Ge 7 - Sts Module 1
Ge 7 - Sts Module 1
Ge 7 - Sts Module 1
This module will provide an in-depth discussion and understanding on general LEARNING OUTCOMES
concepts and historical antecedents in which social considerations changed
the course of science and technology in global and local setting. Discussion on
the interaction of science and technology throughout the history is also one of 1) Discuss the interactions
the objective of this module. This module will also improve the critical thinking between Science and
analysis on how scientific and technological developments affect the society Technology and society
and environment. throughout the history.
“If we lived on a planet where nothing ever changed, there would be little to 2) Discuss how scientific
do. There would be nothing to figure out. There would be no impetus for and technological
science. And if we lived in an unpredictable world, where things changed in developments affect
random or very complex ways, we would not be able to figure things out. But society and the
we live in an in-between universe, where things change, but according to
environment.
patterns, rules, or as we call them, laws of nature. If I throw a stick up in the air,
it always falls down. If the sun sets in the west, it always rises again the next
morning in the east. And so it becomes possible to figure things out. We can 3) Identify the paradigm
do science, and with it we can improve our lives.” shifts in history
ANTECEDENTS. A thing or
event that existed before or
logically precedes another;
WEEK 2 -3 occurring before; previous
Materials and Media To do for OL/B/FLEX Expected Output SCIENCE. The observation,
identification, description,
Course Packet Any available Juxtaposition experimental investigation,
Module online platforms for Output Activity and theoretical explanation
teaching which are of phenomena.
preferred by the STS Magic Card
students (user TECHNOLOGY. The
friendly) Short essay about application of scientific
the reading knowledge for practical
Pretest, Lesson LMS link provided material purposes
Activity, Reading to the students
Materials, Output Pre-test and post-
SOCIETY. The totality of
Activity, test (quiz/formative
Assignment, Quiz assessment) people regarded as forming
a community of interdependent
individuals.
PRETEST
SCIENCE is the study of the nature and behavior of natural things and the
SCIENCE is the study of the nature knowledge that we obtain about them. It is a system of acquiring knowledge
and behavior of natural things and based on the scientific method. It is also an organized body of knowledge
the knowledge that we obtain about gained through research. It is done through observation of natural phenomena,
them. It is a system of acquiring and/or through experimentation that tries to simulate natural processes under
knowledge based on the scientific controlled conditions.
method. It is also an organized body
It is from the Latin word ‘scientia’, meaning "knowledge“. It is a systematic
of knowledge gained through
enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable
research. It is done through
explanations and predictions about nature and the universe.
observation of natural phenomena,
and/or through experimentation that It is also the human attempt to understand the natural world, with or without
tries to simulate natural processes concern for practical uses of that knowledge. The natural world includes
under controlled conditions. volcanoes, gravity, atoms, plants and animals, people, societies and galaxies.
Science tries to discover facts and relationships and then tries to create theories
It is from the Latin word ‘scientia’,
that makes sense of these facts and relationships.
meaning "knowledge“. It is a
systematic enterprise that builds and TECHNOLOGY came from two (2) Greek words: “techne” (skill, craftsmanship,
organizes knowledge in the form of art) and “logos” (discourse, reason). It is the skills, methods and processes used
testable explanations and predictions to achieve goals. It refers to tools and machines that may be used to solve real-
about nature and the universe. world problems. It is the human attempt to change the world. It is a human
activity involved with making and using of material artifacts.
It is also the human attempt to
Technology involves tools, techniques and procedures for putting the findings
understand the natural world, with
of science to practical use.
or without concern for practical uses
of that knowledge. The natural world
includes volcanoes, gravity, atoms, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
plants and animals, people, societies
and galaxies. Science drives technology by making new technology possible through
scientific breakthroughs. Science is the pursuit of knowledge about the natural
Science tries to discover facts and world through systematic observation and experiments. Technology is
relationships and then tries to create developed through science.
theories that makes sense of these Scientists use technology in all of their experiments. Technology is the
facts and relationships. application of scientifically gained knowledge for practical use.
JUXTAPOSITION ACTIVITY
INSTRUCTIONS
Upon reading lesson 1: General Concepts, do Juxtaposition Activity.
In short bond paper, choose 2 objects found in your house. Draw the object and answer the questions without using any
references such as books or internet search engine. Write as n=many answer as you can. A sample format was provided
below. For rubrics, please refer to the Rubrics page at the end of the module. (Handwritten only)
NAME ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
COURSE/SECTION ______________________________________________________________________________________________
JUXTAPOSITION ACTIVITY
Object 1. Ball
ANCIENT TIMES
SCIENCE is the study of the nature
and behavior of natural things and In the ancient times, the primary concern are transportation and navigation,
the knowledge that we obtain about communication and record-keeping, mass production, security and protection,
them. It is a system of acquiring as well as health, aesthetics, and architecture.
