sts

• Science


  A body of knowledge and a process
• Science


  • It is exciting
  • It is useful
  • It is progressing
  • It is a global human endeavour
• Science


  • Comes from the Latin word 'scientia' meaning 'knowledge'
  • Refers to a systematic and methodical activity of building and organizing knowledge about how the universe behaves through either observation or experimentation or both
• John Heilbron: 'Modern science is a discovery as well as an invention'
• Technology


  The application of scientific knowledge, laws, and principles to produce services, materials, tools, and machines aimed at solving real-world problems
• Technological tool


  Something that takes a human's sense or ability and augments it and makes it more powerful
• Two important periods of the 20th Century history


  • The period between the end of World War 1 and the beginning of World War II (Interwar Period)
  • The period after World War II, commencing in 1945 until roughly 1991 (Cold War)
• Wolpert: 'In contrast to technology, reliable scientific knowledge is value-free and has no moral or ethical value'
• Carl Sagan: '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.'
• Technology


  Things that fulfill our needs and desires or perform certain functions
• Application of science


  Application of understanding of natural laws to the solution of practical problems
• Characteristics of good science

  • Accurate and reliable research
  • Oppose misuse or abuse in the application of research findings
  • Attend to both the limitations and the foreseeable impacts of their work
  • Participate in discussions and decisions regarding the appropriate use of science in addressing societal issues and concerns
  • Bring their specialized knowledge and expertise to activities and discussions that promote the education of students and fellow citizens
  • Enhance and facilitate informed decision-making and democracy
• Public Understanding of Science


  The goal of Science, Technology, and Society as an academic discipline is to enhance public understanding of science
• Good science education empowers citizens in science-driven economies, fosters democratic participation, and benefits the scientific community. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries with a strong public understanding of science, like South Korea, demonstrated effective responses through openness, transparency, and public engagement in decision-making.
• Ethical dilemmas


  Difficult choices where no single approach fully adheres to ethical guidelines, societal norms, or personal morals. In science and technology, these dilemmas require decisions that balance potential benefits against risks to human health, safety, and security.
• Top 10 Ethical Dilemmas


  • Robot abuse
  • Doomscrolling
  • Your "Digital Twin"
  • The tech battle for the Arctic
  • Secret surveillance apps
  • Facebook
  • Selfie medicine
  • The sleep-tracking app that alters your dreams
  • CIVVL
  • The weaponization of data voids
• Historical antecedents


  Precursor to the unfolding or existence of something
• 3 Historical stages of S&T


  • Ancient Age
  • Middle Ages
  • Modern Ages
• Ancient Age


  • Characterized by reliance on protoscience, a period when the scientific method was in its early stages
  • Knowledge passed down through generations via oral tradition
  • Focus on survival hindered the development of science during this period
• Ancient civilizations


  • Mesopotamia
  • Indus
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece
  • Ancient China
  • Ancient Rome
• Foundations of proper science

  • Laid in ancient civilizations
  • Forms of writing played a crucial role in documenting and transmitting knowledge
  • Advanced modes of transportation began to take shape
• Transition from hunting to agriculture

  • Led to a surplus of food
  • Civilized conditions allowed for the pursuit of knowledge beyond survival activities
• Ancient Wheel


  • Evolved from the potter's wheel, a horizontal disk of hardened clay spun on an axis
  • Sumerians are credited with inventing the potter's wheel around 3500 B.C.
  • The transition from the potter's wheel to the transportation wheel is unclear
  • The wheel was likely shifted to a 90-degree angle for transportation purposes
  • The invention of the wheel for transportation is generally attributed to the Sumerians
  • It took 1000 to 1500 years for the wheel to be used on carts
• Papyrus


