
materials to make it visually appealing and impactful.

In this exercise, you will be guided by this rubric.

RUBRICS FOR SLOGAN

5 4 3 2 SCORE
Craftsmanship The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is The slogan is
exceptionally attractive in terms of acceptably distractingly
attractive in neatness. Good attractive though it messy
terms of construction and not may be bit messy.
neatness. Well- very messy
constructed and
not messy.
Creativity Slogan is Slogan is creative Slogan is creative The slogan does
exceptionally and a good amount and some thought not reflect any
attractive in of thought was put was put into degree of
terms of into decorating it. decorating it. creativity.
neatness. Well-
constructed and
not messy.
Originality Exceptional use of Good use of new Average use of No use of new
new ideas and ideas and originality new ideas and ideas and
originality to to create slogan. originality to originality to

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 create slogan. create slogan. create slogan.
Grammar There are no There is 1 There are 2 There are more
grammatically grammatical mistake grammatical than 2
mistakes on the on the poster mistakes on the grammatical
poster poster mistakes on the
poster.
TOTAL SCORE

Exercise 2: Issues in Science and Technology

Instructions: Review the ten emerging ethical and policy issue dilemmas
complied by the John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values of the
University of Notre Dame for 2018. Choose one (1) and research about the nature
of the dilemma. Prepare a report that highlights your research by using the guide
questions below.
1. What is the emerging ethical dilemma?
2. What factors or events led to this dilemma?
3. What are the societal implications of this dilemma?
4. Why is it important to question the moral and ethical issues surrounding
innovations in science and technology?
5. In the face of this dilemma, why is it important to study STS?

REFLECTION

Instructions: On the space below, paste a magazine or newspaper cutout of any

photograph that depicts an issue or problem in science and technology. Then,
answer the questions that follow.

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 1. What is the issue or problem depicted in the photograph?
2. How does this particular issue or problem impact the well-being of human
today?
3. Why is it important for people to study and learn about STS as an academic
field, especially in addressing the issue or problem depicted in the
photograph?

Lesson 2: Historical Antecedents of Science and

Technology

INTRODUCTION

This section tackles how social contexts shaped and were shaped by science
and technology across three historical periods. By introducing the historical
antecedents of science and technology, the section explores the dynamic
interactions between different societal factors and technology. Along with the
discussion of these antecedents during the ancient period, middle ages, and
modern ages, this section also includes a discussion on important Philippine
inventions and innovations. It emphasizes the various social, cultural, economic,
and political impacts of science and technological innovation throughout history.

Learning Outcomes
1. Discuss the historical antecedents of science and technology across time;
and
2. Explain how Philippine scientific and technological inventions shaped and
were shaped by various social contexts.

TOPIC OUTLINE

1. Historical antecedents of science and technology.

2. Dynamic interactions between different societal factors and technology.
3. Philippine inventions and innovations.

MOTIVATION

Instructions: Watch an 18-minute TEDx Talk by Hannu Rajaniemi titled The Big
History of Modern Science. Afterwards, write a 200 to 250-words essay on the
topic, “Why is it important to study the history of Science and Technology?” Come
up with a five-word title for your essay.

____________________________________
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 _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________

CONTENT

One of the key interests of STS as an academic field is the history of science
and technology. As a strands of STS, the history of science and technology focuses
on how science and technology have changed across times. Also, it explores the
impacts of scientific and technological innovations on the prevailing social,
political, and economic contexts throughout history. Conversely, it also pays
attention to the conditions that shaped science and technology. Quite often,
interests lie in historical antecedents of scientific and technological innovations.

An antecedent is defined as a precursor to the unfolding or existence of

something. Thus, historical antecedents in science and technology are factors that
paved the way for the presence of advanced and sophisticated scientific and
technological innovations today. Knowledge of the history of science and
technology is useful in appraising these innovations today. By understanding how
previous generations influenced and were influenced by developments in science
and technology, today’s generation can come up with informed decisions on the
proper application of science and technology to daily life.

Ancient Period
The rise of ancient civilizations paved the way for advances in science and
technology. These advances during the Ancient period allowed civilizations to
flourish by finding better ways of communication, transportation, self-organization,
and of living in general.