knowledge based on the scientific
method. It is also an organized body SUMERIAN CIVILIZATION
of
Figureknowledge gainedAlphabet
through
2. Sumerian Cuneiform Sumeria is located in the southernmost tip of ancient Mesopotamia, now
research. It is done through
known as Iraq. Sumerians are known for their high degree of cooperation with
observation of natural phenomena,
others and their desire for great things. They are not contented with the basic
and/or through experimentation that
things that life can offer.
tries to simulate natural processes
under controlled conditions. 1. Cuneiform is considered as the first writing system developed by
Sumerians. A system that utilizes word pictures and triangular symbols
It is from the Latin word ‘scientia’, which are carved on clay using wedge instruments and then left to dry.
meaning "knowledge“. It is a This allowed Sumerians to keep records of things with great historical
systematic enterprise that builds and value of their everyday life. (see Figure 2)
organizes knowledge in the form of
2. Uruk City is considered to be the first true city in the world. Built by
testable explanations and predictions
Figure 3. Uruk City Sumerians using only mud or clay from the river, which they mixed with
about nature and the universe.
reeds, producing sun-baked bricks. Bricks are used to make houses that
protected them from the harsh weather and to build a wall around the
It is also the human attempt to
city that prevented wild animals and neighboring raiders from entering.
understand the natural world, with (see Figure 3)
or without concern for practical uses
of that knowledge. The natural world 3. The Great Ziggurat of Ur is also called as the “Mountain of god”. It was
includes volcanoes, gravity, atoms, built in the same manner that Sumerians constructed the City of Uruk
plants and animals, people, societies using sun-baked bricks. It served as the sacred place of their chief god,
and galaxies. where only their priests were allowed to enter. (see Figure 4)
Figure 4. The Great Ziggurat of Ur 4. Irrigation and Dikes are created by Sumerians to bring water to
Science tries to discover facts and farmlands and at the same time control the flooding in the rivers. This
relationships and then tries to create was considered as one of the world’s most beneficial engineering works.
theories that makes sense of these This enable Sumerians to enjoy year-long farming and harvesting, which
facts and relationships. increased their food production. (see Figure 5)
TECHNOLOGY came from two (2) 5. Sailboats are primarily used by Sumerians for transportation through
Greek words: “techne” (skill, their waterways such as rivers and seas. Used to carry large quantities of
craftsmanship, art) and “logos” products and were able to cover large distances. (see Figure 6)
(discourse, reason). It is the skills, 6. Wheel was invented by Sumerians for farm work and food processing.
methods and processes used to Farmers were able to mill with less effort in less time. (see Figure 7)
achieve goals. It refers to tools and
machines
Figure that may
5. Irrigation be used to solve
and Dikes 7. Plow was invented by Sumerians to dig the earth in a faster pace. This
real-world problems. It is the human enable farmers could cultivate larger parcels of land faster, enabling them
attempt to change the world. It is a to mass produce food without taking so much effort and time. (see Figure 8)
human activity involved with making
and using of material artifacts.
BABYLONIAN CIVILIZATION
SCIENCE is the study of the nature
and behavior of natural things and Babylonian civilization emerged near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
the knowledge that we obtain about Babylonians are great builders, engineers, and architects
them. It is a system of acquiring
1. Hanging Gardens of Babylon was a structure said to be made up of
knowledge based on the scientific
layers of gardens that contained several species of plants, trees, and
method. It is also an organized body
vines. It was said to be built by the great Babylonian King
of knowledge gained through
Nebuchadnezzar II for his wife Queen Amytis. However, no physical
research. It is done through
evidence has been found to prove its existence and its exact location.
observation of natural phenomena,
Some said this is a product of the creative imagination of the great King.
and/or through experimentation that
If it really existed it may be considered as one of the greatest engineering
tries to simulate natural processes
and architectural achievements of the world that is almost impossible to
under controlled conditions.
replicate. (see Figure 9)
ItFigure
is from the Latin
9. Sumerian word
Cuneiform ‘scientia’,
Alphabet 2. Tower of Babel In biblical literature, it is a structure built in the land of
meaning "knowledge“. It is a Shinar (Babylonia). The story of its construction appears to explain the
systematic enterprise that builds and existence of diverse human languages. According to Genesis, the
organizes knowledge in the form of Babylonians wanted to make a name for themselves by building a mighty
testable explanations and predictions city and a tower with its top in the heavens. God disputed the work by so
about nature and the universe. confusing the language of the workers that they could no longer
understand one another. The city was never completed, and the people
It is also the human attempt to were dispersed over the face of the earth. (see Figure 10)
understand the natural world, with
or without concern for practical uses EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION
of that knowledge. The natural world Another early civilization famous for its legacy located in North Africa. Aside
includes volcanoes, gravity, atoms, from engineering technology, the Egyptians have contributed other practical
plants and animals, people, societies things that the world now considers as essential.
and galaxies.
1. Paper or Papyrus. Invented by Egyptians since clay tablets were heavy to
Science tries to discover facts and transport and not convenient for safe-keeping. Papyrus was a plant that
relationships and then tries to create grew abundantly along the Nile River in Egypt. This invention was a major
theories that makes sense of these accomplishment in Egyptian record-keeping and communications. (see
Figure 10. Irrigation and Dikes Figure 11)
facts and relationships.