  • Ancient Egyptians started using papyrus, a material similar to thick paper, for writing around 3000 B.C.
  • Papyrus was made from the papyrus plant near the Nile River, offering a lightweight, strong, durable, and portable writing surface
  • Before papyrus, writing was primarily done on stone and reserved for significant occasions due to the difficulty
  • The advent of papyrus revolutionised documentation and record-keeping, making it more efficient and widespread
  • Papyrus facilitated faster information dissemination, making records more durable and efficient
• Shadoof


  • An early tool invented by ancient Egyptians, used to irrigate land, particularly vital for those living near the Nile River
  • It was a hand-operated device designed for lifting water, playing a crucial role in agricultural irrigation
  • The shadoof introduced the concept of lifting objects using counterweights, showcasing early engineering ingenuity
  • Its invention significantly enhanced the efficiency of irrigation and farming practices among the ancient Egyptians
  • The shadoof is considered an ancient precursor to more advanced irrigation tools that developed over time
• Antikythera mechanism


  • Discovered in 1902 in Greece, considered the ancient world's analogue computer
  • Resembling a mantel clock, wooden fragments suggest it was housed in a case with a circular face and rotating hands
  • It featured a knob allowing it to be wound forward or backward, similar to winding a clock
  • The mechanism was designed to display celestial time, and it is believed to have been used for predicting astronomical positions and eclipses
  • Originating between 250-87 B.C., the Antikythera mechanism is among the oldest known precursors to modern clockwork
  • It represents an impressive technological achievement in ancient Greek science and served calendrical and astrological purposes
• Aeolipile


  • Also known as Hero's engine, an ancient steam-powered turbine considered a precursor to the steam engine
  • Invented by Hero of Alexandria in the first century A.D., it rotated when its central water container was heated
  • The device, with tangentially pointed nozzles, showcased early steam power but its practical applications remain unclear
  • Hero's aeolipile is a significant milestone in the historical evolution of steam-based technology
• The Middle Ages


  • Spanning from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century A.D. to the late 15th century A.D.
  • Witnessed significant scientific and technological progress, contrary to the terms "Medieval Period" and "Dark Ages"
  • Can be divided into three subperiods: Early Middle Ages (476-1000 A.D.), High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.), and Late Middle Ages (1250-1500 A.D.)
• The Early Middle Ages (476-1000 A.D.)

  • Followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, marked by societal focus on peacekeeping and empire building rather than centers of learning
  • Often labeled as the "true Dark Ages," it saw conflicts, population shifts, and a decline in urban life
  • Despite challenges, evidence suggests medieval thinkers sought answers about the universe; illuminated manuscripts in Ireland reflected progress in the scientific method
  • Examples include Saint Bede's records, craftmanship by Vikings and Saxons, and Norse sailors using stars for navigation
  • In China, Bi Sheng invented movable type printing towards the end of this period, replacing woodblock printing
  • Monastic study, particularly in the West, preserved some scientific processes; monks in Western Europe studied medicine and astronomy for practical purposes
  • In 725 A.D., Buddhist monk Yi Xing in Asia invented the world's first mechanical clock using water to measure time
  • Small contributions to astronomy sustained the relevance of mathematics and geometry, echoing the Roman and Greek influences
• The High Middle Ages (1000-1250 A.D.)

  • Marked a period of European recovery from constant warfare and population growth, triggering settlement and unity
  • Prolonged conflicts between Christians and Muslims and territorial disputes in Spain and the East characterized the era
  • Trade flourished, with merchants and mercenaries sharing practices and experiences across regions like Spain, the Holy Land, and Byzantium
  • Translation efforts, initiated by Muslims translating Greek to Arabic, thrived in Spain, facilitating the transfer of knowledge into European consciousness
  • Medieval universities, such as the University of Bologna, Oxford, Cambridge, and Paris, played a vital role in hosting scholars and fostering knowledge exchange
  • Scholars like Gerard of Cremona from the Italian School of Translators contributed to blending ancient Greek knowledge with Muslim discoveries
  • Christian scholasticism, focused on theology, initiated the connection between scientific empiricism and religion
  • Thinkers like Thomas Aquinas, Robert Grosseteste, and Roger Bacon worked on establishing the scientific method during the 12th century
  • Technological advancements were present, such as Su Song's "cosmic empire" clock in China (1092) and navigational compasses used in Chinese ships by 1000 A.D.
  • The efficient compass technology spread to Europe through Arab traders who learned about it in China, contributing to replication and improvement
• The Late Middle Ages (1250-1500)


