IMs GEED 10083 Science Technology and Society

Republic of the Philippines
POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR BRANCHES AND
SATELLITE CAMPUSES
MARAGONDON BRANCH
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
IN
GEED 10083
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
Compiled by by: Checked by:
Assoc. Prof. Carmelita M. Cauli Assoc. Prof. Ayreenlee E. Resus

Faculty Chairman – Committee on Writing
Instructional Materials
Date: _________________ Date: ___________________
Approved by:
Engr. Rosalia P. Pinlac Dr. Agnes Y. Gonzaga

Head, Academic Programs Director
Date: _________________ Date: __________________

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. These instructional materials will help
you become an effective learner and successfully meet the requirements of the course. You will
discover that you can learn in a very challenging way at your own pace. You can learn while
enjoying every activity in this course.
Happy learning!
THE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
VISION
PUP: The National Polytechnic University
MISSION
Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning
opportunities through a re-engineered polytechnic university by committing to:
 provide democratized access to educational opportunities for the holistic development of

individuals with global perspective
 offer industry-oriented curricula that produce highly-skilled professionals with managerial

and technical capabilities and a strong sense of public service for nation building
 embed a culture of research and innovation
 continuously develop faculty and employees with the highest level of professionalism
 engage public and private institutions and other stakeholders for the attainment of social
development goal
 establish a strong presence and impact in the international academic community
PHILOSOPHY
As a state university, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines believes that:
 Education is an instrument for the development of the citizenry and for the enhancement
of nation building; and
 That meaningful growth and transmission of the country are best achieved in an
atmosphere of brotherhood, peace, freedom, justice and nationalist-oriented education
imbued with the spirit of humanist internationalism.
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SUBJECT: GEED 10083 – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
PREPARED BY: Assoc. Prof. Carmelita M. Cauli
TEN PILLARS
Pillar 1: Dynamic, Transformational, and Responsible Leadership

Pillar 2: Responsive and Innovative Curricula and Instruction
Pillar 3: Enabling and Productive Learning Environment
Pillar 4: Holistic Student Development and Engagement
Pillar 5: Empowered Faculty Members and Employees
Pillar 6: Vigorous Research Production and Utilization
Pillar 7: Global Academic Standards and Excellence
Pillar 8: Synergistic, Productive, Strategic Networks and Partnerships
Pillar 9: Active and Sustained Stakeholders’ Engagement
Pillar 10: Sustainable Social Development Programs and Projects
SHARED VALUES AND PRINCIPLES
 Integrity and Accountability

 Nationalism
 Spirituality
 Passion for Learning and Innovation
 Inclusivity
 Respect for Human Rights and The Environment
 Excellence
 Democracy
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POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES
MARAGONDON BRANCH
GOALS
 Quality and excellent graduates

 Empowered faculty members
 Relevant curricula
 Efficient administration
 Development – oriented researches
 State-of-the-art physical facilities and laboratories
 Profitable income – generating programs
 Innovative instruction
 ICT – driven library
 Strong local and international linkages
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The College of Engineering aims to:

1. Strengthen the Engineering program consistent with global trends;
2. Develop faculty as competent mentors and quality researchers, through advanced study
and other facets of continuing professional education;
3. Develop critical thinking and communication skills of students, giving emphasis to research
and extension services;
4. Equip graduates with appropriate knowledge and technical skills, imbued with desirable
work attitude and moral values through enhanced teaching/learning process by using
multi-media facilities on top of traditional methods;
5. Create a conducive teaching and learning atmosphere with emphasis to faculty and
students’ growth and academic freedom;
6. Establish network with educational institution industry, GO’s and NGO’s, local and
international which could serve as:
a. funding sources and/or partners of researches;
b. sources of new techniques;
c. centers for faculty and student exchange program and On the Job Training; and
d. grantees of scholarship/additional facilities
7. Continuously conduct action researches on the needs of laboratory and other facilities that
could be locally produce or innovated using local materials and adapted technolog
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GEED 007
Science, Technology and Society
COURSE DESCRIPTION
COURSE TITLE : Science, Technology and Society

COURSE CODE : GEED 10083
COURSE CREDIT : 3 units
PRE-REQUISITE : NONE
The course deals with interactions between science and technology and social, cultural,
political, and economic contexts that shape and are shaped by them. (CMO No. 20, series of
2013) This interdisciplinary course engages students to confront the realities brought about by
science and technology in society. Such realities pervade the personal, the public, and the
global aspects of our living and are integral to human development. Scientific knowledge and
technological development happen in the context of society with all its socio-political, cultural,
economic, and philosophical underpinnings at play. This course seeks to instill reflective
knowledge in the students that they are able to live the good life and display ethical decision
making in the face of scientific and technological advancement. This course includes mandatory
topics on climate change and environmental awareness.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, the students should be able to:
Knowledge
1. Articulate the impacts of science and technology on society, specifically Philippine
society
2. Explain how science and technology affect society and the environment and its role in
nation-building
3. Analyze the human condition in order to deeply reflect and express philosophical
ramifications that are meaningful to the student as a part of society
4. Define and demonstrate the impact of social media on the students’ life and Philippine
society in general
Values
1. Imbibe the importance of science and technology in the preservation of the environment
and the development of the Filipino nation
2. Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology such that the
student may be able to define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life
3. Foster the value of a healthy lifestyle toward the holistic and sustainable development of
society and the environment
Skills
1. Creatively present the importance and contributions of science and technology to society
2. Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with innovative
and creative solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards
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3. Illustrate how the social media and information age impact their lives and their
understanding of climate change
Institutional Program Outcomes Course Outcomes

Learning Outcomes
1. Creative and The Bachelor of Science in Explain and illustrate the
Critical Thinking Electrical Engineering program different current theories,
provides combined technical concepts, principles, and
knowledge and skills among practices relevant to electrical
students in the field of electricity. engineering practices
2. Effective Effectively communicate orally Present and interpret accurate,
Communication and in writing using the English precise, reliable, relevant and
language updated principles in the
creation of new self that could
affect our relationship to others,
to ensure the establishment of
good rapport with other people
3. Strong Service Demonstrate strong Apply critical thinking in the
Orientation commitment to competence, analysis of one’s self in relation
professionalism, independence, to our business dealings to our
integrity and objectivity, good clientele.
corporate and social
responsibility and ethical
practices in performing
functions.
4. Passion to Life- Engage in life-long learning and Be able to prepare specific plan
Long Learning an understanding of the need to and technical knowhow in
keep current of the solving problems.
developments in the specific
fields of practice. e.g.
Continuing Professional
Education.
5. Sense of BSEE graduates should Understanding the techniques
Nationalism and possess general knowledge in used and adapted in local and
Global gaining and understanding of international practices.
Responsiveness the different cultures in the world
and developing an international
objective
6. Community Describe how knowledge and Be involved in community
Engagement learning from the academic extension services and practice
study/disciplines relates to one’s voluntarism to contribute in
participation in community community and human
service, civic, politics and development.
government.
7. Adeptness in the Use the techniques, skills and Develop software applications
Responsible Use modern engineering tools and engineering tool necessary.
of Technology necessary for engineering
practice
8. High Level of Demonstrate attributes of Exercise empowered leadership
Leadership and persuasiveness, open-minded, and teamwork in addressing
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Organizational and confident leader. Manage technical problems that may
Skills time and resources effectively. arise.
9. Sense of Personal Perform services with highest Observe the code of ethics and
and Professional standard of professionalism and diligence in practicing the
Ethics in accordance with ethical profession.
requirements.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The course requirements are as follows:
1. Students are encouraged to attend the class sessions (online students0 and complete all
the requirements (online and offline students).
2. The course is expected to have a minimum of four (4) quizzes and two (2) major
examinations (Midterm and Final Examination).
3. Other requirements such as written outputs, exercises, assignments and the likes will be
given throughout the sessions. These shall be submitted on the due dates set by the
teacher.
Note: Some activities will be rated using the Rubrics.
GRADING SYSTEM
The grading system will determine if the student passed or failed the course. There will be two
grading periods: Midterm and Final Period. Each period has components of: 70% Class
Standing + 30% Major Examination. Final Grade will be the average of the two periodical
grades.
Midterm Finals
Class Standing 70% Class Standing 70%
 Quizzes  Quizzes
 Activities  Activities
Mid-term Examination 30%  Project
Final Examination 30%
FINAL GRADE = (Midterm + Finals) /2
RUBRICS:
Unsatisfactory Satisfactory Very Good Work Excellent Work
Work Work
1.0 1.5 - 2.5 3.0 - 4.0 4.5 - 5.0
Homework The student The student do The student do The student do all of
didn't do any some homework. most of the the homework.
homework. homework.
Activities Students did not Students attempt Students attempt Students attempt to
attempt to to participate in to participate in participate in all of
participate in any an activity but most of the given the given activity.
activity. incomplete. activity.
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COURSE GUIDE
Week Topic Learning Outcomes Methodology Resources Assessment

1-3 Orientation of Discussion of the Orientation PUP None
University’s vision, mission, vision, and Student
mission, goals and goals and objectives Discussion. Handbook
objectives. of the University; Course
course overview and Syllabus
Course Overview requirements.
Classroom policies
Lesson 1  Discuss the Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
Historical interactions netween Discussion research Recitation
antecedents in S&T and society studies in
which social throughout history the internet
considerations  Discuss how google
changed the course scientific and
of science and technological
technology: developments affect
-In the world: society and the
Ancient, Middle and environment
Modern ages  Identify the
-In the Philippines paradigm shifts in
history
4 Lesson 2  Articulate ways by Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
Intellectual which society is Discussion research Recitation
revolutions that transformed by studies in
defined society; science and the internet
a. Copernican technology google
b. Darwinian
c. Freudian
d. information
e. Meso-American
f. Asian
g. Middle East
h. African
Lesson 3  Discuss the role of Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
5-6 Science and Science and Discussion research Recitation
Technology and Technology in studies in
Nation Building Philippine nation the internet
a. The Philippine building google
Government S & T  Evaluate
Agenda Major government policies
b. Major pertaining to science
development and technology in
programs and terms of their
personalities in S&T contributions to
in the Philippines nation building
c. Science  Identify actual
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Education in the science and
Philippines d. technology policies
Selected indigenous of the government
science and and appraise their
technologies impact on the
development of the
Filipino nation
7 Lesson 4  Analyze the human Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz

The Human Person condition in order to Discussion research Recitation
flourishing in terms deeply reflect and studies in
of science and express the internet
technology philosophical google
ramifications that are
meaningful to the
Technology as a student as a part of
Way of Revealing society
8 Lesson 5  Critique human Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
Human flourishing flourishing vis-àvis Discussion research Recitation
the progress of studies in
science and the internet
technology so that
the suident can google
define for
himself/herself the
meaning of the good
life
Lesson 6  Examine shared Lecture Articles and Reflection
9 The Good Life concerns that make Discussion research Essay
up the good life in studies in
order to come up the internet
with innovative, google
creative solutions to
contemporary issues
guided by ethical
standards
10 Lesson 7  Examine human Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
When technology rights in order to Discussion research Recitation
and humanity cross uphold such rights in studies in
technological ethical the internet
dilemmas google
11 Lesson 8  Evaluate Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz
Why does the future contemporary Discussion research Recitation
not need us? human experience in studies in
order to strengthen the internet
and enlighten the google
human person
functioning in society
12 MIDTERM EXAMINATION
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13 Lesson 9  Link learned Lecture Articles and 20 items
The information concepts to the Discussion research studies quiz
Age (Gutenberg development of the in the internet Recitation
to Social media) information age and
its impact on society google
 Illustrate how the
social media and the
information age
have impacted our
lives
14 Lesson 10  Determine the Lecture Articles and 20 items
Biodiversity and interrelatedness of Discussion research studies quiz
the Healthy society, in the internet Recitation
Society environment, and
health google
Genetically  Discuss the ethics
Modified and implications of
Organisms: GMOs and potential
Science, Health, future impacts
and Politics
15 Lesson 11  Discuss the major Lecture Articles and 20 items
The Nano World impacts (both Discussion research studies quiz
potential and in the internet Recitation
realized} of
nanotechnology on google
society
 Analyze the issue
through the
conceptual STS
lenses
 Critique the issue
on its costs and
benefits to society
16 Lesson 12  Describe gene Lecture Articles and 20 items
Gene therapy therapy and its Discussion research studies quiz
(stem Cells) various forms in the internet Recitation
 Assess the issue’s
potential benefits google
and detriments to
global health
17 Lesson 13  Identify the causes Lecture Articles and 20 items
Mandated of climate change Discussion research studies quiz
Topics:  Assess the in the internet Recitation
1. Climate various impacts of
Change and the climate change google
Energy Crisis including economic,
geopolitical,
2. biological,
Environmental meteorological, etc.
Awareness  Apply STS
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Other Topics: concepts to the
Alternative issue of climate
Energy change
Resources ( e.g.
O-tech Ocean
Thermal Energy
Conversion)
18 Final Examination
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Content Page
Introduction ii
Course Description v
Lesson 1 Historical antecedents in which social considerations changed 1
the course of science and technology:
Unit 1: In the world: Ancient, Middle and Modern ages
Unit 2: In the Philippines
Lesson 2 Intellectual revolutions that defined society; 12
- Copernican
- Darwinian
- Freudian
- Information
- Meso-American
- Asian
- Middle East
- African
Lesson 3 Science and Technology and Nation Building 16
Unit 1: The Philippine Government S & T Agenda Major
Unit 2: Major development programs and personalities in S&T in
the Philippines
Unit 3: Science Education in the Philippines
Unit 4: Selected indigenous science and technologies
Lesson 4 The Human Person flourishing in terms of Science and 22
Technology; Technology as a Way of Revealing
Lesson 5 Human Flourishing 26
Lesson 6 The Good Life 29
Lesson 7 When Technology and Humanity cross 34
Lesson 8 Why does the future not need us? 42
Lesson 9 The information Age (Gutenberg to Social media) 44
Lesson 10 Biodiversity and the Healthy Society 52
Genetically Modified Organisms: Science, Health, and Politics
Lesson 11 The Nano World 67
Lesson 12 Gene therapy (stem Cells) 82
Lesson 13 Mandated Topics: 92
Unit 1: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis
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Unit 2: Environmental Awareness
References 99
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Lesson 1 – Historical Antecedents in which social considerations
changed the course of Science and Technology
Overview:
This lesson will give the students the history on how the science and technology developed on
our society.
Learning Objectives:
After successful completion of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Know the interactions between Science, Technology and Society throughout history
2. Determine how scientific and technological developments affect society and the
environment
3. Identify the paradigm shifts in history
Course Materials:
“If we lived on a planet where nothing ever changed, there would be little to do. There
would be nothing to figure out. There would be no impetus for science. And if we lived in an
unpredictable world, where things change in random or very complex ways, we would not be able
to figure things out. But we live in an in-between universe where things change but according to
patterns, rules, or as we call them, laws of nature. If I throw a stick up into 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 do science, and with it we can improve our lives.”
(Carl Edward Sagan).
From the beginning of time, man has tried to improve his way and quality of life. The
caveman discovered how to make and used tools, developed a logical sequence of activities, and
evolved processes that added value to his life. The totality of the use and the application of his
knowledge, skills, tools, and materials, constitute what we today describe as “technology”.
What is science?
 concerted human effort to understand, or to understand better, the history of the natural
world and how the natural world works, with observable physical evidence as the basis
of that understanding.
 done through observation of natural phenomena, and/or through experimentation that
tries to simulate natural processes under controlled conditions.
Science: knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through
experiments and observation.
Technology: science or knowledge put into practical use to solve problems or invent useful
tools.
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How is science used in technology?
 Science is the pursuit of knowledge about the natural world through systematic
observation and experiments. Through science, we develop new technologies.
 Technology is the application of scientifically gained knowledge for practical purpose.
 Scientists use technology in all their experiments.
What is technology?
Technology concerns itself with understanding how knowledge is creatively applied to organised
tasks involving people and machines that meet sustainable goals. There are three important
aspects to this definition:
1. Technology is about taking action to meet a human need rather than merely understanding
the workings of the natural world, which is the goal of science. The invention of the microscope
was driven by a need to explore the world of the small, beyond our unaided vision. This
technological solution to a long standing problem has in turn enabled us to understand more the
workings of the world which in turn has led to the development of more technologies.
2. It uses much more than scientific knowledge and includes values as much as facts, practical
craft knowledge as much as theoretical knowledge. The iPod is an example of where the
physics of making a small device carry so much music is married with creative design to make
an iconic must have accessory.
3. It involves organized ways of doing things. It covers the intended and unintended interactions
between products (machines, devices, artifacts) and the people and systems who make them,
use them or are affected by them through various processes. Many people like to drink coffee,
often in a coffee shop. That coffee may have come from trees which have been bred specifically
for increased yields that support a small farmer and his family but that requires pesticides that
were developed and manufactured in another country. The harvested coffee beans will
themselves be transported around the world, to be processed and placed in packages which are
are distributed to shops that then make the cup of coffee in a polystyrene cup that was
manufactured for the purpose but which then needs to disposed of and so on. Every choice we
make relies on, and feeds, a highly interdependent and far reaching way of life where some
have much and some have little.
Technology is a hands on, can do profession where people have to be skilled in many of the
following: engineering, communicating, designing, developing, innovating, managing,
manufacturing, modelling, and systems thinking. But technology also gives us various products
which can be used for good or ill or where the benefits are disputed and similarly the processes
involved in producing and using technology means that we should all take an interest in whether
it provides us and eveyone else with a sustainable future.
The Role of Science and Technology
1. alter the way people live, connect, communicate and transact, with profound effects on
economic development.
2. key drivers to development, because technological and scientific revolutions underpin
economic advances, improvements in health systems, education and infrastructure.
3. The technological revolutions of the 21st century are emerging from entirely new sectors,
based on micro-processors, tele-communications, bio-technology and nano-technology.
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Products are transforming business practices across the economy, as well as the lives of all
who have access to their effects. The most remarkable breakthroughs will come from the
interaction of insights and applications arising when these technologies converge.
4. have the power to better the lives of poor people in developing countries
5. differentiators between countries that are able to tackle poverty effectively by growing and
developing their economies, and those that are not.
6. engine of growth
7. interventions for cognitive enhancement, proton cancer therapy and genetic engineering
What is society?
 The sum total of our interactions as humans, including the interactions that we engage in
to figure things out and to make things
 a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group
sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political
authority and dominant cultural expectations.
What does science, technology and society mean?

Science and technology studies, or science, technology and society studies (STS) is the
study of how society, politics, and culture affect scientific research and technological innovation,
and how these, in turn, affect society, politics and culture.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES
 STS is a relatively recent discipline, originating in the 60s and 70s, following Kuhn’s The
Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962).
 STS was the result of a “sociological turn” in science studies.
 STS makes the assumption that science and technology are essentially intertwined and
that they are each profoundly social and profoundly political
How science and technology affect society?

1. Science and technology have had a major impact on society, and their impact is growing.
2. By making life easier, science has given man the chance to pursue societal concerns such
as ethics, aesthetics, education, and justice; to create cultures; and to improve human
conditions.
3. Science influences society through its knowledge and world view. Scientific knowledge and
the procedures used by scientists influence the way many individuals in society think about
themselves, others, and the environment. The effect of science on society is neither entirely
beneficial nor entirely detrimental.
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How science can have an effect on society?
1. Science influences society through its knowledge and world view. Scientific knowledge and
the procedures used by scientists influence the way many individuals in society think about
themselves, others, and the environment.
2. The effect of science on society is neither entirely beneficial nor entirely detrimental.
What is the relationship between science and society?

 The impact of science and technology on society is evident. But society also influences
science.
 There are social influences on the direction and emphasis of scientific and technological
development, through pressure groups on specific issues, and through generally
accepted social views, values and priorities
Unit 1: In the world: Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages
From the beginning of time, man has strived to improve his way and quality of life. The
caveman discovered how to make and use tools, developed a logical sequence for activities,
and evolved processes that added value to his life.
The shift from nomadic life to farming led to the development of cities:
 Network of transportations
 Specialized labor
 Government and religion
 Social class
Nineteenth Century Invention of textile manufacturing machines Division of labor Increase

in production Crowded cities Unsafe and unhealthy working conditions
Twentieth Century Invention of automobiles Status symbol Harsh, crowded city conditions
HEALTH
Penicillin – Alexander Fleming - Friday, September 28, 1928 - Penicillium notatum - The
challenge of mass- producing this drug was daunting. On March 14, 1942, the first patient was
treated for streptococcal septicemia with US-made penicillin produced by Merck & Co
Major influence on Society
Egypt – papyrus and hieroglyphics papyrus - a thick type of paper made from the pith of the
papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus. Papyrus can also refer to a document written on sheets of
papyrus joined together side by side and rolled up into a scroll, an early form of a book.
Papyrus  was first manufactured in Egypt as far back as the 4TH millennium BCE  The
earliest archaeological evidence of papyrus was excavated in 2012 and 2013 at Wadi al-Jarf, an
ancient Egyptian harbor located on the Red Sea coast. These documents date from 2560–2550
BCE (end of the reign of Khufu).  The papyrus rolls describe the last years of building the
Great Pyramid of Giza.  In the first centuries BCE and CE, papyrus scrolls gained a rival as a
writing surface in the form of parchment, which was prepared from animal skins. Early Christian
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writers soon adopted the codex form, and in the Greco- Roman world, it became common to cut
sheets from papyrus rolls to form codices
Hieroglyphs - a character of the ancient Egyptian writing system a formal writing system used
by the ancient Egyptians that combined logographic and alphabetic elements Egyptians used
cursive hieroglyphs for religious literature on papyrus and wood Early hieroglyphs date back to
somewhere between 3,400 and 3,200 BCE and continued to be used up until about 400 CE,
when non-Christian temples were closed and their monumental use was no longer necessary
Ancient Babylonia – cuneiform  one of the earliest systems of writing, distinguished by its
wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets, made by means of a blunt stylus ( tool for writing)  This
was in use for more than three millennia, through several stages of development, from the 34th
century BC down to the second century CE
Ancient Greece – public speaking, persuasive rhetoric, drama, and philosophy Rhetoric - an art
that aims to improve the capability of writers or speakers to inform, most likely to persuade, or
motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a
productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the European tradition
the study of rhetoric continued to be central to the study of the verbal arts; but the study of the
verbal arts went into decline for several centuries, followed eventually by a gradual rise in formal
education, culminating in the rise of medieval universities Late medieval rhetorical writings
include those of St. Thomas Aquinas (1225?–1274) 
17TH CENTURY 
FRANCIS BACON (1561–1626) - contributed to the field in his writings  One of the concerns
of the age was to find a suitable style for the discussion of scientific topics, which needed above
all a clear exposition of facts and arguments, rather than the ornate style favored at the time 
“The Advancement of Learning” criticized those who are preoccupied with style rather than "the
weight of matter, worth of subject, soundness of argument, life of invention, or depth of
judgment."  On matters of style, he proposed that the style conform to the subject matter and
to the audience, that simple words be employed whenever possible, and that the style should be
agreeable
Roman alphabet, is a writing system originally used to write the Latin Language  The Greek
alphabet has descended from the Phoenician abjad while the Phoenician alphabet is derived
from Egyptian hieroglyphics  The Etruscans who ruled early Rome adopted and modified the
Cumaean Greek alphabet.  The Etruscan alphabet was in turn adopted and further modified
by the ancient Romans to write the Latin language.
ANCIENT ROMEIt was not until the Middle Ages that the letter ⟨W⟩ (originally a ligature of two
⟨V⟩s) was added to the Latin alphabet, to represent sounds from the Germanic languages which
did not exist in medieval Latin, and only after the Renaissance did the convention of treating ⟨I⟩
and ⟨U⟩ as vowels, and ⟨J⟩ and ⟨V⟩ as consonants, become established the style of writing
changed and varied greatly throughout the Middle Ages, even after the invention of the printing
press
MODERN EUROPE – THE PRINTING PRESS  one of the most influential events in the
second millennium revolutionizing the way people conceive and describe the world they live in,
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and ushering in the period of modernity  invented in the Holy Roman Empire by the German
Johannes Gutenberg around 1440
 By 1500, printing presses in operation throughout Western Europe had already produced
more than twenty million volumes  In the 16th century, with presses spreading further afield,
their output rose tenfold to an estimated 150 to 200 million copies  In Renaissance Europe, the
arrival of mechanical movable type printing introduced the era of mass communication which
permanently altered the structure of society
Wine Press paper codex of the acclaimed 42- line Bible, Gutenberg's major work
The Printing Revolution The Printing Revolution occurred when the spread of the printing
press facilitated the wide circulation of information and ideas, acting as an "agent of change"
through the societies that it reached In the period from 1518 to 1524, the publication of books
in Germany alone skyrocketed sevenfold; between 1518 and 1520, Luther's tracts were
distributed in 300,000 printed copies The rapidity of typographical text production, as well as
the sharp fall in unit costs, led to the issuing of the first newspapers, which opened up an
entirely new field for conveying up-to-date information to the public
Tim Berners-Lee's vision of a global hyperlinked information system became a possibility by

the second half of the 1980s (“mesh”) By 1985, the global Internet began to proliferate in
Europe hypertext enthusiast, Robert Cailliau, published a more formal proposal on 12
November 1990 to build a "Hypertext project" called "WorldWideWeb" as a "web" of "hypertext
documents" to be viewed by browsers using a client-server architecture MODERN WORLD –
WORLD WIDE WEB
Unit 2: History Of Science And Technology In The Philippines

Science and technology in the Philippines had experienced periods of intense growth as
well as long periods of stagnation. The main managing agency responsible for science and
technology is the Department of Science and Technology.
Numerous national scientists have contributed in different fields of science including Fe

del Mundo in the field of Pediatrics, Eduardo Quisumbing in the field of Plant taxonomy, Gavino
Trono in the field of tropical marine Phycology, Maria Orosa in the field of Food technology and
many more
PRE-SPANISH ERA
Even before the colonization by the Spaniards in the Philippine islands, the natives of the
archipelago already had practices linked to science and technology.
Filipinos were already aware of the medicinal and therapeutic properties of plants and the
methods of extracting medicine from herbs.
They already had an alphabet, number system, a weighing and measuring system and a
calendar. Filipinos were already engaged in farming, shipbuilding, mining and weaving.
The Banaue Rice Terraces are among the sophisticated products of engineering by pre-
Spanish era Filipinos.
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SPANISH COLONIAL ERA
The colonization of the Philippines contributed to growth of science and technology in the
archipelago.
The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution.
During the early years of Spanish rule in the Philippines. Parish schools were established where
religion, reading, writing, arithmetic and music was taught.
Sanitation and more advanced methods of agriculture was taught to the natives.
Later the Spanish established colleges and universities in the archipelago including the oldest
existing university in Asia, the University of Santo Tomas.
The Galleon Trade have accounted in the Philippine colonial economy.
Trade was given more focus by the Spaniard colonial authorities due to the prospects of big
profits.
Agriculture and industrial development on the other hand were relatively neglected.
The opening of the Suez Canal saw the influx of European visitors to the Spanish colony and
some
Filipinos were able to study in Europe who were probably influenced by the rapid development
of scientific ideals brought by the Age of Enlightenment.
AMERICAN PERIOD
The progress of science and technology in the Philippines continued under American rule of the
islands.
On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government

Laboratories which was placed under the Department of Interior. The Bureau replaced the
Laboratorio Municipal, which was established under the Spanish colonial era. The Bureau dealt
with the study of tropical diseases and laboratory projects.
On October 26, 1905, the Bureau of Government Laboratories was replaced by the Bureau of
Science and on December 8, 1933, the National Research Council of the Philippines was
established.
POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA
During the 1970s, which was under the time of Ferdinand Marcos' presidency, the importance
given to science grew.
Under the 1973 Philippine Constitution, Article XV, Section 1, the government's role in
supporting scientific research and invention was acknowledged.
In 1974, a science development program was included in the government's Four-Year