2. Ink. Invented by Egyptians since they ceased to use clay tablets and
TECHNOLOGY came from two (2) invented the papyrus. Made by combining soot with different chemicals
Greek words: “techne” (skill, to produce inks with different colors. (see Figure 12)
craftsmanship, art) and “logos”
(discourse, reason). It is the skills, 3. Hieroglyphics. Writing system developed by Egyptians which uses
methods and processes used to symbols. Egyptians believed that this writing system was provide to them
achieve goals. It refers to tools and by the gods. (see Figure 13)
machines that may be used to solve 4. Cosmetics. Invented by Egyptians for health and aesthetic reasons.
real-world problems. It is the human Egyptians wore Kohl around the eyes to prevent and even cure eye
attempt to change the world. It is a diseases. Kohl was created by mixing soot or malachite with mineral
human activity involved with making galena. Egyptians believed that a person wearing make-up was protected
and using of material artifacts. from evil and that beauty was a sign of holiness. (see Figure 14)
Figure 11. Paper or Papyrus
Technology involves tools,
techniques and procedures for
putting the findings of science to
practical use.
ROMAN CIVILIZATION
Roman Empire was perceived to be the strongest political and social entity in
the west. Considered to be the cradle of politics and governance during that
Figure 17. Alarm Clock period and looked up by other civilizations as their model in terms of legislation
and codified laws.
It should be noted that such progress owe greatly to the contributions of Japan’s original science and
technology.
Today it is taken for granted that mobile phones come with color liquid crystal displays (LCDs), but LCDs for
mobile phones were first commercialized in 1985 by a Japanese company.
Since a mobile phone LCD does not emit light by itself, it has a light source behind the LCD.
This is called a backlight. At present, many mobile phones use a light-emitting diode (LED) for the backlight. The
white LED used for the backlight was invented at a Japanese university, and the technology seed was put to
practical use by a Japanese company for the first time in the world. Japanese companies command the highest
share of the worldwide LED market.
Meanwhile, the lithium ion battery, which is long-lasting and contributes to making mobile phones lightweight,
was also commercialized for the first time in the world by a Japanese company in 1990.
The polymer battery, which is used as a backup battery, uses conductive plastic as the electrode.
Hideki Shirakawa won a Nobel Prize for the discovery of this conductive plastic in 2000.
In a foldable mobile phone, the main body with buttons and the part with the LCD are connected by a flexible
substrate, which is flexible in itself. This substrate is made of a paper-like material made from synthetic fiber and
an extremely thin beaten-copper. Conventionally, when the synthetic fiber was formed into a paper sheet, the
fiber became tangled and could not be spread out uniformly. This problem was resolved by the technique
developed through the making of traditional Japanese paper. As for beaten-copper, a Japanese company having
the technology of making gold leaf that has been passed down since the Edo period commands a 40% share of
the world market of beaten-copper for mobile phones.
Japanese science and technology is also applied to the electronic parts used in mobile phones. Capacitors are
indispensable for electronic circuits, and a large number of multilayer chip ceramic capacitors, which are one
type of capacitors, are used in mobile phones. They are tens to hundreds of derivative layers in between
electrode layers pressed together and fired. The size is 1 mm×0.5 mm, and the height ranges from 1 mm to 2
mm. Japanese companies command 80% of the world market share for these multilayer chip ceramic capacitors,
and one of these Japanese companies originates from a manufacturer of Kyoto’s Kiyomizuyaki ceramics.
These are only a few of the science and technology achievements that are used in mobile phones. Accumulation
of such scientific and technological progress results in the current lightweight and easy-to-use mobile phones.
Science and technology has generated new knowledge, such as discoveries of new principles, and has
dramatically contributed to the development and progress of people’s lives, the economy, and the society.
Chapter 1 overviews the achievements of the progress of science and technology in the 20th century by referring
to the actual examples.
developed to Amedeo Avogadro’s molecular hypothesis. In addition, the discovery of atoms was accelerated by
Dimitri Mendeleev’s periodic law, which had a large impact on the under- standing of the composition of matter,
i.e. that all matter is made up of a certain number of atoms.
Furthermore, the possible existence of even smaller elementary particles has been indicated. In this manner, our
understanding of matter is likely to deepen even further in the future.
Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution proposed an idea on the evolution of organisms, while the elucidation of
genes, which started with Gregor Johann Mendel’s law of heredity, hints at the answer to the mystery of
organisms. Yet new views on organisms and senses of ethics are expected to develop in the 21st century, which
is being called the “century of life science.”
Today, as development of science and techno- logy accelerates, their achievements are expected to influence
people’s values at an even faster pace and may dramatically change the paradigms of society.
Figure 1-1-2
Scientific Research Is Essential in the Sense That It Brings New Knowledge to Humanity
Note: Graph shows the responses to the question, “Do you agree with the opinion that ‘scientific research is
essential in the sense that it brings new knowledge to humanity?’”