Figure 1: Ancient Wheel Figure2: Potter’s Wheel

Ancient Wheel. People from ancient civilizations used animals for
transportation long before the invention of the wheel. No one know exactly who
invented the wheel and when. There is, however a general agreement that the
ancient wheel grew out of a mechanical device called the potter’s wheel---a heavy
flat disk made of hardened clay which was spun horizontally on an axis. It is
believed that the Sumerians invented the potter’s wheel shortly after 3500 BC. The

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 invention of the ancient wheel is often credited to the Sumerians since no other
ancient civilization used a similar device at the time. It could be that potter
thought of shifting the potter’s wheel to a 90- degree angle for the purpose of
transportation or the wheel was reinvented for this purpose. Nonetheless, it would
not be until 1000 to 1500 years later that the wheel was first used on carts.

Paper. Roughly around 3000 BC, the ancient Egyptians began writing on
papyrus, a material similar to thick paper. Papyrus
is made from the pith of the papyrus plant cyperus
papyrus. It is lightweight, strong, durable, and most
importantly, portable. Before the Egyptians invented
the papyrus, writing was done on stone. Because of
the difficulty of writing on a stone, writing was
reserved only for very important occasions. With the
advent of the papyrus, documentation and record-
keeping became efficient, widespread, and vast.
Through its use, information dissemination became
exponentially faster. Records were kept and stood
the test of time.

Figure 3: The Edwin Smith Papyrus

Shadoof. The shadoof was an early tool invented and used

by ancient Egyptians to irrigate land. Among Egyptians who
lived near the Nile River, irrigation was necessary to water
their crops. The shadoof, also spelled as shaduf, 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 precursor of more sophisticated irrigation tools.

Figure 4: Shadoof

Antikythera Mechanism. Even before the invention of the antecedents of

the modern computer, the Greeks had already invented the ancient world’s analog

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 computer orrery. Discovered in 1902 and retrieved from the waters of Antikythera,
Greece, the Antikythera mechanism is similar to a mantel clock. Upon its
discovery, the bits of wood seen on its fragments suggested that it must have been
housed in a wooden case. It is akin to a clock in the way that the case has a
circular face and rotating hands. A knob on the side makes it possible for it to be
wound forward or backward. As this knob moves forward or backward, its
mechanism allows it to display celestial time. Thus, it is widely believed that the
Antikythera mechanism was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for
calendar and astrological purposes. It is also believed that the Antikythera
mechanism, which is one of the oldest known antecedents of modern clockwork,
was invented by Greek scientists between 150-100 BC.
Figure 5: A fragment of the Antikythera mechanism

Aeolipile. Also known as the Hero’s engine, the

aeolipile is widely believed to be ancient precursor of the
steam engine. Hero of Alexandria is credited for the
demonstration of the use of the aeolipile during the 1 st century
AD. The aeolipile is a steam-powered turbine which spun when
the water container at its center was heated, thus making it
practically the first rudimentary steam engine. It is not clear
whether the aeolipile served any practical purpose, but it is
believed to be one of many “temple wonders” at the time.
Nonetheless, Vitruvius, a Roman author, architect, and civil
engineer, described the aeolipile as a scientific invention
through which “the mighty and wonderful laws of the heavens
and the nature of winds” may be understood and judged.

Figure 6: An illustration of Hero’s

engine

Middle Ages
Between the collapse of the Roman Empire in 5 th century AD and the
colonial expansion of Western Europe in late 5th century AD major advances in
scientific and technological development took place. These include steady increase
of new inventions, introduction of innovations in traditional production, and
emergence of scientific thinking and method. The Middle Ages was not as stagnant
as alternate terms such as the ‘Medieval Period’ or ‘Dark Ages’ suggest. In fact
many medieval universities at the time stirred scientific thinking and built
infrastructures for scientific communities to flourish. As such, some of humanity’s
most important present-day technologies could be traced back to their historical
antecedents in the Middle Ages.

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 Heavy Plough. Perhaps one of the most important technological innovations
during the middle ages is the invention of the heavy plough. Clay soil, despite
being more fertile than lighter types of soil, was not cultivated because of its heavy
weight. However, through the invention of the heavy
plough, it became possible to harness clay soil.
Professor Thomas Bernebeck Andersen of the University
of Southern Denmark succinctly describes the impact of
the invention of the heavy plough: “The heavy plough
turned European agriculture and economy on its head.
Suddenly, the fields with the heavy, fatty, and moist clay
soils became those that gave the greatest yields.”
Because of this, Europe, particularly its northern
territories, saw rapid economic prosperity. The heavy
plough stirred an agricultural revolution in Northern Europe marked by higher and
healthier agricultural yields and more efficient agricultural practices.
Figure 7: An impression of the heavy plough

Gunpowder. Around 850 AD, Chinese alchemists accidentally invented black

powder or gunpowder. Multiple accounts suggest that the gunpowder might have
been an intended byproduct of attempts made by the Chinese to invent the elixir of
life, which is why the Chinese called it huayao, roughly translated as “fire potion.”
Prior to invention of the gunpowder, swords and spear
wear used in battles and wars. Towards the end of the
13th century, the explosive invention crept into most
parts of Europe and Asia. Since its invention, the
gunpowder has allowed for more advanced warfare.
From fiery arrows to cannons and grenades, the
gunpowder has prompted foundation for the
functionality of almost every new weapon used in war
since its invention. It ushered in an unprecedented
advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages.