Development Plan which covers the years 1974- 1978.
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Funding for science was also increased. The National Science Development Board was
replaced by the National Science and Technology Authority under Executive Order No. 784. A
Scientific Career in the civil service was introduced in 1983.
AMERICAN PERIOD
Science during the American period was inclined towards agriculture, food processing, forestry,
medicine and pharmacy. Not much focus was given on the development of industrial technology
due to free trade policy with the United States which nurtured an economy geared towards
agriculture and trade.
In 1946 the Bureau of Science was replaced by the Institute of Science. In a report by the US
Economic Survey to the Philippines in 1950, there is a lack of basic information which was
necessities to the country's industries, lack of support of experimental work and minimal budget
for scientific research and low salaries of scientists employed by the government. In 1958,
during the regime of President Carlos P. Garcia, the Philippine Congress passed the Science
Act of 1958 which established the National Science Development
POST COMMONWEALTH-ERA
In 1986, during Corazon Aquino's presidency, the National Science and Technology Authority
was replaced by the Department of Science and Technology, giving science and technology a
representation in the cabinet.
Under the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan for the years 1987-1992, science and
technology's role in economic recovery and sustained economic growth was highlighted.
During Corazon Aquino's State of the Nation Address in 1990, she said that science and
technology development shall be one of the top three priorities of the government towards an
economic recovery.
In August 8, 1988, Corazon Aquino created the Presidential Task Force for Science and
Technology which came up with the first Science and Technology Master Plan or STMP. The
goal of STMP was for the Philippines to achieve newly industrialized country status by the year
2000.
The Congress did not put much priority in handling bills related to science and technology. The
Senate Committee on Science and Technology was one of the committees that handles the
least amount of bills for deliberation.
Former Science and Technology secretary, Ceferin Follosco, reported that the budget allocation
for science and technology was increased to 1.054 billion pesos in 1989 from the previous
year's 464 million pesos.
However, due to the Asian financial crisis, budget allocation for the years 1990 and 1991 were
trimmed down to 920 and 854 million pesos respectively. Budget allocation were increased to
1.7 billion pesos in 1992
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PARADIGM SHIFTS IN HISTORY
Paradigm is a typical example or pattern of something. It is a distinct set of concepts or thought

patterns, including theories, research methods, postulates, and standards for what constitutes
legitimate contributions to a field.
WHAT IS A PARADIGM SHIFT?
 a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

 a concept identified by the American physicist and philosopher Thomas Kuhn
 a fundamental change in the basic concepts and experimental practices of a scientific
discipline. Kuhn presented his notion of a paradigm shift in his influential book The
Structure of Scientific Revolutions (1962).
WHY ARE PARADIGM SHIFTS IMPORTANT?
Paradigm shift is another expression for more significant changes within belief systems.
Within philosophy of science this concept is sometimes considered important and is sometimes
given great attention within education.
KUHN'S PARADIGM
THOMAS SAMUEL KUHN Thomas Samuel Kuhn (/kuːn/; July 18, 1922 – June 17, 1996) was
an American physicist, historian and philosopher of science whose controversial 1962 book The
Structure of Scientific Revolutions was influential in both academic and popular circles,
The Structure Of Scientific Revolutions is a book about the history of science by the philosopher
Thomas S. Kuhn. Its publication was a landmark event in the history, philosophy, and sociology
of scientific knowledge.
The Kuhn Cycle

 a simple cycle of progress described by Thomas Kuhn in 1962 in his seminal work The
Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
 In Structure Kuhn challenged the world's current conception of science, which was that it
was a steady progression of the accumulation of new ideas.
KUHN’S PARADIGM
Kuhn showed this viewpoint was wrong.
Science advanced the most by occasional revolutionary explosions of new knowledge, each
revolution triggered by introduction of new ways of thought so large they must be called new
paradigms.
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Kuhn argues that paradigms change in scientific revolutions. Scientists go through a crisis and
transition to a new paradigm, a new way of seeing the world. It is not possible to compare
paradigms and it is not possible to say whether one is more right than the other.
Kuhn argues that science is not moved by a rational process but more by a social unity. In
contrast with Popper then Kuhn presents a descriptive theory in which Kuhn try to observe the
factual scientific fields in order to understand how they function in practice.
The Steps Of The Kuhn Cycle
PRE-SCIENCE also called the pre- paradigm stage, the pre-step to the main Kuhn Cycle. In
Prescience there is not yet a model of understanding (the field's paradigm) mature enough to
solve the field's main problems. The field has no workable paradigm to successfully guide its
work.
NORMAL SCIENCE is identified and elaborated on by Thomas Samuel Kuhn in The Structure
of Scientific Revolutions, is the regular work of scientists theorizing, observing, and
experimenting within a settled paradigm or explanatory framework. It is where the field has a
scientifically based model of understanding (a paradigm) that works.
MODEL DRIFT -The model of understanding starts to drift, due to accumulation of anomalies,
and phenomenon, the model cannot explain. The Model Drift becomes so excessive the model
is broken. It can no longer serve as a reliable guide to problem solving. Attempts to patch the
model up to make it work fail. The field is in anguish.
MODEL CRISIS is the most important step of them all in the Kuhn Cycle.
MODEL REVOLUTION begins when serious candidates for a new model emerge. It's a
revolution because the new model is so radically different from the old one. A field's model of
understanding is undergoing revolutionary change. The old model failed, which caused the
Model Crisis step. The Model Revolution step begins when one or more competing new models
emerge from the crisis.
PARADIGM CHANGE also called a paradigm shift. Earlier steps have created the new model of
understanding (the new paradigm). In the Paradigm Change step the new paradigm is taught to
newcomers to the field, as well as to those already in it. When the new paradigm becomes the
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generally accepted guide to one's work, the step is complete. The field is now back to the
Normal Science step and a Kuhn Cycle is complete.
Historical Examples Of Paradigms
SOCIETY / ETHICS
 Slavery is acceptable to now slavery being unacceptable
 Role of Children in Society - Child labor was, now is not acceptable
 Male Superiority - Beating wives was, now is not acceptable
 Reading and the Control over information - Invention of the printing press (& other major
inventions) allowed for the elites control over reading / writing to end.
 The Reformation- broke monopoly of Catholic Church and Christian's "relationship" with
God.
NATURAL SCIENCES
 Darwin’s theory of evolution
 Plate Tectonics— create a physical model of the Earth's structure
 Albert Einstein’s space-time is not fixed or objective— subject to observer’s state of
motion relative to other object.
HUMAN SCIENCES
 Psychology: Sigmund Freud—we are not fully in control of our behavior—a
subconscious part operate
 Economics— government intervention in economy is now accepted.
THE ARTS
 The Realist paradigm: the purpose of art is to copy reality.
 Shakespeare's impact on drama / theater
 Jazz & rock revolutionizing music
References: http://changingminds.org/explanations/research/articles/kuhn _paradigm.htm o

https://www.uky.edu/~eushe2/Pajares/Kuhn.html o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Structure_of_Scientific_Re
volutions#/media/File:Structure-of-scientific-rev o http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/KuhnCycle.htm o
http://noteshelf.org/thomas-kuhn-paradigm-theory/ o http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/Pre-science.htm o
http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/KuhnCycle.htm o http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/ModelCrisis.htm o
http://www.thwink.org/sustain/glossary/ModelRevolution.htm https://www.slideshare.net/memijecruz/historical-antecedents-of-
science-and-technology-152541982
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/engineering-and-technology/technology/what-technology
https://www.slideshare.net/MerlynH/science-technology-and-society-66057613
Activities/Assessments:
Answer the following questions briefly:

1. Give the connection of science, technology and society using the Venn diagram.
2. Is the paradigm shift in history has a positive effect nowadays? Explain your answer.
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Lesson 2: Intellectual Revolutions that defined Society
Overview:
The Intellectual revolution pertains to the period of paradigm shifts or changes in the
scientific beliefs that have been widely embraced and accepted by the people (Hintay, 2018).
 Articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology.

Course Materials:
INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY
COPERNICAN-This caused the paradigm shift of how the earth and sun were placed in the
heavens/universe. It is the idea that rejected Ptolemaic model (earth is the center of the solar
system) and proved the heliocentric model (Sun is the center of the solar system having the
earth revolving around it.)
DARWINIAN-This has brought a great impact on how people approach Biology forever. This
revolution provided a different than the "theory of Creation". The Darwinian revolution started
when Charles Darwin published his book "The Origin of Species" that emphasizes that humans
are the result of an evolution.
FREUDIAN-This theory has started to revolutionize Psychiatry with Sigmund Freud. This
includes the "Freudian Theory of Personality" that involves the human development contributes
to his/her personality and also his "psychoanalysis" that is the process for achieving proper
functioning if a human does not complete his/her developmental stage.
INFORMATION-This has been the era in which technology has been prevalent. It is also known
as the Computer Age that has brought so much change on how are we living today.
MESO-AMERICAN-It has contributed a lot ideas or discoveries for Archaeology. The temples
and pyramids left a lot about of Architecture that leads us to study more of it.
ASIAN-The revolution itself taught Asian countries about freedom and independent nationhood
along the improvement brought by it internally.
MIDDLE EAST-The revolutions in the Middle East were a product of the development and
growth of individual nationalism, imperialism, for the efforts to westernize and modernize Middle
Eastern societies, and to push the declining power of the Ottoman Empire in the Arab region.
AFRICAN-The fight against colonialism and imperialism in Africa.
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The Three Revolutions That Defined The Society
1. Ideas of known intellectuals
2. Information Revolution
3. Cradles of Early Science
IDEAS OF KNOWN INTELLECTUALS
COPERNICAN REVOLUTION
In the 6th century, Ptolemy introduced the geocentric model where it showed that the
Earth is the center of the universe which was thought to be true by most of the people at that
time.
NICHOLAS COPERNICUS (1473-1543)
Copernicus is an Astronomer who contradicts the geocentric model and proposed the
Heliocentric Theory where planets revolve around the sun.
The change from the belief of geocentric to heliocentric happened through the
contributions of other important persons such as:
 Brahe’s observation of the star Cassiopeia

 Kepler stated that the planets move in elliptical orbits and the sun at the center
 Galileo Galilei developed telescope and observed Venus
 Isaac Newton’s law of gravitation
The Copernican revolution influences conceptual changes in cosmology, religion,
physics, and philosophy.
DARWINIAN REVOLUTION
UNITED KINGDOM
CHARLES DARWIN (1809-1882)
Formulated his book “On the Origin of Species” in 1859 that presented evidence on how
species evolved over time and “The Descent of Man (1871)” that introduced the idea of all
organic life under the realm of revolutionary thinking.
Darwin proposed the theory of evolution by natural selection where organisms change
overtime as a result of changes in heritable physical or behavioral traits. The changes that allow
an organism to better adapt to its environment can help it survive and have more offspring
There are 2 main points in his theory:

1. All life on Earth is connected and related to each other
2. This diversity of life came about because of the modifications in populations that were driven
by natural selection
Natural Selection- survival of the fittest
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FREUDIAN REVOLUTION
SIGMUND FREUD (1856-1939)
Freud founded psychoanalysis. He described that the brain can be segmented into
compartments. He developed an observational method to study human's inner life mainly
focuses on human sexuality and evil nature of man.
The Freudian revolution greatly affected or gave rise to the Literature, Visual Arts and
Music.
INFORMATION REVOLUTION
The Information Revolution started from the Sumerian pictographs, which is the earliest
writing system. Then comes the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press 1455. There emerged
the use of typewriter and telegraph. Today, technologies are used widely which became easier
with the help of internet to communicate and disseminate and store information.
THE FOUR CRADLES OF EARLY SCIENCE
MESOAMERICAN
Mesoamerican Civilizations
 Mayan
 Inca
 Aztec
Contributions of the Mesoamericans
 The Aztecs had established a great military force.

 The chinampa of the Aztecs used small rectangular area of fertile land to grow crops on
the shallow lake beds.
 The use of rubber is documented in the Maya ball game called tlatchtli.
 They used cocoa beans as a currency.
 The Maya developed an accurate calendar, also known as the Mayan Calendar.
 The Quipos are used by the Incan for book-keeping
 The Mita system was invented by the Inca. It is a labor service that takes for in road and
bridge construction, in cultivation of corn and textile production
MIDDLE EAST
Contributions in the Middle East:
 The Arab applied the romans principles and improve the watermill known as noria.
 The middle East is known for their machine designed for the improvement of irrigation,
industrial work and for war. The windmill and watermill are used for crushing
sugarcanes, grinding grain, and pumping water.
 The book of Badic al-Zaman ibn al-Razaz al-Jazari described candle and water clocks,
water vessels, fountains, automata, and water raising devices.
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 The book written by Taqi al-Din ibn Maruf al-Rashid al-Dimashqi explained steam power
and a blueprint of a six-piston pump.
ASIA
Major contributions in Asia
 Traditional Chinese medicine acupuncture and herbal medicine were practiced

 Four great inventions in china: Compass, gunpowder, papermaking, printing
 Other: alchemy, which is a Taoist chemistry
AFRICAN
Contributions from Africa:
 Africa is known for the production of Kola nuts and coffee in Ethiopia (Kola nuts are
mostly found in West Africa and is the basis of cola drink).
 Coffee was developed as a consumable drink that spread to Arabia and then throughout
the world
 Africa used plants with salicylic acid for pain (aspirin) and for diarrhea (Kaopectate).
 They are also highly advanced in medicine such operating autopsies and caesarian.
 The technology involved experimentation in drainage, construction of polders,
desalination, and irrigation. Evidence in 1978 suggests that they already mastered
making steels.
References:
Hintay, K. J. (2018, February 6). INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS. Retrieved November 13, 2019, from
https://prezi.com/2ak2vqch_apz/intellectual-revolutions/.
Kahulugan, J. (2018). Week 2: Intellectual Revolutions that Defined Society. Retrieved November 13,
2019, from https://quizlet.com/322543864/week-2-intellectual-revolutions-that-defined-society-flash-
cards/.
Essay writing:
Choose one revolution that you think serves as a big help in today’s life. Explain your
answer. Provide evidences that this revolution really helps the society.
Lesson 3: Science and Technology and Nation Building
15
Overview:
Science and Technology hold the key to the progress and development of any nation.
Technology plays a Fundamental role in wealth creation, improvement of the quality of life and
real economic growth and transformation in any society.
 Articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology.
Course Materials:
The role that science and technology has played in improving the life conditions across
the globe is vivid, but the benefit has to been harvested maximum by all countries. Science and
technology has made life a lot easier and also a lot better with the advancement of medicines
and analysis on diseases. Apart from the medical side, there has been remarkable development
in education, communication, agriculture, industry etc. the global economic output has
increased 17 folds in the 20th century. In spite of the advancements in almost all sectors, still the
world is not free from hunger, disease, pollution, illiteracy and poverty. The gap between the rich
and the poor has widened. By the 21st century, with the right applications of research,
development, and implications of science and technology a major difference could be brought
about.
SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
Planting crops that provide them Building houses
food Irrigations
Taking care of animals Developing tools
Food production Musical instruments
Interpret the movements of
heavenly bodies to predict seasons
and climates
Medicinal uses of plants
Unit 1: The Philippines Government S&T Agenda Major