Source: Cabinet Office, “Public Opinion Poll on Science and Technology and Society (February 2004)”
In September 1905, Einstein proposed the special theory of relativity in a dissertation titled “On the
Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies” and said the speed of light remained constant, denying the then
conventional view that time and space were absolutely constant. The theory of relativity affects actual life as, for
example, receivers for global positioning systems adopted in car navigation systems reflect effects of the theory.
In November 1905, Einstein released another paper, named “Does the Inertia of a Body Depend upon its Energy
Content?” and said, “The mass of a body is a measure of its energy content.” Based on this theory, Einstein came
up with the most famous equation in history—E=mc2—in 1907. With this equation, it became apparent that
material could be converted into energy, leading to nuclear power generation, which now covers one-third of
power output in Japan.
As 2005 is the centenary of the miracle year, the general assembly of the United Nations decided that the U.N.
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) should plan activities to commemorate the
“International Year of Physics” in cooperation with physical societies and groups throughout the world. In Japan,
the Japan Committee for the World Year of Physics, set up jointly by related academic societies, has been
undertaking various activities under the chairmanship of Akito Arima.
The telephone would have a device to show the image of a caller at the end of the
Photo Telephone
line—the video phone.
Science and technology is a promising means for recognizing and foreseeing problems that face mankind and
for identifying their solutions, so it is expected to provide knowledge that can be shared by all mankind.
Figure 1-1-4
High Scientific and Technological Standards Are Needed toEnsure Security
Note: Graph shows the responses to the question, “Do you agree with the opinion that ‘high scientific
and research standards are essential for ensuring security in your daily life and the general security of the nation?’”
Source: Cabinet Office, “Public Opinion Poll on Science and Technology and Society (February 2004)”
such as cars and airplanes made progress, people and goods came to move easily around the world, and
developed countries acquired materially affluent and convenient lifestyles.
It is not too much to say that changes that man- kind has never experienced before were brought about by
science and technology over the past 100 years. Science and technology significantly changed modern
civilization, contributed to dramatically improving human welfare and convenience in life, and noticeably
expanded the scope of human activity over the past 100 years.
1903 • Proposal of Saturnian model for the atom (Japan: Hantaro Nagaoka)
• First manned flight of powered aircraft (U.S.: Wright brothers)
1904 • Invention of diode vacuum tube (U.K.: John Fleming) • Russo-Japanese War
1908 • Establishment of ammonia synthesis (Germany) • First sale of Model T Ford (U.S.)
• Patenting of a method for manufacturing a seasoning mainly
composed of monosodium glutamate (Japan: Kikunae Ikeda)
1927 • Proposal of uncertainty principle (Germany: Werner Heisenberg) • Japan’s first subway opens for
operation
1937 • Development of jet engine (U.K.: Frank Whittle, Germany: Hans von
Ohain)
1939 • Discovery of DDT insecticide (Switzerland: Paul Mueller) • World War II (until 1945)
• First flight of jet aircraft (Germany)
1942 • Success in nuclear fission chain reaction (U.S.: Enrico Fermi, et al) • First commercial television
broadcasts (U.S.)
1944 • Proof of DNA gene structure (U.S.: Oswald Avery) • Manufacture of V-2 rocket (Germany:
• Discovery of streptomycin (U.S.: Selman Waxman) Werner von Braun)
1953 • Elucidation of DNA double helix (U.S.: James Watson, U.K.: Francis • Start of color television broadcasting
Crick) (Japan)
1954 • Discovery of interferon (virus inhibition factor) (Japan: Yasuichi • World's first kidney transplant (U.S.)
Nagano, Yasuhiko Kojima)
1964 • Proposal of Quark Model (U.S.: Murray Gell-Mann, George Zweig) • Tokai Shinkansen commences
operations (Japan)
1967 • Plate tectonics theory (U.K.: Dan McKenzie, U.S.: Jason Morgan, et al.) • Promulgation of Basic Law for
Environmental
• First heart transplant operation
(South Africa: Christiaan Barnard)
1969 • Proposal of superlattice (Japan: Reona Esaki) • Apollo 11 lands on the moon (U.S.)
1973 • Establishment of gene recombinant technology (U.S.: Stanley Cohen, • Release of microcomputer in kit form
Herbert Boyer) (U.S.)
• Reona Esaki wins Nobel Prize for Physics
1981 • Kenichi Fukui wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry • First flight of the space shuttle (U.S.)
1983 • Discovery of AIDS virus (France: Luc Montagnier, U.S.: Robert Gallo)
1987 • Susumu Tonegawa wins Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine • Start of mobile phone services
(Japan)
1994 • Confirmation of top quark (U.S.: Fermi National Accelerator • Launch of H-II rocket (Japan)
Laboratory)
1998 • Confirmation of mass in neutrino (Japan: Super Kamiokande) • Assembly of International Space
Station commences (Japan, U.S., EU,
Canada, Russia)
2000 • Hideki Shirakawa wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry • Enactment of Law concerning
Regulation relating to Human
Cloning Techniques and Other
Similar Techniques (Japan)
2001 • ・Ryoji Noyori wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry • September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
(U.S.)