  • Marked the transition from medieval to modern society, but it was marred by crises, including the Great Famine, the Black Death, the Hundred Years War, the Peasants' Revolt, burning of Joan of Arc, and the fall of Constantinople
  • Despite social upheavals, this period witnessed significant scientific progress
  • William of Ockham proposed Ockham's Razor, influencing modern science with the principle of preferring simpler theories
  • Jean Buridan challenged Aristotelian physics, developing the theory of impetus, a precursor to Newtonian physics
  • Thomas Bradwardine and colleagues differentiated kinematics from dynamics and proposed the mean speed theorem, precursor to Galileo's work on falling objects
  • Nicolas d'Oresme discussed a heliocentric universe theory, suggesting Earth's rotation two centuries before Copernicus
  • Scholars during this period became more open to natural explanations, seeking simpler causes for phenomena without relying on divine intervention
  • Despite these advances, the Late Middle Ages' contributions were overshadowed by the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment, and the Black Death disrupted scientific and technological progress
  • The Renaissance (1400-1600) would later bring about a resurgence of knowledge that had taken a backseat during the Middle Ages
• Heavy plough


  • Revolutionized agriculture in Northern Europe, particularly in territories with heavy, fatty, and moist clay soils
  • This innovation resulted in rapid economic prosperity in the northern territories, marked by higher and healthier agricultural yields and more efficient farming practices
  • The heavy plough made it possible to harness clay soil, leading to increased agricultural productivity
• Gunpowder


  • Invented around 850 A.D. by Chinese alchemists, likely an accidental by-product of attempts to create the elixir of life
  • Known as huoyao or "fire potion" in Chinese, gunpowder revolutionized warfare
  • Prior to its invention, battles and wars mainly involved the use of swords and spears
  • By the end of the 13th century, gunpowder had spread to Europe and Asia, transforming warfare
  • Gunpowder enabled the development of various weapons, from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades
  • Its invention marked an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages
  • Gunpowder became the foundation for nearly every new weapon used in war since its discovery, shaping the course of military technology and strategy
• Paper money


  • Originated in China in the 7th century A.D. as an outgrowth of block printing
  • Before the introduction of paper money, precious metals like gold and silver were used as currency
  • The concept of assigning value to marked paper took time to gain popularity; initially, Mongols in the 13th century attempted to introduce paper money in the Middle East, but it failed
  • Eventually, traders and merchants recognized the significant advantage of using paper money due to its ease of transport compared to traditional forms of currency
  • Although banknotes in Europe began in the 17th century, the Chinese were pioneers in developing and implementing the early versions of paper money
• Mechanical clocks


  • Emerged during the Middle Ages, able to accurately keep track of time down to the minute and second
  • While ancient timekeeping devices like the Antikythera mechanism existed, it was in the Middle Ages that clockwork technology advanced
• Gunpowder


  Known as "fire potion" in Chinese, revolutionized warfare
• Prior to the invention of gunpowder, battles and wars mainly involved the use of swords and spears
• By the end of the 13th century, gunpowder had spread to Europe and Asia, transforming warfare
• Gunpowder


  • Enabled the development of various weapons, from fiery arrows to cannons and grenades
  • Marked an unprecedented advancement in warfare and combat throughout the Middle Ages
  • Became the foundation for nearly every new weapon used in war since its discovery, shaping the course of military technology and strategy
• Paper money


  Originated in China in the 7th century A.D. as an outgrowth of block printing, the precursor to modern banknotes