• introduced and implemented programs, projects and policies to boost science and technology.
GOAL: prepare the whole country and its people to meet the demands of a technologically
driven world and capacitate the people to live in a world driven by science.
• In response to the ASEAN 2015 Agenda, the government, particularly the DOST, has sought
the expertise of the NRCP to consult various sectors in the society to study how the Philippines
can prepare itself in meeting the ASEAN 2015 Goals.
• The NRCP clustered these policies into four:

1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance
2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics
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3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry
1. Social Sciences, Humanities, Education, International Policies and Governance

 Integrating ASEAN awareness in basic education without adding to the curriculum
 Emphasizing teaching in the mother tongue
 Developing school infrastructure and providing for ICT broadband
 Local food security
2. Physics, Engineering, and Industrial Research, Earth and Space Sciences, and Mathematics
 Emphasizing degrees, licenses, and employment opportunities
 Outright grants for peer monitoring
 Review of RA 9184
 Harnessing science and technology as an independent mover of development
3. Medical, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences
 Ensuring compliance of drug-manufacturing firms with ASEAN-harmonized standards by full
implementation of the FDA
 Creating an education council dedicated to standardization of pharmaceutical services and care
 Empowering food and drug agencies to conduct evidence-based research as pool of information
 Allocating 2% of the GDP to research
 Legislating a law supporting human genome projects
4. Biological Sciences, Agriculture, and Forestry
 Protecting and conserving biodiversity by full implementation of existing laws
 Use of biosafety and standard model by ASEAN countries
 Promoting indigenous knowledge systems and indigenous people’s conservation
 Formulation of common food and safety standards
Role of science and technology for future development
1. To ensure national security and social stability

2. To sustain the growth of the national economy and to improve its efficiency
3. To prepare for a smooth transition to an information society
4. To improve the quality of life
5. To create a new culture suitable for the new society
There is no doubt that science and technology, has led to the development of our great country
and indeed the whole world.In order to understand the contribution of science to national
development, I will like to define science and technology.
What is science? Science is the study of knowledge which can be made into a system and
ussually depends on seeing and testing facts and stating general laws.Technology on the other
hand is the practical application of scientific knowledge or inventions to the solving of everyday
problems or facilitating tedious human activities.
The product of science and technology has contributed to the development of countries such as,
America, Japan, and China and to an extent in some African countries.
Through this application, scientific knowledge, professionals have been able to invent
equipments and machines being used in industries and even in our homes, in addition to this
science and?technology has helped in easing stress,brought by the movement of goods and
people from one place to another,by inventing easy transportational?equipments like
17
automobiles,aircrafts and so on.
Furthermore, science and technology has helped in the area of medicine.Some natural herbs
converted to drugs with the aid of modern equipment and these drugs are used in our hospitals
and pharmacies.
Moreover, rural communities are transformed to urban settlements through science and
technology. This is made possible through the availability of electricity, pipe borne water, good
road, schools, hospitals and other social amenities.which makes these places developed, by an
increased population.
Equally important is the fact that science and technology has helped in? making work more
eaiser for people to do through the invention of computers and?household machinaries, it has
also made communication faster, through the use of mobile phones,televisions,radio,uesd in
communication.
Science and technology has aided so many sectors of the economy such as the advertising
sector, sports and fitness (weight loss), transportation, and so on.
In conclusion, science and technology, has played an important and vital role, in the
development of this great nation and the wide-world.
Unit 2: Major Development progams and personalities in S&T in the Philippines
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
Science and technology in the Philippines describes scientific and technological progress
made by the Philippines and analyses related policy issues. The main agency responsible for
managing science and technology (S&T) is the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
There are also sectoral councils for Forestry, Agriculture and Aquaculture, the Metal Industry,
Nuclear Research, Food and Nutrition, Health, Meteorology, Volcanology and Seismology.
Harmonized Agenda, 2002-2020
The Department of Science and Technology is the key government institution for science and
technology, with policy development being co-ordinated by a series of sectorial councils. Within
the framework of the current National Science and Technology Plan, 2002–2020 (NSTP), the
strategic focus is on building technological self-reliance. The Harmonized Agenda for Science
and Technology, 2002–2020 reflects this focus in its approach to problem-solving related to
inclusive growth and disaster risk reduction. The Harmonized Agenda was presented to the
President in August 2014. Although science and technology are guided by the NSTP, the
Harmonized Agenda attempts to provide more detail of how the country can become
technologically self-reliant to sustain science and technology beyond the mandate of the
administration in power at the time of the Agenda's adoption.
The Harmonized Agenda focuses on the development of critical technologies such as remote
sensing, LiDAR processing, testing and metrology facilities, advanced climate change and
weather modelling, advanced manufacturing and high-performance computing. Five centres of
excellence are being established or upgraded by 2020 in biotechnology, nanotechnology,
genomics, semiconductors and electronic design. The five centres of excellence are all
government-funded:
 the Centre for Nanotechnology Application in Agriculture, Forestry and Industry (est. 2014) is
based at the University of the Philippines Los Baños;
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 the Biotech Pilot Plant (est. 2012 and since upgraded) is housed at the University of the
Philippines Los Baños;
 the Philippine Genome Centre (est. 2009) is hosted by the University of the Philippines Diliman;
it operates two core facilities in DNA sequencing and bioinformatics;
 the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory is located in the Department of Science
and Technology's compound in Bicutan in Taguig City and has been operational since 2013; it
houses three laboratories in surface analysis, thermal, chemical and metallurgical analysis; n
the Electronic Product Development Centre will also be located in the Department of Science
and Technology's compound in Bicutan in Taguig City; it will provide state-of-the-art design,
prototyping and testing facilities for printed circuit boards.
The government policies outlined above are seeking to create and fund infrastructure to support
the development of ‘core technologies', in order to solve pressing problems. This approach
reinforces the economic rationale for government intervention in the science system to address
market failures and make markets work within the purview of good governance. A key challenge
will be to build sufficiently solid infrastructure to sustain current efforts. One example of the
virtues of sustained support for research is the International Rice Research Institute based in
the city of Los Baños.
8 Outstanding Filipino Scientists
1. Lucille Abad
Senior science research specialist and chief of the Chemistry Research Section, Philippine
Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)
She developed a plant vitamin – an effective plant growth promoter using irradiated
seaweeds. This research has also been recognized by the Japan-based Forum for Nuclear
Cooperation in Asia.
2. Phillip Alviola
Curator at the Museum of Natural History, University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños
Alviola helped develop methods to monitor biodiversity in protected areas. He's been
studying mammals, the diversity of cave-dwelling bats, and bat viruses, which earned him the
moniker "Bat Man."
3. Nathaniel Hermosa II
Associate professor at the National Institute of Physics, UP Diliman
Physicist Hermosa's breakthrough research "twisted" light and "slowed" it down.
4. Mario Antonio Jiz II

Senior science research specialist, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM)
Jiz significantly contributed to the study of schistosomiasis and the development of a
vaccine against this disease. Schistosomiasis is a chronic disease caused by parasitic worms.
5. Lanndon Ocampo
Associate professor, Cebu Technological University
Ocampo developed guidelines for strategic sustainable practices in manufacturing
companies. He significantly contributed to how industries could help address climate change.
6. Jeffrey Perez
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Supervising science research specialist, Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(Phivolcs)
"Faultfinder" Perez contributed largely to the better understanding of fault lines and
earthquakes in the Philippines.
7. Rogel Mari Sese

Program leader, National Space Development Program
Sese is an astrophysicist and an advocate of space research and development. He is
spearheading what could be the Philippines' space research agency.
8. Aletta Concepcion Yñiguez

Assistant professor at the Marine Science Institute, UP Diliman
Yñiguez's studies contributed significantly to improving the Philippine sardine industry
and managing red tide.
Unit 3: Science Education in the Philippines
Challenges and Prospects
In the Philippines, recent efforts have been directed to improving science education, both at the
basic and teacher education levels. Research shows that the quality of science education in
schools is greatly influenced by the quality of science teachers. Students’ interest in science is
directly linked to the quality of teaching as well as learning interactions provided by their science
teachers. Interviews with students who excelled in science reveal that they were greatly inspired
by science teachers who engaged them in tasks that enabled them to inquire and solve
problems.
Science has a rapidly changing knowledge base and expanding relevance to society. Teachers
must pursue opportunities to build their understanding of how students with varied interests,
abilities, and experiences can be supported and guided. Subsequently, students may be able to
make sense clearly out of scientific ideas. These ideas can be linked to real-life situations.
Furthermore, science teachers must have the chance to conduct research in regard to science
teaching and learning, and to share the results of their studies with their colleagues.
Science teachers who manage to develop students’ skills in searching for answers to questions
about materials and phenomena in the environment, and those who empower their students to
grow to become informed decision makers in society, are considered effective teachers. These
teachers are also able to evaluate their own practice and use these insights to develop
challenging learner-centered experiences. In effect, a committed science teacher should be
reflective, collaborative, and a lifelong learner.
There are many constraints facing science education in Philippine schools: shortage of qualified
science teachers, lack of quality textbooks, inadequate equipment, large classes, lack of
support from administrators, and many others. However, the Core and Technical Working
Groups for this project decided that the framework for science teacher education should pay
attention to problems that will address ways to improve or raise the quality of teaching practices,
and personal attributes.
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Unit 4: Selected Indigenous Science and Technologies
INDIGENOUS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE PHILIPPINES
The indigenous knowledge system is embedded in the cultural traditions of regional, indigenous,
or local communities. It is orally passed and evident in stories, poems, and songs. Indigenous
science is important that it helped the people in understanding the natural environment and in
coping with everyday life.
Here are the examples of indigenous knowledge that are taught and practice by indigenous
people;
 prediction of weather
 using herbal medicine
 preserving of foods
 classifying plants and animals into families
 selecting good seeds for planting
 using indigenous technology
 building local irrigation
 classifying different type of soil for planting
 producing wines from tropical fruits
 keeping the custom of growing plants and vegetables
According to Johnston (2000), indigenous beliefs also develop desirable values namely;
1. motivating attitudes
2. cooperating attitudes
3. practical attitudes
4. reflective attitudes
Refererences:
https://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/138723/technology/science_and_technology_in_national_development.html
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_the_Philippines
http://www.sei.dost.gov.ph/images/downloads/publ/sei_sciteach.pdf
https://prezi.com/dejrmc4xbvhd/indigenous-science-and-technology-in-the-ph/
Answer the questions:

1. Who are the indigenous people in the Philippines? And what are indigenous beliefs that they
are practicing until today?
2. What do you think are the reasons why science and technology is a big help in building one
nation?
Lesson 4: The Human Person Flourishing in terms of Science and

Technology
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Overview:
The progress of human civilizations throughout history mirrors the development of
science and technology. The human person, as both the bearer and beneficiary of science and
technology, flourishes and finds meaning in the world that he/she builds. In the person’s pursuit of
the good life, he/she may unconsciously acquire, consume or destroy what the world has to offer.
It is thus necessary to reflect on the things that truly matter. Science and technology must be
taken as part of human life that merits reflective and–as the German philosopher Martin
Heidegger says–meditative thinking. Science and technology, despite its methodical and
technical nature, gives meaning to the life of person making his/her way in the world.
 Analyze the human condition in order to deeply reflect and express philosophical
ramifications that are meaningful to the student as a part of society
Course Materials:
What is Happiness?
 In psychology, happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being which can be defined

by, among others, positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.
 To behaviorists, happiness is a cocktail of emotions we experience when we do something

good or positive.
 To neurologists, happiness is the experience of a flood of hormones released in the brain as

a reward for behavior that prolongs survival.
 The hedonistic view of well-being is that happiness is the polar opposite of suffering, the
presence of happiness indicates the absence of pain. Because of this, hedonists believe
that the purpose of life is to maximize happiness, which minimizes misery.
 Eudaimonia, a term that combines the Greek words for "good" and "spirit" to describe the
ideology. Eudaimonia defines happiness as the pursuit of becoming a better person.
Eudaimonists do this by challenging themselves intellectually or by engaging in activities
that make them spiritually richer people.
Aristotle
--> Aristotle believed that human flourishing requires a life with other people. Aristotle taught
that people acquire virtues through practice and that a set of concrete virtues could lead a
person toward his natural excellence and happiness.
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--> According to Aristotle, there is an end of all of the actions that we perform which we desire
for itself. This is what is known as eudaimonia, flourishing, or happiness, which is desired for its
own sake with all other things being desired on its account. Eudaimonia is a property of one's
life when considered as a whole. Flourishing is the highest good of human endeavors and that
toward which all actions aim. It is success as a human being. The best life is one of excellent
human activity.
Eudaimonia
 “good spirited”
 Coined by Aristotle
 Describes the pinnacle of happiness that is attainable by humans.
 “human flourishing”
 From Nicomachean Ethics (philosophical inquiry into the nature of the good life for a human
being.)
Human flourishing arises as a result of different components such as;