• Launch of H-II A rocket (Japan)
2002 • Masatoshi Koshiba wins Nobel Prize for Physics • Johannesburg Summit
• Koichi Tanaka wins Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Before returning to Japan, Kitasato received invitations from many countries to continue his studies. But he
declined all of them and contributed to improvements in medical science in Japan by founding the Institute of
Infectious Diseases and the Kitasato Institute. Many of Kitasato’s descendents made world-class achievements.
Among them were Kiyoshi Shiga, who discovered the shigella bacillus, and Sahachiro Hata, who developed
Salvarsan, an agent for the treatment of syphilis.
Jokichi Takamine settled in the United States in 1890 and devised a method of mass-producing and refining the
diastase, which has a highly saccharifying capacity, by implanting mould fungi, called koji, on the rhytidome of
wheat. He filed with the
U.S. government for related patents in 1894 and let a U.S. drug maker release a digestive under the name
Takadiastase in 1897. In 1901, Takamine succeeded in isolating the hormone adrenaline in pure crystalline form
from bovine glands. While adrenaline is effective in increasing blood pressure and arresting hemorrhage,
Takamine was the first in the world to extract the hormone as a purified substance and thus contributed greatly
to the subsequent development of neuroscience and endocrinology.
Takamine also worked to promote friendship between Japan and the United States and proposed and
contributed to the establishment of the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, known as RIKEN, in Japan.
Both Takadiastase and adrenaline have been widely used throughout the world for more than a century. Making
a huge fortune with income from patents on them, Takamine was the first Japanese person to establish a
research and development-oriented venture business.
Hantaro Nagaoka was known worldwide as a leading scholar in the field of magnetostriction. He was the first
Japanese physicist recognized in the world. As an example of his fame, he was invited to the International Physics
Conference in Paris in 1900 to report on his experiments on magnetostriction.
Nagaoka drew international attention in 1903 when he announced the “Saturnian” model of the atom, in which
he postulated that electrons revolved around an atomic nucleus. Nagaoka’s concept was proved correct in 1911
through experiments conducted by British physicist Ernest Rutherford.
Japan’s modern physics stemmed from Nagoka’s wide-ranging studies, which included experimental physics,
mathematical physics and geophysics. Assuming such key posts as president of the Osaka Imperial University
and of the Japan Academy, Nagaoka made a great deal of contribution to the administration of science and
technology in Japan.
As an episode probably seen
only among pioneers in any
field, Nagaoka, when he was a
student at the department of
science at the University of
Tokyo, wondered whether
scientific creativity was inherent
in the Japanese and thus took a
year off to study the oriental
history of science in a bid to
find an answer to the question
troubling him.
Comics and Science Fiction Novels That Foster Dreams about Scientific Technologies Evolution of Robots
There are many people who became completely absorbed in imaginary future worlds by reading comics and
science-fiction novels in their childhood. Robots appeared frequently in the future worlds. The word “robots” was
coined by Czech science-fiction novelist Karel Capek in 1920. But in Japan, the word became popular by
characters such as “Astro Boy” in animations and comics. Moreover, animation and comics have also greatly
inspired the progress of the study about robots in Japan.
The future world that Osamu Tezuka described in his “Astro Boy” comics released soon after the end of World
War II was supposed to be the world at the beginning of the 21st century, where robots resembling people lived
the same lives as people, occasionally exercising much higher abilities than people, and playing an active role in
the fight for justice. Undoubtedly, many children at the time dreamed that someday in the future robots like
Astro Boy would come into actual existence. Unfortunately, such robots as Astro Boy have not yet materialized
because we have not yet developed the science and technology to produce them even though we live in the
21st century. How much has such a dream come true?
You can see the most recent results in the study of robots at the 2005 World Exposition held in Aichi, Japan.
Robots that can walk with two legs such as Astro Boy are exhibited, among which there is a biped robot that
walks three kilometers per hour. In the Tsukuba Science Expo held twenty years ago, only one biped robot with
two legs and a waist was exhibited, and it took ten minutes for it to walk even one step forward. Since then,
robots have steadily progressed. In addition to biped robots, many robots that have a wide variety of functions
are developed and exhibited at the Aichi Expo.
Some science and technology, which was once described as being part of an imaginary future world where
robots such as Astro Boy would flourish, has now materialized, including mobile phones, small-sized computers,
large-sized passenger planes, and elevated expressways.
Science and technology will realize our dreams, but at the same time, our imagination and dreams that appear in
novels and comics are a driving force for the development of science and technology.
1.1.2 Relevance of Science and Technology in the Transformation and Development of People’s
Lives, the Economy, and the Society
After World War II, Japanese people’s lives improved significantly and Japan achieved high economic growth
thanks to the contributions of science and technology. This section overviews such influence of science and
technology based on data. At the same time, it also introduces applications of science and technology to
addressing social problems that have surfaced as “negative” products of scientific and technological progress in
recent years.