Figure 8: Illustration of a Chinese

warrior
using gunpowder in weapons

Paper Money. Although it was not until the 17th century that bank notes began to
be used in Europe, the first known versions of paper money could be traced back
to the Chines in 17th century AD as an offshoot of the invention of block printing,
which is similar to stamping. Before the introduction of paper money, precious
metals, such as gold and silver were used as
currency. However, the idea of assigning value to a
marked piece of paper did not immediately become

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 popular. In fact, when the Mongols attempted to introduce paper money into the
Middle East market in the 13th century, it did not gain immediate success.
Nonetheless, traders and merchants eventually realized the huge advantage of
using paper money because it was easier to transport around compared to the
previous forms of currencies. Figure 9:
The Chinese are credited for
the invention of paper money

Mechanical Clock. Although devices for timekeeping

and recording sprung from the ancient times, such as
the Artikythera mechanism, it was not until the Middle
Ages that clockwork technology was developed. The
development of mechanical clocks paved the way for
accurately keeping track of time. The sophistication of
clockwork technology of the mechanical clock drastically
changed the way days were spent and work patterns
were established, particularly in the more advanced Middle Age cities.
Figure 10: A medieval mechanical clock
found in Pague, Czech Republic

Spinning Wheel. Another important invention of the Middle

Ages is the spinning wheel, a machine used for transporting
fiber into thread or yarn and eventually woven into cloth on
a loom. Although no consensus could be made regarding the
origin of the spinning wheel, it is theorized that the Indians
invented the spinning wheel between 6 th and 11th century
AD. Prior to the invention of the spinning wheel, weaving
was done predominantly through the more time-consuming
and tedious process of hand spinning. According to White
(1974), the invention of the spinning wheel sped up the rate
at which fiber could be spun by a factor of 10 to 100 times.
Thus, White argued that this invention ushered in a breakthrough in linen
production when it was introduce in Europe in 13th century AD.
Figure 11: Spinning Wheel

Modern Ages
As the world population steadily increased, people of the Modern Ages
realized the utmost importance of increasing the efficiency of transportation,
communication, and production. Industrialization took place with greater risks in
human health, food safety, and environment which had to be addressed as
scientific and technological progress unfolded at an unimaginable speed.

Compound Microscope. A Dutch spectacle maker named Zacharias Jansen is

credited for the invention of the first compound

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 microscope in 1590. Together with his father Hans, Zacharias began
experimenting with lenses by putting together several lenses on a tube. This led to
an amazing discovery that an object, when placed near the end of the tube, can be
magnified far larger than what a simple magnifying lens can do. Jansen’s
compound microscope was an important progression from the single lens
microscope. It was capable of magnifying objects three times their size when fully
closed and up to ten times when extended to the maximum. Today, the compound
microscope is an important instrument in many scientific studies, such as in the
areas of medicine, forensic studies, tissue analysis, atomic studies, and genetics.
Figure 12: Jansen’s compound microscope
Telescope. Perhaps the single, most important technological invention in the
study of astronomy during the Modern Ages was the practical telescope invented
by Galileo Galilei. This invention could magnify object 20 times larger than the
Dutch perspective glasses.it was Galileo who first used the telescope skyward and
made important astronomical discoveries, and identified the presence of craters
and mountains on the moon. Galileo’s remarkable technological contribution
drastically changed the study of astronomy. For
the first time, it became clearlarger than the
Dutch perspective glasses.it was Galileo who
first used the telescope skyward and made
important astronomical discoveries, and
identified the presence of craters and mountains
on the moon. Galileo’s remarkable technological
contribution drastically changed the study of astronomy. For the first time, it
became clear that the universe is far larger than previously imagined and the
Earth far smaller compared to the entire universe. Figure 13: One of Galileo’s first
telescope