•Phronesis, Friendship, Wealth, Power
• In ancient Greek society, they believe that acquiring these will surely bring the seekers
happiness, which in effect allows them to partake in the greater notion of what we call the Good.
• As time changes, elements that comprise human flourishing changed.
• People found means to live more comfortably, explore more places, develop more products,
and make more money.
• Humans of today are expected to become “man of the world”.
• Supposed to situate himself in a global neighborhood, working side by side among institutions
and the government to be able to reach a common goal.
Principles of Human Flourishing

 Dignity of the Human person - innate personal values or rights which demands respect for
all people, regardless of race, social class, wealth etc.
 Common Good - sacrificing self-interest to provide for the basic human needs of everyone
makes the whole community flourish.
 Preferential Option for the Poor - when decisions are made by first considering the poor.
 Subsidarity - when all those affected by a decision are involved in making it.
 Universal Purpose of Goods - the Earth's resources serve every person's needs, regardless
of who "owns" them.
 Stewardship of Creation - duty to care for the Earth as a (God-given) gift is a personal
responsibility for the common good.
 Promotion of Peace - everyone has the duty to respect and collaborate in personal
relationships, and at national and global levels.
 Participation - everyone has the right and the duty to take part in the life of a society
(economic, political, cultural, religious)
 Global Solidarity - recognition that we are all interconnected, part of one human family.
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Different Conceptions of Human Flourishing
Eastern
 Focus is community-centric
 Individual should sacrifice himself for the sake of society
 Chinese Confucian system
 Japanese Bushido
 Encourage studies of literature, sciences, and art for a greater cause
Western
 More focused on the individual
 Human flourishing as an end
 Aristotelian view
 Aims for eudaimonia as the ultimate good
Science, Technology and Human Flourishing

 Every discovery, innovation, and success contributes to our pool of human knowledge.
 Human’s perpetual need to locate himself in the world by finding proofs to trace
evolution.
 Elicits our idea of self-importance
 Technology is a human activity we excel in as a result of achieving science.
 Good is inherently related to the truth.
The Technological View of the World of Martin Heidegger
Why is technology not neutral?
Heidegger strongly opposes the view that technology is “a means to an end” or “a human
activity.” These two approaches, which Heidegger calls, respectively, the “instrumental” and
“anthropological” definitions, are indeed “correct”, but do not go deep enough; as he says, they
are not yet “true.” Unquestionably, Heidegger points out, technological objects are means for
ends, and are built and operated by human beings, but the essence of technology is something
else entirely. Just as the essence of a tree is not itself a tree, Heidegger points out, so the
essence of technology is not anything technological.
What, then, is technology, if it is neither a means to an end nor a human activity? Technology,
according to Heidegger must be understood as “a way of revealing” (Heidegger 1977, 12).
“Revealing” is one of the terms Heidegger developed himself in order to make it possible to
think what, according to him, is not thought anymore. It is his translation of the Greek
word alètheuein, which means ‘to discover’ – to uncover what was covered over. Related to this
verb is the independent noun alètheia, which is usually translated as “truth,” though Heidegger
insists that a more adequate translation would be “un-concealment.”
How can technology be ‘a way of revealing’?
What does this have to do with technology? And what does Heidegger mean when he says that
technology is “a way of revealing”? Answering these questions requires a short but important
detour. What we call “reality”, according to Heidegger, is not given the same way in all times
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and all cultures (Seubold 1986, 35-6). “Reality” is not something absolute that human beings
can ever know once and for all; it is relative in the most literal sense of the word – it exists only
in relations. Reality ‘in itself’, therefore, is inaccessible for human beings. As soon as we
perceive or try to understand it, it is not ‘in itself’ anymore, but ‘reality for us.’
This means that everything we perceive or think of or interact with “emerges out of concealment
into unconcealment,” in Heidegger’s words. By entering into a particular relation with reality,
reality is ‘revealed’ in a specific way. And this is where technology comes in, since technology is
the way of revealing that characterises our time. Technology embodies a specific way of
revealing the world, a revealing in which humans take power over reality. While the ancient
Greeks experienced the ‘making’ of something as ‘helping something to come into being’ – as
Heidegger explains by analysing classical texts and words – modern technology is rather a
‘forcing into being’. Technology reveals the world as raw material, available for production and
manipulation.
Why is technology not a human activity?
According to Heidegger, there is something wrong with the modern, technological culture we
live in today. In our ‘age of technology’ reality can only be present as a raw material (as a
‘standing reserve’). This state of affairs has not been brought about by humans; the
technological way of revealing was not chosen by humans. Rather, our understanding of the
world - our understanding of ‘being’, of what it means ‘to be’ - develops through the ages. In our
time ‘being’ has the character of a technological ‘framework’, from which humans approach the
world in a controlling and dominating way. This technological understanding of ‘being’,
according to Heidegger, is to be seen as the ultimate danger. First of all, there is the danger that
humans will also interpret themselves as raw materials. Note that we are already speaking
about “human resources”! But most importantly, the technological will to power leaves no
escape. If we want to move towards a new interpretation of being, this would itself be a
technological intervention: we would manipulate our manipulation, exerting power over our way
of exerting power. And this would only reconfirm the technological interpretation of being. Every
attempt to climb out of technology throws us back in. The only way out for Heidegger is “the will
not to will”. We need to open up the possibility of relying on technologies while not becoming
enslaved to them and seeing them as manifestations of an understanding of being.
References:
https://prezi.com/p/xbd-d0uu9dcz/the-human-person-flourishing-in-terms-of-science-and-technology/Heidegger, Martin. “The
question concerning technology (W. Lovitt, Trans.) The question concerning technology: and other essays (pp. 3-35).”
(1977).Seubold, Günter. Heideggers Analyse der neuzeitlichen Technik. Freiburg-München: Alber, 1986.
Essay writing:
“Technology as a way of revealing”
Lesson 5: Human Flourishing
Overview:
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Our emotions play a central role in signalling what is valuable and important for a
person’s flourishing, and they interact with reasoning to guide our social decisions (Lawler &
Salzman, 2013; Schwartz & Sharpe, 2010). For example, compassion which that is a feeling of
sympathy and concern for the suffering of others can signal what matters and what must be
attended to. But compassion (as with other emotions), as a first impression judgement, must be
tested through cognitive reasoning before it can be judged as a genuine virtue, real and true
for human flourishing (Lawler & Salzman, 2013).
 Critique human flourishing vis-à-vis the progress of science and technology so that the
student can define for himself/herself the meaning of the good life
Course Materials:
Aristotle, one of the greatest thinkers the world has ever known, was the first to classify
knowledge into distinct disciplines including ethics, biology, and mathematics. He was a
preeminent proponent of a liberal arts education, believing that education of the whole person
contributed to the good of society. He averred that "educating the mind without educating the
heart is no education at all."
Aristotle dedicated most of his life to promoting the concept of human flourishing. He purported,
in his ethical writings, that each person has an innate responsibility to strive, develop, and
become his or her best self. This concept is known as eudaimonia or human flourishing
(Treddenick, 2004). Flourishing is the purist of all human endeavors and is the purpose of a
well-lived life (Seligman, 2014). Human flourishing should be considered a verb, not a noun, as
it is about the actions a person takes to cultivate personal well-being (Bunkers, 2010). It is about
living the richest life one can have by being virtuous.
It is incumbent on us to continue to learn, to be curious, and to be active participants in the

advancement of our profession. We can do this by reflecting on the virtues that serve as the
templates for all of our decisions. Virtues are critical to our flourishing-they define what we
cherish and what gives our lives purpose. Embracing our highest ideals and integrating them
into our actions is essential to human flourishing (Craig & Snook, 2014). Aristotle advocated that
virtue is a moral mean between the deficiency of that trait and the excess of that trait, also
known as the "Golden Mean" (Treddenick, 2004). Having a virtue is different from having a skill,
because what matters is not just the outcome but the intention in which the action is taken.
Listed below are a few of the virtues we may use in precepting, coaching, and nurturing (Table
1).
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TABLE 1 Virtues That Contribute to
Human Flourishing
Empathy is at the core of being human. It is also one of the most important elements for
leadership success. Empathy is the ability to imaginatively step into the shoes of another and
attempt to gain a perspective that will guide further interactions (Krznaric, 2014). Expressing
empathy with new nurses fosters relationship building and conveys an appreciation of the
struggles of assimilating to a new environment.
Industrious is a virtue that conveys diligence, dedication, and being earnest. Helping ourselves
develop a "rhythm" in their work is important. We want to work alongside preceptors who enjoy
their work and have mastered the intricacies of care and relationships.
Courage is a quality that enables us to advocate and display strength in the face of suffering
and grief. It is also a trait that requires preceptors to speak up when there is a breakdown in
care or deviation in safe practice. Aristotle called courage the first virtue because it makes all of
the other virtues possible.
Respect is an attribute used by all and preceptors to convey that we have worth and contribute
in a positive manner to the success of everyone. Whether you are a recent graduate from
school or a person with 8 years of experience, the manner in which respect is conveyed or
withheld can determine the quality of the experience.
Kindness is a visible demonstration of commitment to the welfare of others. It means becoming

involved and taking responsibilities for actions to benefit another. We must convey that there is
no shame in seeking the hand of companionship as an orintee progresses through all of the
intricacies of the learning journey we call "orientation."
Curious-being curious is an important trait that should be fostered. People who are curious are
always asking questions and looking for connections and patterns. It is one of humanity's
greatest virtues (Leslie, 2014).
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Mercy is a means of displaying forgiveness and is a critical preceptor characteristic. It is
essential in promoting a "just" culture. Support, forgiveness, and understanding must be offered
to the individual the moment the potential for emotional distress is discovered (Grissinger,
2014). The preceptor is instrumental in helping an orientee cope with an error or misstep, and
the expression of mercy may prevent the devastating feelings of abandonment and isolation.
Honesty is a virtue that requires authenticity. Honesty builds safe connections and fosters
security so true dialogue can take occur. It is the virtue that propels us to share feedforward and
feedback about one’s performance in a genuine and tender manner so that it can be accepted
and received in the intended manner (Modic, 2016).
Gratitude is the virtue of rejoicing in what is. It is the virtue that begets other virtues. It is
impossible to be callous or cruel, insensitive or indifferent when you feel grateful. Alexis de
Tocqueville once described gratitude as "a habit of the heart." Expressing gratitude to someone
will help them flourish, because they are being recognized for their contributions.
Acknowledging one’s progress with a grateful demeanor can foster a feeling of success.
Justice is a virtue that encompasses the concepts of fairness, equity, and impartiality. It is an
important one because the promotion of justice would minimize the potential for hazing, bullying,
and "eating our young."
References:
https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=3784761&Journal_ID=54029&Issue_ID=3784473
https://www.coursehero.com/file/44187812/STS-CHAPTER-4-pdf/
Essay: Choose one virtue that you want to strengthen then explain.
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Lesson 6: The Good Life
Overview:
Good life is a moral concept. So it is not possible to describe it without the analysis of
Ethical theory. Aristotle’s concept of good life can be found in the thorough study of his ethical
theory described in Nicomachean Ethics which is teleological in nature. There he considered the
nature of desire to achieve happiness, described the operation of human volition and moral
deliberation, developed a theory of each virtue as the mean between vicious extremes,
discussed the value of three kinds of friendship and defended his conception of an ideal life of
intellectual pursuit.
 Examine shared concerns that make up the good life in order to come up with
innovative, creative solutions to contemporary issues guided by ethical standards.
Course Materials:
Aristotle (384 BC – 322 BC) was a Greek philosopher, a student
of Plato, and teacher of Alexander the Great. His wrote on:
physics, metaphysics, poetry, theater, music, logic, rhetoric,
linguistics, politics, ethics, biology, and zoology. His thought in
multiple fields was considered definitive for millennia, and his work
in ethics and politics is still widely influential today. He is one of the
greatest thinkers in the history of western philosophy.
Aristotle’s views on living well begin with a consideration of ends

and means. Suppose I want a car—the car is my end or goal. I
can earn, borrow, or steal the money to get the car—these are
my means. The means I choose depends on which is easier,
quicker, likelier to succeed, etc. Thinking about the goal we are
aiming at, and the means we will employ to reach that goal
is practical thinking. But such thinking bears no fruit until it results
in purposeful action, which is acting with some end, goal, or
purpose in mind. Purposeful action contrasts with aimless or
thoughtless action, which is action with no end in view.
Now suppose I get my car? That is itself a means to another end, say of getting to school or
work. And of course, getting to school or work is the means to another end, getting to class or a
job. And these are the means of making money, which is itself a means of buying food, clothing,
and shelter, which are the means of staying alive. Such considerations led Aristotle to wonder
whether there is any final or ultimate end, an end for which everything else is a means, an end
that is not a means to anything else. In short, he wanted to know if there is an ultimate end,
goal, or purpose for human life.
Aristotle argued that as we mature, we act less aimlessly and more purposefully. We try to
develop a plan for living that unites all our various purposes. Without a plan for living, we don’t
29
know what we are trying to do or why we’re trying to do it. Moreover, not just any plan will do—
we need the right plan, which is one that aims at the final or ultimate end. But what is the final
end of human life, the end that all of us ought to aim at?
For Aristotle, the final end of human life is to flourish, to live well, to have a good life. All
actions should aim at this end. Of course, in order to live at all we need food, clothing, and
shelter, but living is itself the means to the end of living well. And what is living well a means to?
Aristotle says that living well is the final end for humans; it is not a means to anything
else. Aristotle thinks this is obvious because few people want to live poorly.
But now another question arises: don’t different people have different ideas about what a good
life is? For some it may consist of accumulating wealth; for others, it is having power or being
famous or experiencing pleasure. And if people construe the good life differently, if they have
different desires, how can there be one right plan for living well? How can there be one final end
that we all ought to seek?
To answer these questions Aristotle argued that not all desires are the same. There
are acquired desires, which differ between individuals, and natural desires, which are the
same for everyone. Acquired desires—say for caviar—correspond to our wants, whereas
natural desires—say for food—correspond to our needs. Acquired desires or wants correspond
to apparent goods; things that appear good because we want them. Natural desires or needs
correspond to real goods; things that are good for us whether we want them or not.
With these considerations in mind, Aristotle states that the good life consists in the
possession, over the course of a lifetime, of all those things that are really good for us.
Moreover, what is really good for any one of us corresponds to the natural needs that are the
same for all of us. Thus what is good for one person is good for another; in other words, there is
a right plan for living well. What are these real goods that we should all seek to obtain in order to
live well? According to Aristotle, they are:
1) bodily goods – health, vitality, vigor, and pleasure;