(Better convenience)
Scientific and technological achievements that are familiar to us include home electrical appliances. The
development and diffusion of various products including fully automatic washing machines, micro- wave ovens,
video tape recorders (VTRs), air conditioners, and toilet seats with a warm-water bidet function (Figure 1-1-7)
have brought convenience to life and made our living environment more pleasant.
Figure 1-1-7
Diffusion Rate of Home Electrical Appliances
Source: Cabinet Office, “Consumer Confidence Survey”
The frequency of calling or sending e-mail by mobile phones to communicate with other people considerably
increased compared to the previous year, indicating that mobile phones have become the central information
and communications means in place of postal mail and fixed-line telephones (Figure 1-1-8). Mobile phones
made it easier for people to communicate with one another regardless of their locations.
Figure 1-1-8
Changes in Communication Means Compared to Previous Year
Note: Values were derived by deducting the percentage of respondents who answered
“less frequently used” from the percentage of respondents who answered “more frequently used.”
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), “Survey on People’s Lives in a Ubiquitous
Network Society” (March 2004)
(Changes in lifestyles)
In 1956, when the Tokaido Line became fully electrified, it took seven hours and thirty minutes by limited express
train from Tokyo to Osaka. How- ever, in 1964, the Tokaido Shinkansen, which boasted a top speed of 210 km
per hour—the world’s fastest speed at the time—began operation and shortened the time required for traveling
from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka to four hours. The emergence of the Shinkansen allowed people to take day trips to
areas along the Tokaido Line, and had a considerable impact on people’s social lifestyles and economic activities.
Since then, many technologies have been applied to the Shinkansen; for example, the axle load was reduced
from the original 14 tons to 11 tons through the introduction of aluminum train bodies. As a result, the current
Shinkansen achieves a top speed of 270 km per hour, and travels from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka in a mere two hours
and thirty minutes (Figure 1-1-9).
Figure 1-1-9
Travel Time from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka (514.5 km)
Source: Produced by MEXT based on the Website of the Railway Technical Research Institute
Japan’s first commercial Internet access service was commenced in 1992. After that, the Internet rapidly spread
to people in various segments including companies and general homes, and brought dramatic changes to the
methods of information gathering and communication. In schools also, the percentage of public schools
connected to the Internet reached 99.8% in fiscal 2003. These schools provide education using information and
communications technologies, such as using online information as teaching materials (Figure 1-1-10).
Figure 1-1-10
Internet Diffusion Rates of Households,
Companies, Business Establishments, and
Public Schools
Notes: Diffusion rate for households indicates the
percentage of households where member(s) accesses
the Internet via PCs or mobile phones for private
purposes “at home/other.”
Diffusion rate for companies indicates the percentage
of companies where “the entire company”or “part of
the offices or divisions” accesses the Internet.
Diffusion rate for business establishments indicates the
percentage of business establishments that access the
Internet.
Data on the diffusion rate for public schools are only
available for 1997 onward.
Source: MIC, “Communications Usage Trend Survey”;
MEXT, “Survey Results on Actual Condition of
Information Education at Schools”
(Maintenance/recovery of health)
Medical care developed dramatically in the 20th century. Many lives have been saved and life expectancy has
been prolonged thanks to the discovery of vaccines and antibiotics, development of various new
pharmaceuticals, the progress of medical technologies, the early discovery of diseases through health
examinations, and the development of medical equipment used for diagnosis and surgical operations. In
particular, Japan has one of the highest longevity rates in the world, and there are signs that the average life
expectancy will become even longer in the future (Figure 1-1-11).
Figure 1-1-11
Development of Medical Technologies and Average Life Expectancy in Japan
Source: Produced by MEXT based on Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), “Complete Life Tables,”
“Abridged Life Tables” and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Tokyo Women’s Medical University ed., “21 Seiki Wo Kirihiraku
Sentan Iryō” (State-of-the-art medical care for leading the way in the 21st century) (October 1999).
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines, “Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-
being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” In the modern society, there is risk of suffering from
lifestyle-related diseases such as hyperlipemia, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity due to overeating, insufficient
exercise, smoking, and drinking alcohol. In particular, obesity is a risk factor that may trigger yet other lifestyle-
related diseases, so easy-to-use body fat scales for home use, drinks that help burn body fat, and fat foods that
do not easily form fat deposits were developed in order to control body fat.
Figure 1-1-12
Contributions of Technological Innovations to Economic Development
Notes: 1. TFP increase rate = (real growth rate of value-added production) - (capital share x capital stock growth rate)
- (labor share x labor input growth rate) The simple averages of production growth and contributions of the respective elements
to the production growth were obtained for each period. The data for 1985 was deleted because there would be a gap based on
the market entry of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT). The average values from 1996 through 2000 were
obtained by MEXT in accordance with the estimation method indicated in “Economic Survey of Japan FY 1997.”
Source: Economic Planning Agency, “Economic Survey of Japan FY 1997.”