Jacquard Loom. As the Industrial Revolution reached full

speed, the Jacquard loom was considered as one of the most
critical drivers of the revolution. Built by French weaver
Joseph Marie Jacquard, the Jacquard loom, a drawloom was
used which required two individuals to operate---the weaver
and a “drawboy”---if figured designs on textiles were needed.
As such, intensified manual labor and greater effort had to be
exerted to produce complex designs. In 1801, Jacquard
demonstrated the ingenuity of his version of a loom in which
a series of cards with punched 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, i.e., making different textile
patterns.
Figure 14: Jacquard loom

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 Engine-Powered Airplane. Orville Wright and Wilbur Wright are credited for
designing and successfully operating the first engine-powered aircraft. The Wright
brothers approached the design of powered aircraft
and flight scientifically. Orville and Wilbur proved
that aircrafts could fly without air-foil shaped wings.
They demonstrated this in their original Flying
machine patent (US patent #821393), showing that
slightly tilted wings, which they referred to as
aeroplanes, were the key features of a powered
aircraft. Their pioneering success marked an age of
powered flights. Sans modern knowledge on
aerodynamics and a comprehensive understanding
of the working of aircraft wings, the Wright brothers were brilliant scientists who
paved the way for modern aircraft technology.
Figure 15. The flight of the Flying Machine of
Orville and Wilbur Wright
Television. The Scottish engineer John Logie Baird is largely credited for the
invention of the modern television. Bird successfully televised objects in outline in
1924, recognizable human faces in 1925, and
moving object in 1926, and projected colored
images in 1928. Baird’s television technology
caught on really swiftly. In fact, British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) used this for its
earliest television programming in 1929. Despite
being the first television invented, Baird’s
television was later on criticized for its fuzzy and
flickering images, primarily because it was mechanical compared to electronic
versions that were developed much later.
Figure 16: Baird’s television

Inventions by Filipino Scientists

The Philippines boasts of, its own history and tradition of scientific and
technological innovations. Filipinos have long been known for their ingenuity. As
with all other inventions, necessity has always been the mother of Philippine
inventions. Most of these inventions appealed to the unique social and cultural
context of the archipelagic nation. Throughout Philippine history, Filipinos are
responsible for developing many scientific and technological innovations focused
on navigation, traditional shipbuilding, textiles, food processing, indigenous arts
and techniques, and even cultural inventions. The following are some of the most
important inventions by Filipino scientists.

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 Electronic Jeepney (e-jeepney). The jeepney is perhaps one of the most
recognizable national symbols of the Philippines and the most popular mode of
public transportation in the country. It is also perhaps one of the most enduring
symbols of Filipino ingenuity. Jeepneys were designed
and improvised from scratch out of military jeeps that
the American left in the country after World War II. As
demand for more responsive transportation technology
arose, the e-jeepney was introduced in Metro Manila
and Bacolod City. The e-jeepney is the inventive
response to criticisms to the traditional jeepney that
belched smoke, directly causing air pollution which
made it unsustainable and uneconomical. E-jeepneys
are designed to be environment-friendly, eliminating
noise and air pollution as they run on electricity. They are also more economical
for electricity is far cheaper than ordinary diesel, allowing jeepney drivers to earn
more profit. Figure 17: E-jeepney

Erythromycin. Perhaps one of the most important

medical inventions is the Erythromycin. The
Ilonggo scientist Abelardo Aguilar invented this
antibiotic out of a strain of bacterium called
Streptomyces erythreus, from which this drug
derived its name. As with the case of several other
local scientists, however, Aguilar was not credited
for this discovery by Eli Lilli Co., Aguilar’s US
employer, to whom he sent the strain for
separation. The US Company eventually owned the merits for this discovery.
Figure 18: Abelardo Aguilar and his
Erythromycin
Medical Incubator. World-renowned Filipino pediatrician and national scientist,
Fe Del Mundo, is credited for the invention of the incubator and jaundice relieving
device. Del Mundo was the first women pediatrician to be admitted to the
prestigious Harvard University’s School of Medicine. She is also the founder of the
first pediatric hospital in the country. Her pioneering work in pediatrics that
spanned a total of eight decades won her the 1977 Ramon Magsaysay Award,
Asia’s premier prize granted to outstanding individuals whose selfless service
remarkably contributed to the betterment
of society. Her original improvised
incubator consisted of two native laundry
baskets of different sizes that are placed
one inside the other. Warmth is generated
by bottles with hot water placed around

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 the baskets. A makeshift hood over the baskets allows oxygen to circulate inside
the incubator. Del Mundo’s incubator was particularly outstanding as it addressed
the state of Philippine rural communities that had no electricity to aid the
regulation of body temperatures of newborn babies. For this purpose, Del Mundo’s
invention was truly ingenious. Figure 19: Dr. Fe Del Mundo and
the medical incubator