2) external goods – food, drink, shelter, clothing, and sleep; and
3) goods of the soul – knowledge, skill, love, friendship, aesthetic enjoyment, self-esteem, and
honor.
The first two types of goods are limited goods—we can have more of them than we need.
Goods of the soul are unlimited goods—we cannot have more of them than we need. But
surely the knowledge of the good life isn’t sufficient to actually living a good life? I may know, for
example, that drinking alcohol is bad for me but do it anyway. So how do we learn to desire
these real goods?
Aristotle argued that the way to bridge the gap between knowledge of the good life and actually
living it was through the development of a good moral character. And this entails developing
good habits. A good habit allows us to perform certain actions without effort. We can have a
good habit of playing the piano, studying hard, hitting golf balls, or thinking well. We can also
habitually make good choices to avoid overeating or drinking too much.
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Aristotle calls good habits virtues or excellences. Virtues of the mind are intellectual virtues;
while virtues exemplified by a regular disposition to choose correctly are moral virtues. For
Aristotle, wisdom is the most important intellectual virtue but moral virtue plays a special role in
living well. The reason moral virtue—the habit of making the right choices—is so important is
that our choices determine whether we live well. And if we make too many bad choices we will
live poorly.
So we need to develop the good habits or virtues which help us obtain what is really good for
us, as opposed to bad habits or vices which lead us toward things that merely appear good.
Good habits or moral virtues are the principal means to having good lives because they allow us
to habitually make the choices that both constitute and lead to good lives.
The most important moral virtues or habits are moderation, courage, and justice. Moderation
keeps us from overindulging in pleasure or seeking too much of the limited goods. Courage is
having the disposition to do what it takes to live a good life, and justice is the virtue that allows
us to have friends and enjoy the benefits of cooperation.
However, both knowledge of the good life and good habits may not be enough because living
well is not completely within our control. Why? First, some real goods, like wealth or health, are
not completely within our power to possess. And second, we didn’t create the initial conditions
of our birth or the environment into which we were born. Thus moral virtue, while necessary,
doesn’t guarantee a good life. We also need to be fortunate or lucky. If we are wise, virtuous,
and fortunate we will have good, meaningful lives.
Summary – The end, goal, purpose (or meaning) of human life is to live well. We do this by
accumulating, over the course of our lives, all the real goods that correspond to our natural
needs; and we increase our chances of having good lives by cultivating good habits. In addition,
we also need good luck.
Nicomachean Ethics 2:2
All human activities aim at some good. Every art and human inquiry, and similarly every action
and pursuit , is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has been rightly
declared as that at which all things aim.
What is meant by good life?
-living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries.

-characterized by happiness from living and doing well content
What is eudemonia?
It came from the Greek word eu meaning “good” and daimon meaning “spirit”. It refers to the
good life marked by happiness and excellence. The flourishing life filled with meaningful
endeavors that empower the human person to be the best version of himself/herself.
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Aristotle’s view of good life the activity of the soul in accordance with virtue.
• believed that good for humans is the maximum realization of what was unique to
humans.
• the good for humans was to reason well.
• The task of reason was to teach humans how to act virtuously, and the exercise faculties
in accordance with virtue.
Virtue/s behavior showing high moral standards. "paragons of virtue" synonyms: goodness,
virtuousness, righteousness, morality, ethicalness, uprightness, upstandingness, integrity,
dignity, rectitude, honesty, honorableness, honorability, honor, incorruptibility, probity, propriety,
decency, respectability, nobility, nobility of soul/spirit, nobleness, worthiness, worth, good,
trustworthiness, meritoriousness, irreproachableness, blamelessness, purity, pureness, lack of
corruption, merit; principles, high principles, ethics "the simple virtue and integrity of peasant
life"
Nicomachean Ethics 2:1
Virtue, then, being of two kinds, intellectual and moral, intellectual virtue in the main owes its
birth and growth in teaching ( for its reason it requires experience and time). While moral virtue
comes about as a result of habit
The Virtues: Intellectual virtue theoretical wisdom (thinking and truth) practical wisdom
understanding. Experience and time are necessary requirements for the development of
intellectual virtue Moral virtue controlled by practical wisdom (ability to make right judgment)
owed its development to how one nurtured it as habit. It can be learned
Happiness to Aristotle "Happiness depends on ourselves.“ central purpose of human life and a
goal in itself. It depends on the cultivation of virtue. A genuinely happy life required the
fulfillment of a broad range of conditions, including physical as well as mental well-being.
Happiness as the Ultimate Purpose of Human Existence happiness is a final end or goal that
encompasses the totality of one's life. It is not something that can be gained or lost in a few
hours, like pleasurable sensations. It is more like the ultimate value of your life as lived up to this
moment, measuring how well you have lived up to your full potential as a human being.
Science and Technology and Good Life S&T is also the movement towards good life. S&T are
one of the highest expressions of human faculties. S&T allow us to thrive and flourish if we
desire it. S&T may corrupt a person S&T with virtue can help an individual to be out of danger.
Why is it that everyone is in the pursuit of the good life?
“Life is good! It is only our thoughts, choices and actions towards the situations we meet in life
each moment of time that makes life look bad! The same bad situation in life that makes one
person think badly inspires another to do a noble thing! The same good situation in life that
makes one person feel so good to get into a bad situation inspires another person to create
32
another good situation because of the good situation. It is all about thoughts, choices and
actions! Life is good! Live it well!” ― Ernest Agyemang Yeboah
One must find the truth
about what the good is
before one can even try
to locate that which is good.
References:
The Good Life powerpoint By Prof. Liwayway Memije-Cruz
https://www.quora.com/How-does- Aristotle-argue-for-his-position-on-a- meaningful-or-good-life https://www.pursuit-of-
happiness.org/history-of- happiness/aristotle/
https://reasonandmeaning.com/2013/12/19/aristotle-on-the-good-and-meaningful-life/
Questions for Reflection:
1. In your own opinion, what constitutes a good life?

2. What does Aristotle say about the good life? Does it still stand in the contemporary world?
3. How is the progress in science and technology a movement towards the good life?
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Lesson 7: When Technology and Humanity cross
Overview:
This section discusses essential documents that protect human rights and ensure the
well-being of the human person in the face of scientific and technological developments. Indeed,
if humans are to journey toward living the good life, they have to make informed choices in
dealing with science and technology.
 Examine human rights in order to uphold such rights tin technological ethical dilemmas
Course Materials:
Read the News Article below.

The ethical dilemmas of robotics
In Pictures: Robot menagerie
If the idea of robot ethics sounds like something out of

science fiction, think again, writes Dylan Evans.
Scientists are already beginning to think seriously about the

new ethical problems posed by current developments in
robotics.
This week, experts in South Korea said they were drawing up

an ethical code to prevent humans abusing robots, and vice
versa. And, a group of leading roboticists called the European
Robotics Network (Euron) has even started lobbying
governments for legislation.
At the top of their list of concerns is safety. Robots were

once confined to specialist applications in industry and the
military, where users received extensive training on their
34
use, but they are increasingly being used by ordinary people.
Robot vacuum cleaners and lawn mowers are already in

many homes, and robotic toys are increasingly popular with
children.
As these robots become more intelligent, it will become

harder to decide who is
responsible if they injure
someone. Is the designer to
blame, or the user, or the
robot itself?
Decisions
Software robots - basically,

just complicated computer
programmes - already make
important financial decisions.
Whose fault is it if they make
a bad investment?
Isaac Asimov was already

thinking about these problems
back in the 1940s, when he
developed his famous "three
laws of robotics". Robots have become a lot more intelligent over
the decades
He argued that intelligent

robots should all be programmed to obey the following three
laws:
 A robot may not injure a human being, or, through

inaction, allow a human being to come to harm
 A robot must obey the orders given it by human
beings except where such orders would conflict with
the First Law
 A robot must protect its own existence as long as
such protection does not conflict with the First or
Second Law
These three laws might seem like a good way to keep robots
from harming people. But to a roboticist they pose more
problems than they solve. In fact, programming a real robot
to follow the three laws would itself be very difficult.
For a start, the robot would need to be able to tell humans

apart from similar-looking things such as chimpanzees,
statues and humanoid robots.
35
This may be easy for us humans, but it is a very hard
problem for robots, as anyone working in machine vision will
tell you.
Robot 'rights'
Similar problems arise with rule two, as the robot would have
to be capable of telling an
order apart from a casual
request, which would involve
more research in the field of
natural language processing.
Asimov's three laws only

address the problem of
making robots safe, so even if
we could find a way to
program robots to follow Nasa's Robotnaut is designed to work on Mars
them, other problems could
arise if robots became sentient.
If robots can feel pain, should they be granted certain rights?

If robots develop emotions, as some experts think they will,
should they be allowed to marry humans? Should they be
allowed to own property?
These questions might sound far-fetched, but debates over

animal rights would have seemed equally far-fetched to
many people just a few decades ago. Now, however, such
questions are part of mainstream public debate.
And the technology is progressing so fast that it is probably

wise to start addressing the issues now.
One area of robotics that raises some difficult ethical

questions, and which is already developing rapidly, is the
field of emotional robotics.
This is the attempt to endow More pressing moral questions

robots with the ability to are already being raised by the increasing
recognise human expressions use of robots in the military
of emotion, and to engage in
behaviour that humans
readily perceive as emotional. Humanoid heads with
expressive features have become alarmingly lifelike.
David Hanson, an American scientist who once worked for

Disney, has developed a novel form of artificial skin that
bunches and wrinkles just like human skin, and the robot
heads he covers in this can smile, frown, and grimace in very
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human-like ways.
These robots are specifically designed to encourage human

beings to form emotional
attachments to them. From a
commercial point of view, this
is a perfectly legitimate way
of increasing sales. But the
ethics of robot-human
interaction are more murky.
Jaron Lanier, an internet

pioneer, has warned of the
dangers such technology
poses to our sense of our own David Hanson's K bot can mimic human
expressions
humanity. If we see machines
as increasingly human-like,
will we come to see ourselves as more machine-like?
Lanier talks of the dangers of "widening the moral circle" too

much.
If we grant rights to more and more entities besides

ourselves, will we dilute our sense of our own specialness?
This kind of speculation may miss the point, however. More

pressing moral questions are already being raised by the
increasing use of robots in the military.
The US military plans to have a fifth of its combat units fully

automated by the year 2020. Asimov's laws don't apply to
machines which are designed to harm people. When an army
can strike at an enemy with no risk to lives on its own side, it
may be less scrupulous in using force.
If we are to provide intelligent answers to the moral and

legal questions raised by the developments in robotics,
lawyers and ethicists will have to work closely alongside the
engineers and scientists developing the technology. And that,
of course, will be a challenge in itself.
Dylan Evans is an independent scientist and writer
Technology is replacing the need to think, move and have social interactions
For every technological development considered a step forward has repercussions that may be
known or evolve over time
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As long as there is money to be made new technologies will be developed while current
systems are abandoned. (Space trash left in the atmosphere or on the moon etc; Plastics &
Garbage dumped at sea)
Created a society of perceived anonymity – people hide behind their technology (Behave in
ways they wouldn’t in public: Bully, participate in mass cyber bashing: False sense of
superiority)
Advancements in Robotics have replaced the need for humans to work in some industries;
1. Automotive, skilled trades, service industry and family farming
2. Development of artificial intelligent
3. Development of genetically altered foods, plants and animals
4. Sustaining life past natural causes because they can
5. Evolving diseases – repetitive strain disorders & the emerging ‘sitting disease’
Roles Played by These Technological Advancements