(Environmental problems)
Global warming caused by greenhouse gases such as CO2 has become a major problem. About 20% of Japan’s
CO2 emissions are attributable to the transportation sector, of which 90% are emitted from cars. In order to
reduce CO2 emissions, the fuel efficiency of gasoline-fueled cars was improved by about 18% from 1997 to 2002
(Figure 1-1-13) through various kinds of technological development, such as making the engines and the power
transmission systems more efficient, reducing the weight of the vehicle, and reducing the air resistance. In
addition, hybrid cars, which efficiently combine the power of the engine and other power such as electricity, were
developed, and cars that boast about twice the mileage of gasoline-fueled cars appeared. In this manner, efforts
are being made to reduce the environmental loads by saving resources through improvement of fuel
consumption, by curbing CO2 emissions, and by cleaning emissions.
Figure 1-1-13
Fuel Efficiency of Gasoline-Fueled Cars and Ownership of Hybrid Cars
Sources: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, “List of Automobile Fuel Efficiency” (March 2005);
Japan Automobile Research Institute.
In Japan, energy consumption at home has been increasing. Therefore, new technologies have been introduced
to many home electrical appliances to reduce their energy use. For example, when comparing an electric
refrigerator, which uses a lot of energy, in 1981 and 2001, the average rated volume nearly doubled over the 20
years, but the annual power consumption per 1 liter of volume has been drastically cut to less than one-third
due to techno- logical innovations including a significant improvement in insulation efficiency and use of an
inverter-controlled compressor (Figure 1-1-14).
Figure 1-1-14
Energy-Saving Performance of Refrigerator-Freezers
Source: Surveyed by the Japan Electrical Manufacturers’ Association (JEMA)
As an entire nation, Japan maintains the lowest level of primary energy consumption per GDP among the major
developed countries (Figure 1-1-15). This suggests that Japan, which has scarce energy resources and depends
largely on imports, is achieving high productivity based on technologies for using energy efficiently.
Figure 1-1-15
Primary Energy Consumption per GDP
Source: OECD, “Energy Balances of OECD Countries
Figure 1-1-16
Degree of Concerns about Threats to Safety
Note: Values are the result of a questionnaire survey conducted on 3,600 citizens by postal mail (no. of valid responses: 1,476).
Source: Extracted from the results of a questionnaire survey conducted by the Study Group on Science and Technology
Policy for a Safe and Secure Society (February 2004).
Key Words for Future Science and Technology Considerate to the Planet and Comfortable for Human Beings: Love the
Planet
The main task for all members of the earth in the 21st century is to seek the establishment of sustainable symbiosis of all
lives on the planet from the perspective of the whole world. A new challenge has already begun regarding how science
and technology can contribute to solving problems emerging on a global scale that human beings are expected to face in
the future.
With “Nature’s Wisdom” as the main theme, the 2005 World Exposition (Abridged name: Expo 2005 Aichi;
Nickname: “Love the Earth”) is held with the participation of many countries and multinational organizations. As
a comprehensive and international exposition, this Expo is being held in Japan for the first time in 35 years, since
the Osaka Expo in 1970, and it is also the first world exposition of the 21st century.
State-of-the art science and technology is displayed to show how science and technology is used to make the
recycling-oriented society and to put it into practice for the purpose of the establishment of sustainable
development of the society, which is a major issue of the 21st century.
The “Bio Lung” is built at the center of the exposition site. It is a green-painted wall, 150 meters long and 15
meters high, covered with flowers and plants. This facility functions as the lung of the site, reducing the
environmental burden by inhaling carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen by taking advantage of the power of
plants, and to improve the living environments in the surrounding area by lowering the temperature during the
summer time.
At the food courts, where visitors can enjoy foods from all over the world, environmentally friendly biomass
tableware made of recyclable organic materials (biomass) such as plants are used. They are decomposed to
water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms in the ground after being dumped, which helps effectively reduce
waste and create a post-petroleum society.
Visitors can also experience a next-generation environmentally conscious transport system for moving around
inside the site.
As for electricity supply, atomic energy generated at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant was used for Osaka Expo.
But in the case of the Aichi Expo, “New Energy Power Plants” such as photovoltaic power plants and fuel cell
power plants located in several places within the site are planned to supply sufficient electricity to meet the
expected demand of 2,200KW of electricity of the Japan Pavilion and others in the Nagakute area.
In February 2005, just before the opening of the Aichi Expo, the Kyoto Protocol finally went into effect, eight
years after the adoption of the treaty.
It is unclear how the weather will change in the future because of the impact of various environmental problems.
But in the past, serious changes in the weather that could destroy human life have occurred many times. Modern
civilization has finally taken the first step to seriously considering how to tackle environmental problems and
resultant changes in the weather.