Mole Remover. In 2000, a local invention that had the ability to easily remove
moles and warts on the skin without the need for any
surgical procedure shot to fame. Rolando dela Cruz is
credited for the invention of a local mole remover that
made use of extracts of cashew nuts (Annacardium
occidentale), which are very common in the Philippines.
The indigenous formula easily caught on for its
accessibility, affordability, and painless and scarless
procedure. Dela Cruz won a gold medal for this
invention in the International Invention, Innovation,
Industrial Design, and Technology Exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2000.
Figure 20:
Rolando dela Cruz’s
commercial product – a mole
remover
formula made of cashew nut
extracts

Banana Ketchup. Filipino food technologist, Maria Orosa, is

credited for the invention of banana ketchup, a variety of ketchup
different from the common known tomato ketchup. Her invention
appeals particularly to Filipinos who love using condiments to go
along with their food. Historical accounts posit that Orosa
invented the banana ketchup at the backdrop of World War II
when there was a huge shortage of tomatoes. As a result, Orosa
developed a variety of ketchup that made use of mashed banana,
sugar, vinegar, and spices, which were all readily available.
Orosa’s banana ketchup is brownish-yellow in natural color, but is dyed red to
resemble the color of the most loved tomato ketchup . Figure 21:
Banana Ketchup also called “Banana Sauce”

Now that you have learned the Historical antecedents of science, technology
and society, it’s time for you to take the challenge!

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 Exercise 1: Poster Making
Instructions: For this activity, choose a particular group of inventions: (1) Ancient
Period, (2) Middle Ages, (3) Modern Ages, and (4) Philippine inventions.
1. On a 15” x 20” illustration board or any makeshift canvas of the same size
draw, paint, or stick a photograph of an invention from the assigned group
of inventions besides those that already discussed in this section.
2. Think of a particular theme to be employed in designing the posters.
3. After deciding on a particular theme, proceed to work. At the back of the
poster, place a 50 to 100 word write-up about the invention that specifically
addresses the following questions:
a. What is the invention?
b. What are the precursors of your chosen invention? What tools existed
prior to it or how did people carry out activities before its invention?
c. What were the social, political, cultural, or economic impacts of your
chosen invention?
4. The finished product should be covered with plastic acetate prior to
submission.

Exercise 2 : If I were an inventor…

Instructions: In this section, you learned that necessity is the mother of
inventions and innovations. Inventions are not simply made, but are motivated by
various social, political, cultural, and economic contexts. In this task, you will
address the question: “If you were an inventor, what would you invent?” In
thinking about an invention, make sure that you come up with one that has not
been invented yet but is possible to be invented in the near future. On the space
below, sketch a draft of your invention then answer the questions that follow.

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 1. What is your invention? What does it do?
2. How is your invention similar to or different from existing tools or
technologies in terms of their function?
3. Why is there a need for this invention? How will this invention make the
world a better place to live in?

REFERENCES

Quinto, E.J., Nieva, A., (2019). Science, Technology, and Society. C & E Publishing
Inc.

McNamara, D.J., Valverde, V.M., & Beleno, R.III (2018). Science, Technology, and
Society. C & E Publishing, Inc.

WEBSITES

 https://antiquitynow.org/2013/08/20/kids-blog-the-invention-of-the-wheel-
how-the-ancient-sumerians-got-humanity-rollin/
 https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-Edwin-Smith-Papyrus-the-oldest-
documented
 https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/shadoof
 https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/calculators/1/42
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plough
 http://php.scripts.psu.edu/users/j/x/jxl5764/Group.html
 https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/385831893050980004/
 https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/130322982943104452/
 https://listverse.com/2007/09/22/top-10-inventions-of-the-middle-ages/

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  http://www.boruhealthmachine.org/describe-the-compound-microscope-
developed-by-zacharias-and-hans-janssen.html
 https://science4fun.info/invention-of-the-telescope/
 https://www.britannica.com/technology/Jacquard-loom
 https://www.edn.com/wright-brothers-fly-first-airplane-december-17-1903/
 https://rts.org.uk/article/remembering-logie-baird-ninety-years
 https://www.carguide.ph/2016/08/evs-now-used-in-malls.html
 https://www.plethorist.com/abelardo-aguilar-and-the-erythromycin-
discovery/
 http://pinoyimbentor.atspace.com/website/delmundo.html
 http://filipinoinventionsanddiscoveries.blogspot.com/2013/06/dewart-
demole-and-nowde-cancer-by.html
 https://www.batangashistory.date/2018/03/orosa.html

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