1. Television is mainly used as a platform for advertisements and information dissemination
• Good stress reliever to families
• Used for different propagandas and advocacies
2. Mobile phones- for communication w/ interesting features; all-in-one device
3. PC- surf internet and communicate
Ethical dilemmas Faced by These Technological Advancements
1. Make Children lazy and unhealthy
2. Moral dilemma
ROBOTICS and HUMANITY
Robot -An actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with a degree of autonomy,
moving within its environment, to perform intended tasks.
Autonomy – ability to perform intended tasks based on current state and sensing without
human intervention
Service Robot
• A robot that performs useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding industrial
application.
• A robot may be classified according to its intended application as an industrial robot or a
service robot.
Personal Service Robot
• Service robot for personal use
• Used for a noncommercial task, usually by laypersons.
• Examples: domestic servant robot, automated wheelchair, personal mobility assist robot,
pet exercising robot
Professional service robot
• Service robot for professional use
• Used for a commercial task, usually operated by a properly trained operator.
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• Examples: cleaning robot for public places, delivery robot, firefighting robot, rehabilitation
robot, surgery robot
Roles played by Robotics
 Ease the workload of mankind
 Make life more efficient and less stressful
 Perform complicated activities
 Pleasure, entertainment in parks or exhibits
 Toys, child-friendly
 Used in movies
Ethical Dilemma/s faced by Robotics
1. Safety
o Who should be held accountable if someone’s safety is compromised by a robot?
o Who should be blamed, the robot, the agent using the robot, or the maker/inventor of the
robot?
2. Emotional component
o It is not completely impossible for robots to develop emotions.
o What if robots become sentient?
o Should they be granted robot rights?
Technology is starting to evolve into Green Technology. Technology is one that has a "green"
purpose - the long and short term impact an invention has on the environment. Green inventions
are environmentally friendly inventions that often involve: energy efficiency, recycling, safety
and health concerns, renewable resources, and more
Without going green the earth will continually be damaged
 Oceans and bodies of water plus their inhabitants will continue to die;
 Polar ice caps will disappear; Species will continue to die off;
 Climate will continue to change;
 Earth will become one big barren landfill;
 Looking for sustainable ways to inhabit and expand to other parts of the universe
Another destructive path running parallel to global warming – scientific advancements
 Nuclear technology left over from the Cold War, Nuclear Energy is now available
globally;
 Nuclear Science became a point of potential global destruction;
 No longer is it limited to the Super Powers; now in use within developing countries and
politically unstable countries;
 End of the World through nuclear annihilation
Human rights in the face of scientific and technological advancement are critical
factors in one’s journey toward eudaimonia. Protecting the well-being and upholding the
dignity of the human person must be the core of continued scientific and technological
progress and development.
39
HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED APPROACH TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOPMENT
 Seeks to place a concern for human rights at the heart of how the international
community engages with urgent global challenges;
 leads to better and more sustainable outcomes by analyzing and addressing the
inequalities, discriminatory practices and unjust power relations which are often at the
heart of development problems;
 provides a framework for confronting important global issues — from gender biases to
food and water safety to misuses of science and technology — grounded in a set of
principles, developed through international consensus, that clarify the relationship
between 'rights holders' and 'duty bearers’. - Gender equality and food security are
among the issues addressed by human rights principles;
- Duty-bearers are those actors who have a particular obligation or responsibility to
respect, promote and realize human rights and to refrain from human rights
violations.
- A right holder refers to a legal entity or person with exclusive rights to a protected
copyright, trademark or patent, and the related rights of producers, performers,
producers and broadcasters. A right holder may license a portion or all of a protected
work through international legal and licensing provisions.
 help to re-orient NGOs and the UN system away from professionalized philanthropy and
towards capacity-building; that they promise sustainable interventions and reduce
dependency on aid and help to redefine the responsibilities of governmental authorities,
local actors, NGOs, and the UN system.
 requires scientists to go beyond knowing how their work relates to human rights, and
demands that they strive to secure and affirm human rights through the knowledge they
produce.
- For instance, a rights-based approach to virus studies — in potentially creating an
ethical framework that guides research as it evolves — would not only push the
frontiers of medicine and seek medical benefits, but actively guard against the
potential to create new biological weapons. There is a question, here, of whether this
is the responsibility of virologists (e.g. by contributing to dual-use debates) or the
scientific community in general.
USEFUL DOCUMENTS FOR A HUMAN-RIGHTS BASED APPROACH TO SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOPMENT
DOCUMENT KEY PRINCIPLES

UNIVERSAL  Everyone’s right to participate in and benefit from scientific
DECLARATION OF advances, and be protected from scientific misuse; and
HUMAN RIGHTS  The rights to the benefits of science come under the domain of
ARTCLE 27 culture, so it is usually examined from a cultural rights
perspective.
UNESCO  All advance in scientific and technological knowledge should be
RECOMMENDATION solely geared towards the welfare of the global citizens, and
ON THE STATUS OF calls upon member states to develop necessary protocol and
SCIENTIFIC policies to monitor and secure this objective;
RESEARCHERS-  Countries are asked to show that science and technology are
1974 ARTICLE 4 integrated into policies that aim to ensure a more humane and
40
just society.
UNESCO  "Today, more than ever, science and its applications are
DECLARATION ON indispensable for development. All levels of government and the
THE USE OF private sector should provide enhanced support for building up
SCIENTIFIC an adequate and evenly distributed scientific and technological
KNOWLEDGE- 1999 capacity through appropriate education and research
ARTICLE 33 programmes as an indispensable foundation for economic,
social, cultural and environmentally sound development. This is
particularly urgent for developing countries."
Human rights should be integral to the journey toward the ultimate good. They should
guide humans not only to flourish as individual members of the society, but also to assist each
other in flourishing collectively as a society. Human rights are rights to sustainability, as
Mukherjee put it. They may function as the ‘golden mean’, particularly by protecting the weak,
poor, and vulnerable from the deficiencies and excess of science and technology. By imposing
upon science and technology the moral and ethical duty to protect and uphold human rights,
there can be a more effective and sustainable approach to bridging the gap between poor and
rich countries on both tangible and intangible aspects. Ultimately, all these will lead humans to
flourish together through science and technology.
References:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6432307.stm
https://www.slideshare.net/annaestardo/bspsts-pt6
https://www.slideshare.net/RossStenhouse/humanity-vs-technology
https://www.scidev.net/global/human-rights/feature/linking-science-and-human-rights-facts-and-figures.html
If you were to invent a robot, what type is it, functions of it and how will you introduce that
worldwide?
Cite some Filipinos who contributed in producing a robot.
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Lesson 8: Why does the Future not need Us?
Overview:
“…with the prospect of human-level computing power in about 30 years, a new idea
suggests itself: that I may be working to create tools which will enable the construction of the
technology that may replace our species. How do I feel about this? Very uncomfortable… And if
our own extinction is a likely, or even possible, outcome of our technological development,
shouldn’t we proceed with great caution?”-Bill Joy
 Evaluate contemporary human experience in order to strengthen and enlighten the

human person functioning in society
Course Materials:
Read the article below:

“Why the future doesn’t need us”
February 15, 2016Futurism - Warnings

Bill Joy (1954 – ) is an American computer scientist who co-founded
Sun Microsystems in 1982 and served as chief scientist at the
company until 2003. His now famous Wired magazine essay, “Why
the future doesn’t need us,” (2000) sets forth his deep concerns over
the development of modern technologies.[i]
Joy traces his worries to a discussion he had with Ray Kurzweil at a

conference in 1998. He had read an early draft of Kurzweil’s The
Age of Spiritual Machines: When Computers Exceed Human
Intelligence and found it deeply disturbing. Subsequently, he
encountered arguments by the Unabomber Ted Kaczynski.
Kaczynski argued that if machines do all of society’s work, as they
inevitably will, then we can: a) let the machines make all the decisions; or b) maintain human
control over the machines.
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If we choose “a” then we are at the mercy of our machines. It is not that we would give them
control or that they would take control, rather, we might become so dependent on them that we
would have to accept their commands. Needless to say, Joy doesn’t like this scenario. If we
choose “b” then control would be in the hands of an elite, and the masses would be
unnecessary. In that case, the tiny elite: 1) would exterminate the masses; 2) reduce their
birthrate so they slowly became extinct; or 3) become benevolent shepherds to the masses. The
first two scenarios entail our extinction, but even the third option is bad. In this last scenario, the
elite would fulfill all physical and psychological needs of the masses, while at the same time
engineering the masses to sublimate their desire for power. In this case, the masses might be
happy, but they wouldn’t be free.
Joy finds these arguments both convincing and troubling. About this time Joy read Hans
Moravec’s book Robot: Mere Machine to Transcendent Mind where he found predictions similar
to Kurzweil’s. Joy was especially concerned by Moravec’s claim that technological superiors
always defeat technological inferiors, as well as his claim that humans will become extinct as
they merge with the robots. Disturbed, Joy consulted other computer scientists who, for the
most part, agreed with these predictions.
Joy’s worries focus on the transforming technologies of the 21st century—genetics,

nanotechnology, and robotics (GNR). What is particularly problematic about them is their
potential to self-replicate. This makes them inherently more dangerous than 20th-century
technologies—nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons—which are expensive to build and
require rare raw materials. By contrast, 21st-century technologies allow for small groups or
individuals to bring about massive destruction. Joy also argues that we will soon achieve the
computing power necessary to implement some of the scenarios envisioned by Kurzweil and
Moravec, but worries that we overestimate our design abilities. Such hubris may lead to
disaster.
For example, robotics is primarily motivated by the desire to be immortal—by downloading

ourselves into them. But Joy doesn’t believe that we will be human after the download or that
the robots would be our children. As for genetic engineering, it will create new crops, plants, and
eventually new species including many variations of human species, but Joy fears that we don’t
know enough to safely conduct such experiments. And nanotechnology confronts the so-called
“gray goo” problem—self-replicating nanobots out of control. In short, we may be on the verge
of killing ourselves! Is it not arrogant, he wonders, to design a robot replacement species when
we so often make design mistakes?
Joy concludes that we ought to relinquish these technologies before it’s too late. Yes, GNR may
bring happiness and immortality, but should we risk the survival or the species for such goals?
Joy thinks not.
Summary – Genetics, nanotechnology, and robotics are too dangerous to pursue; we should
abandon them. (I think Joy’s call for relinquishment is unrealistic. For more see my peer-
reviewed essay “Critique of Bill Joy’s ‘Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us.’“)
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Movie Review about; Artificial Intelligence film
Lesson 9: The Information Age (Gutenberg to Social Media)
Overview:
The Information Age is a true new age based upon the interconnection of computers via
telecommunications, with these information systems operating on both a real-time and as-
needed basis. Furthermore, the primary factors driving this new age forward are convenience
and user-friendliness which, in turn, will create user dependence. (James R. Messenger, Theory
of Information Age, 1982)
 Link learned concepts to the development of the information age and its impact on
society
 Illustrate how the social media and the information age have impacted our lives
Course Materials:
Technology has the power to transform society. The most famous example of this is
German craftsman Johannes Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century.
Washington Post columnist Robert J. Samuelson sums up the vast changes that occurred as a
result of the invention of printing: “Gutenberg’s press led to mass literacy, fostered the
Protestant Reformation (by undermining the clergy’s theological monopoly) and, through the
easy exchange of information, enabled the scientific revolution.” Subsequent technological
advances are also often evaluated in terms of the effect they had on society. James Watt’s
steam engine, for example, is often credited with starting the Industrial Revolution in England.
Today, the Internet and associated information technologies are said to be behind an
information revolution that is transforming the way people live and work.
Unlike the printing press or the steam engine, no single person invented the Internet.
Instead it was the culmination of advances in computer technology, reductions in the cost of
manufacturing personal computers and the resulting increase in their popularity, and the
evolution of networking technology.
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The Internet is essentially a vast network of computers. Importantly, it is a decentralized
network; it does not depend on a central mainframe computer as networks did in the 1950s and
1960s. The idea for a vast, decentralized computer network originated with the Cold War and
the U.S. Department of Defense’s Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). ARPA
scientists and engineers wanted to create a computer network in which any computer could
exchange information with any other computer. The destruction of one or more parts of the
network—perhaps from a Soviet attack—would not disrupt communication between other
computers in the system.
Computers were first linked to form ARPANET, as this early network was called, in 1969.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, as computers became more common, academic researchers
and engineers began linking their computers to ARPANET. As the network grew—branching
haphazardly and quite beyond the control of its original creators—it came to be known as the
“Internet.”
Many people associate the Internet with e-mail. E-mail is only one of the many ways that
information can be shared over the Internet, but e-mail was one of the most popular uses for the
Internet in its early years. Researchers welcomed e-mail as a fast, easy, and free way to
communicate with colleagues. Researchers also experimented with different ways of
transporting files across the Internet.
In order to share computer files across the Internet, the computers on the network need
to share a common protocol, or standard, for how the data will be transported electronically. The
most famous such protocol—and the one that propelled the Internet to nationwide popularity—is
Hypertext Markup Language, or HTML. HTML was invented by Tim Berners-Lee, a British
computer programmer who developed the protocol as a convenient way of sharing documents
over the Internet. In 1991 HTML became the basis for the World Wide Web, a subset of the
Internet in which HTML documents are grouped to form websites that are linked to one another.
The World Wide Web made the Internet more easily accessible and for many people,
fun to use. Instead of just text, Internet users could now access still pictures, animation, and
sound. As a result, the Internet experienced an enormous surge in popularity throughout the
1990s. Whereas in 1993 there were less than 90,000 people using the Internet on a regular
basis, in 1999 there were approximately 171 million, and in 2000 there were over 300 million.
Estimates in 2001 indicate that 58 percent of the U.S. population, or 165.18 million people, have
access to the Internet at home. Government and independent market research indicates that
the number of Internet users could reach 1 billion by 2005.
The phenomenal growth of the Internet is a major component of the information

revolution, but it is not the only part. The Internet has spurred a wave of innovation in
communications technology. Not just computers, but also cell phones, personal digital
assistants, and even automobiles can now link to the Internet. And software companies have
developed countless applications to harness the Internet’s potential.
Many of these applications are business-oriented. The instantaneous access to