The Japan Pavilion Nagakute The Japan Pavilion Nagakute is covered by a bamboo basket. It is 90 meters long,
70 meters wide and 19 meters high. At the Japan Pavilion Nagakute, the steel sheet roof is used for taking
advantage of the effectiveness of heat radiation caused by the super hydrophilic photocatalytic property, which
is an achievement of Japan’s original basic research. Water flows down from the upper side of the roof,
evaporates on the surface, and deprives heat from the roof (i.e., the heat of vaporization), which is an
achievement of Japan’s original basic research. Water flows down from the upper side of the roof, evaporates on
the surface, and deprives heat from the roof (i.e., the heat of vaporization), which cools the roof and then lowers
the temperature inside the pavilion. This reduces the air-conditioning load. Waste water disposed within the
pavilion is zoned and reused for this purpose. Moreover, active oxygen is created on the roof because of
ultraviolet rays, which decompose organic matter on the roof. And, as decomposed materials are washed away
by rain, the roof remains clean.
In the early morning of January 17, 1995, the “Southern Hyogo earthquake” struck, with a magnitude of 7.3 and a
source at the Nojima Fault. This earthquake is the first big inland earthquake that has hit a major city of an
advanced nation in modern history. The earthquake was later renamed the Great Hanshin earthquake.
The Great Hanshin earthquake caused the greatest human and physical damage in the postwar period. The
number of the people killed or missing came to 6,436, a total of 250,000 houses were destroyed, and the direct
economic damage reached ten trillion yen. In addition to building damage, the transportation network such as
the Hanshin Superhighway, Japan Railways lines, private railways and harbors, and the lifeline network including
the water, electricity and gas systems suffered destructive damage, which revealed the vulnerability of the
functions and social infrastructure of modern cities.
After the earthquake, the Office to Promote the Research and Study of Earthquake was established, and full-
scale joint efforts by the government, private companies and academia were launched to work out measures to
prevent and reduce disasters. The Japan Meteorological Agency, universities, the National Research Institute for
Earth Science and Disaster Prevention, the Building Research Institute, and private companies and others are
engaged in efforts to establish the network of earthquake observation, to explore the mechanism of earthquake
occurrence by using simulation models, to develop seismic isolation and damping technologies for buildings and
other structures, and to develop robots for disaster relief.
Moreover, on the tenth anniversary of the Great Hanshin earthquake in January 2005, a real size three-
dimensional full-scale earthquake destruction testing facility called “E-Defense,” the largest of its kind in the
world, was constructed at a site next to the Miki Earthquake Disaster Memorial Park in Miki City, Hyogo. This
facility is equipped with the world’s largest shaking table, which is 15 meters long and 20 meters wide, and can
recreate an earthquake of the same size as the Great Hanshin earthquake. It also has shakers, fourteen of which
can move structures vertically and ten of which can move them horizontally. The testing facility can explore how
a building is destroyed, how much a building is destroyed and why a building is destroyed, by shaking the
building with a weight of 1,200 tons at maximum from three directions and eventually destroying it. By
increasing the strength of buildings, human casualties would become more serious when buildings collapse,
because people would be buried under the bricks. Researchers have been striving to develop construction
design methods to minimize human casualties, by allowing a building to be partially destroyed under strong
vibrations.
Natural disasters cannot be prevented even if modern technologies are applied. But science and technology are
expected to play an important role in minimizing disaster damage, securing the safety of people who suffer
disasters and rescuing disaster victims as quickly as possible. In this field, Japan is expected to make an
intellectual contribution.
SAMPLE OUTPUT
POSTTEST
Handwritten Only.
2. Technology
3. Society
POSTTEST
II. Use the article as a reference for answering the questions below.
A. Discuss the “Lights” and “Shadows” of scientific and technological development. (10 pts)
B. Give at least three (3) predictions for the future from Hochi Shimbun newspaper. Provide a discussion and
own insight regarding each prediction.(10 pts)
POSTTEST
C.2. Economy
C.3. Society
D. Give at least three (3) predictions for the future from Hochi Shimbun newspaper. Provide a discussion \
and own insight regarding each prediction.(10 pts)
Excellent design
Needs Needs significant
and layout. It is Nice design and
Visual Clarity improvement in improvement in
neat and easy to layout. It is neat
and Appeal design, layout, or design, layout,
understand the and easy to read.
neatness. and neatness.
content.
Multiple errors in
Excellent
Content spelling, grammar
spelling, 1-2 errors in
Spelling 3-5 errors in or punctuation.
grammar, spelling, grammar
grammar spelling, grammar The content is
punctuation and or punctuation.
punctuation or punctuation. copied and paste
original content.
or plagiarized/
Sentences are
The reader has
well built, with The writing The text hums
The text seems to practice quite
Sentence strong and mostly flows, along with a
choppy and is a bit in order to
varied structure and usually steady beat, but
Fluency not easy to read give this paper a
that invites invites oral tends to be
orally. fair interpretive
expressive oral reading. flowery.
reading.
reading.
The role of science and technology in the developing world in the 21st century. (n.d.). Institute for Ethics and
Emerging Technologies. https://ieet.org/index.php/IEET2/more/chetty20121003
Science and technology in the Philippines. (2007, February 21). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Retrieved August 20, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_the_Philippines
Society. (2002, February 1). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved August 20, 2020,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society