by STS is also known as Science, Technology, and Society. When we look at those words together it makes sense. Science and technology have changed our society. Although, these three words have different meanings and different effects on each
other.
Science – “Science (from the Latin word scientia, meaning “knowledge”) is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe.” (Wikipedia) When we think about the science we think of the different branches, physics, chemistry, biology, etc. It is important to realize that science leads to creation. Science helps us understand why the world is the way it is, and it is always supported by evidence.
Technology – “Technology is the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.” (Wikipedia) As stated above technology is created based on the information given to us through science. Technology follows the rules given to us by science to better our society.
Society – These discoveries within science and innovations within technology have caused many changes within our society. Our society has gone through many different changes based on the technology we have during that time period.
It is important to understand that science, technology, and society are all based on each other. Science helps us create new innovations in technology, technology helps our society grow, and society helps accept and promote science.
When we look into our history we see that society has had its issues with science. Because of the influence of religion on people, people have found it hard to believe different claims. For example, when Galileo Galilei had a theory that, “…gravity causes objects of different masses to fall with the same acceleration.” (Conover) Although Galileo had evidence and science to support his hypothesis he was disregarded because it went against everything the Catholics believed in.
On the same line, we can see how technology has helped science as well. Over the past few years, other scientists have replicated the test that Galileo performed by dropping atoms. They further proved Galileo’s theory all thanks to the improvement in technology.
On another note, the improvement in technology has helped our society to achieve wonders. When you look at the industrial revolution as a whole, our world changed and adapted and technology grew. The industrial revolution was all about the new manufacturing process. With this process, it grew the country’s economies and created more technological inventions.
Science has helped come up with new technology. When we look at the discovery of electricity by Benjamin Franklin, helped aid the invention of Thomas Edison’s lightbulb. Scientists are always discovering and researching, to better our understanding of the world around us. With this knowledge, inventors are able to make more educated decisions, when it comes to advancements in technology.
Science helps inventors to think of the ethical implications their invention may bring up. For example, scientists have been studying our ecosystem and noticing the negative effects of climate change. This has pushed innovators like Elon Musk to make the world a greener place in order to save our planet. Scientists help create boundaries for innovators to understand how their inventions could affect society.
All in all, we have seen throughout history how science, technology, and society all relate to each other. This study is the study of the give and takes between all three. The important part about STS is understanding that without one of the parts any improvements or progress in the others.
Bibliography
Atkinson, Nancy. “Who Discovered Electricity?” Universe Today, December 23, 2015. https://www.universetoday.com/82402/who-discovered-electricity/.
Conover, Emily. “Galileo’s Famous Gravity Experiment Holds up, Even with Individual Atoms.” Science News, October 28, 2020. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/galileo-gravity-experiment-atoms-general-relativity-einstein.
“Edison’s Lightbulb.” The Franklin Institute, May 19, 2017. https://www.fi.edu/history-resources/edisons-lightbulb.
“Science.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, November 29, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science.
“Technology.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, November 27, 2020. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology.
Zanatta, Alberto, Fabio Zampieri, Cristina Basso, and Gaetano Thiene. “Galileo Galilei: Science vs. Faith.” Global cardiology science & practice. Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation, June 30, 2017. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5871402/.