information that the Internet offers has revolutionized the way many companies do business. It
has also given rise to a new type of business: e-commerce. Eretailers like Amazon.com
essentially offer customers a convenient, interactive, customizable, and constantly updated
mail-order catalog, while others, such as the auction site eBay, offer services that would not be
45
possible without the World Wide Web. E-commerce generated almost $47.6 billion in revenue in
2001.
Investors will continue to monitor the Internet’s effect on the economy, but the social
aspects of the Information Revolution—its effects on everything from entertainment to education
to government—are harder to quantify. Many commentators question just how sweeping the
changes wrought by information technology have been. Others wonder whether those changes
are on par with the societal transformations brought on by past technologies such as the printing
press and the steam engine. Robert J. Samuelson believes it may be too soon to judge the
impact of new information technologies: “Technologies acquire historical weight by reshaping
the human condition,” he writes. “As yet the Internet isn’t in the same league with [past]
developments.” Frances Cairn13 Introduction cross, the author of The Death of Distance: How
the Communications Revolution Is Changing Our Lives, makes a bolder prediction:
Think of [the information revolution] as one of the three great revolutions in the cost of transport.
The nineteenth century, dominated by the steamship and the railway, saw a transformation in
the cost of transporting goods; the twentieth century, with first the motor car and then the
aeroplane, in the cost of transporting people. The new century will be dominated by the
transformation in the cost of transporting knowledge and ideas.
The authors in Current Controversies: The Information Age explore the issues raised by
information technology in the following chapters: How Has the Information Age Affected
Society? Has the Information Age Created a New Economy? How Should Governments
Respond to the Information Age? What Is the Future of the Information Age? The authors in this
volume seek to provide insight into the impact of information technology on society. This is a
formidable task, since the Information Age is itself characterized by constant change. As
Cairncross notes, “That these technologies will change the world is beyond a doubt. The way
that they will do so is more mysterious.”
How Has the Information Age Affected Society?
Computers, the Internet, and other information technologies are extraordinarily powerful
tools. As such they have great potential both to benefit and to harm societies that embrace
them. For example, the Internet has been used to make businesses more efficient, improve
education, and create online meeting places for people separated by great distances; it has also
produced a new avenue for fraud, theft, invasion of privacy, and the distribution of pornography
and hate speech.
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
were an example of the Internet’s power as a tool for both good and evil. A few weeks after
September 11, Yahoo! Internet Life reported that although the terrorists used only knives and
boxcutters to execute the attacks, “The World Trade Center attack, a morbid masterpiece
whose perfect execution required both intricate and covert coordination, simply would not have
been possible without the Internet. Every aspect of the planning of this horrific event bore the
marks of the information revolution.” The FBI has reported that terrorist leader Osama bin Laden
has used the Internet to spread propaganda and recruit troops. The anonymity of the Internet
makes it an appealing communications network for criminals, and advances in encryption
technology have made it much harder for law enforcement agencies to monitor suspected
terrorists.
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On the other hand, information technology also played a positive role on September 11,
helping the nation come together in a time of crisis. The Internet has its roots in the U.S.
military’s plans for a decentralized communications network that could withstand an enemy
attack on North America. If part of the system was damaged, messages would be rerouted and
still reach their destinations. This is exactly how e-mail worked on the day of the attacks. “From
a purely technical perspective,” explains Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor Henry
Jenkins, “the system worked better than anyone might have anticipated. While the World Trade
Center housed an important relay system for cell phones, and its destruction thus left many New
Yorkers without telecommunications, there was no significant national disruption of the
computer networks.” Countless e-mails were sent from New York City when telephone services
were disrupted in the area. And across the country, people used the Internet to seek information
about friends and family they could not reach by phone.
The September 11 terrorist attacks serve as a reminder of how much Americans have
come to depend on the Internet, and how the technology can be misused.
If mankind has enough of a future to still have a history, it is possible that the last 500 years will
be come to be known as the Gutenberg era on account of there having been one defining
characteristic, first established by Johannes Gutenberg, responsible for shaping the nature of
society and its institutions throughout this whole period. This characteristic, which could be
called the Gutenberg principle, is the fact that the mass distribution of information became
possible, but was expensive and therefore institutionalised. This principle has been so fixed
and all pervasive that it has become like a hidden foundation and standing as we are now, in the
twilight of this era, it is still difficult to appreciate the extent to which it has shaped the fabric of
our world. It is only the emergence of a new world, where information does not conform to the
Gutenberg principle, that affords us the opportunity to recognise the extent to which this
relationship between information and distribution has shaped and created not just organisations
like the media, but also other forms of mediators such as banks, lead to the creation of mass
consumer brands and controlled the relationship between individuals and institutions of all
types, both commercial and political.
This article seeks briefly to expose the extent to which the Gutenberg principle has shaped our
world before turning its attention to the likely characteristics of the post-Gutenberg era – the
world of what is currently called social media – identifying both the ways in which organisations
will feel its impact and also the ways in which organisations will have to adapt in order to survive
where power will not lie in the institutionalised capability to control access to information.
The pre-Gutenberg world

In the world before the introduction of the printing press it was not possible to distribute precise
replicable information to a large number of people. Information could be captured, in the
laborious and time consuming process of hand-produced books, scrolls or tablets, but access to
this information was restricted to a small elite group. Transmission of knowledge thereafter had
to rely on purely word-of-mouth channels and the form of information that was prevalent was
therefore the story, this being the form best adapted to surviving the process of ‘Chinese
whispers’ that mass communication involved.
Institutional development was limited and society tended to be dominated by religion and feudal
political systems, institutions which were well adapted to the use of narrative or hierarchy as
means of propagation or control.
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The Gutenberg revolution
It is widely acknowledged that the introduction of the printing press was revolutionary in its
impact. It was credited as being the catalyst for the Renaissance, the development of science
and creating the pressures which forced power to slip from the hands of monarchs and religious
orders and become shared across a much broader section of society. However, there is a
temptation to see all of these shifts as history and fail to see the extent to which, what might be
called the Gutenberg principle, continues to play an active role in the shape and operation of
society and institutions today.
Simply put, the Gutenberg principle can be expressed as the fact that mass distribution of
information is possible, but expensive. The effect of the Gutenberg principle was the rise of
institutionalised and mediated channels to create the efficiencies and scale necessary to
manage the interaction between people with information and needs on the one hand, and the
people who wanted that information or could satisfy those needs.
The most obvious example of an institution which emerged was the media but in reality almost
all of the institutions that have emerged since Gutenberg owe their existence in some part to the
operation of the Gutenberg principle: a bank, for example, at its most basic is simply a way of
creating the efficiencies and scale necessary to mediate information about people with money
and people who want money.
While the technologies and channels for the distribution of information have developed
significantly since the Gutenberg press, the basic structure of the Gutenberg principle has not: it
still costs lots of money to distribute information to a mass audience.
The post-Gutenberg world

The emergence of the internet and the World Wide Web in the 1990s was initially hailed by
many as ushering in new democratic age, driven by much greater access to information. In
reality, while the internet had a dramatic impact, the revolutionary shifts predicted did not occur.
This is because, in its earliest days, the World Wide Web still conformed to the Gutenberg
principle. Building a web site, accessing server space and publishing information required both
money and technical expertise and was therefore still the preserve of institutions rather than
individuals. The reality of much greater access to information was not matched by a greater
ability to publish it.
Speed of access also limited the ability of the internet to be a channel for all forms of media,
restricting its use to text based and transactional forms. As a result, much of the initial
investment in the web went into servicing and creating institutional opportunities, with e-
commerce emerging as the major new web-based phenomena.
This changed with two developments. First, the spread of broadband internet access made it
possible to easily both upload and download all forms of media: video, images and audio as well
as just text and transactions. Second, tools emerged which made it simple for people to publish
or spread information. Blogging was the first example, followed by social networking and
distribution and sharing sites like YouTube and Flickr.
There has been a third trend which is gathering significance, based around attaching relevance
and context to all of the otherwise random pieces of information now being published. This
concerns practices such as tagging, rating and commenting, as well as services such as social
48
bookmarking and news-sharing sites which allow individuals to store and share information.
This trend is responsible for creating forms of collective intelligence and what has been called
‘crowd wisdom’ and is probably the most important area to watch going forwards because of its
ability to allow individuals to create the trust and connections necessary to transact and
communicate amongst themselves without any institutionalised intervention.
Information can now flow between one individual and all of the potential individuals for whom
that information might be of relevance, without any form of significant institutionalised
intervention (except the provision of a freely available technological infrastructure). This is what
could be called the post-Gutenberg principle although perhaps a better term would be the social
information principle.
In very general terms the social information principle is likely to generate a very powerful
disintermediating or de-institutionalising effect which, in theory, could have consequences for
society at least as significant as those generated in the first instance by the development of the
printing press. This is likely to play-out over many years since institutions and practices which
have been the foundation of our society for 500 years are unlikely to disappear over-night.
However, there are some significant effects of the social information principle which are already
upon us, and it is these which are examined in the next section.
Understanding the post-Gutenberg world

There are essentially three ways in which the post-Gutenberg world is already intruding. These
are:
-The decline (or slide into irrelevancy and obsolescence) of institutions and businesses for
whom information mediation is their principle function
-The rise of transparency and the challenge to institutionalised trust
-The challenge to markets posed by reduced costs of entry and the ability to service niche
demands
The Rise of Social Media

by Esteban Ortiz-Ospina
September 18, 2019
Facebook, the largest social media platform in the world, has 2.4 billion users. Other social
media platforms including Youtube and Whatsapp also have more than one billion users each.
These numbers are huge – there are 7.7 billion people in the world, with at least 3.5 billion of us
online. This means social media platforms are used by one-in-three people in the world, and
more than two-thirds of all internet users.
Social media has changed the world. The rapid and vast adoption of these technologies is
changing how we find partners, how we access information from the news, and how
we organize to demand political change.
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Who uses social media? When did the rise of social media start and what are the largest sites
today? Here we answer these and other key questions to understand social media use around
the world.
We begin with an outline of key trends and conclude with a perspective on the rate of adoption
of social media relative to other modern communication technologies.
Social media started in the early 2000s
The first social media site to reach a million monthly active users was MySpace – it achieved
this milestone around 2004. This is arguably the beginning of social media as we know it.1
In the interactive chart below we plot monthly active users, by platform, since 2004.
This chart shows that there are
some large social media sites
that have been around for ten
or more years, such as
Facebook, YouTube and
Reddit; but other large sites are
much newer.
TikTok, for example, launched

in September 2016 and by mid-
2018 it had already reached
half a billion users. To put this
in perspective: TikTok gained
on average about 20 million
new users per month over this
period.
The data also shows rapid changes in the opposite direction. Once-dominant platforms have
disappeared. In 2008, Hi5, MySpace and Friendster were close competitors to Facebook, yet by
2012 they had virtually no share of the market. The case of MySpace is remarkable considering
that in 2006 it temporarily surpassed Google as the most visited website in the US.
Most of the social media platforms that survived the last decade have shifted significantly in
what they offer users. Twitter, for example, didn’t allow users to upload videos or images in the
beginning. Since 2011 this is possible and today more than 50% of the content viewed on
Twitter includes images and videos.
Some perspective on how fast and profound these rapid changes are
The percentage of US adults who use social media increased from 5% in 2005 to 79% in 2019.
Even on a global stage the speed of diffusion is striking: Facebook surged from covering around
1.5% of the world population in 2008, to around 30% in 2018.5
How does this compare to the diffusion of other communication technologies that make part of
our everyday life today?
The following chart provides some perspective.
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Social media’s growth in the US is comparable – in speed and to some extent also in reach – to
that of most modern communication-enabling technologies, including computers, smartphones
and the internet.
The rise of social media is an extraordinary example of how quickly and drastically social
behaviours can change: Something that is today part of the everyday life of one-third of the
world population, was unthinkable less than a generation ago.
Fast changes like those brought about by social media always spark fears about possible
negative effects. Specifically in the context of social media, a key question is whether these new
communication technologies are having a negative impact on our mental health.
The Information Age (also known as the Computer Age, Digital Age, or new media Age)
is a period in human history characterized by the shift from traditional industry that the Industrial
Revolution brought through industrialization, to an economy based on information
computerization. The onset of the Information Age is associated with the Digital Revolution, just
as the Industrial Revolution marked the onset of the Industrial Age.
During the information age, the phenomenon is that the digital industry creates a
knowledge-based society surrounded by a high-tech global economy that spans over its
influence on how the manufacturing throughput and the service sector operate in an efficient
and convenient way. In a commercialized society, the information industry is able to allow
individuals to explore their personalized needs, therefore simplifying the procedure of making
decisions for transactions and significantly lowering costs for both the producers and buyers.
This is accepted overwhelmingly by participants throughout the entire economic activities
for efficacy purposes, and new economic incentives would then be indigenously encouraged,
such as the knowledge economy.
References:
http://www.dikseo.teimes.gr/spoudastirio/E-NOTES/I/Information_Age_Viewpoints.pdf
http://richardstacy.com/2008/11/20/gutenberg-and-the-social-media-revolution-an-investigation-of-the-world-where-it-costs-nothing-
to-distribute-information/
https://ourworldindata.org/rise-of-social-media
Explain the following statements:
“Gutenberg and the social media revolution: an investigation of the world where it costs nothing
to distribute information”
“The new century will be dominated by the transformation in the cost of transporting knowledge
and ideas.”
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Lesson 10: Biodiversity and the Healthy Society
Overview:
People depend on biodiversity in their daily lives, in ways that are not always apparent or
appreciated. Human health ultimately depends upon ecosystem products and services (such as
availability of fresh water, food and fuel sources) which are requisite for good human health and
productive livelihoods. Biodiversity loss can have significant direct human health impacts if
ecosystem services are no longer adequate to meet social needs. Indirectly, changes in
ecosystem services affect livelihoods, income, local migration and, on occasion, may even
cause political conflict.
 Determine the interrelatedness of society, environment and health

 Discuss the ethics and implications of GMO’s and future impacts
Course Materials:
Biodiversity and Ecosystem is defined as the vast variety of life forms in the entire earth. It
encompasses all kinds of life forms, from the single-celled organisms to the largest multi-celled
organisms. Its definition is in the structural and functional perspective and not as individual.
Biodiversity is the source of the essential goods and ecological services that constitute the
source of life for all and it has direct consumptive value in food, agriculture, medicine, and in
industry. (Villaggio Globale, 2009)
Understanding biodiversity within the concept of ecosystem needs a through study on the
relationship of the biotic, the living organisms and the abiotic, the nonliving organisms.
Interdisciplinary approach is needed to study the ecosystem. Biodiversity plays a major role in
this natural dynamic.
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Therefore, we, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must preserve and conserve the
biodiversity of all creatures. In simple terms, it is true that people will always depend on
biodiversity on the wholeness of our being and in our everyday lives.
Somehow, there are ways and processes in the ecosystem that are not apparent nor
appreciated by us, human beings. Think about the need to drink clean and fresh water, the need
to eat healthy vegetables and food, or the need of man to transport which makes him rely on
fuel. All of these are human needs that are answered and provided by our ecosystem.
Thus, if we fail to keep the process of taking care of the ecosystem, it is us who are actually
putting our lives at risk. Significant decline in biodiversity has direct human impact when
ecosystem in its insufficiency can no longer provide the physical as well as social need of
human beings. Indirectly, changes in the ecosystem affect livelihood, income, and on occasion,
may even cause political conflict. (WHO, n.d.).
Changes in Biodiversity
Alteration in any system could bring varied effects. A change in biodiversity could have erratic
effects not only in wildlife or marine life but also in human beings. We can clearly infer that when
our ecosystem is not well taken care of, biodiversity encounters changes that may impact
human health on such different
Threats to Biodiversity
Major threats identified by United Nations’ Environment Programme (WHO, n.d.)
 Habitat loss and destruction

 Alteration in ecosystem composition.
 Over-exploitation
 Pollution and contamination
 Global climate change
Consequences of Biodiversity Loss
 Even with the improvement of technology and science at present, we still have a lot to
learn about biodiversity, more so about the consequences of biodiversity loss. However,
the basic concept about biodiversity loss was from Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel
Wallace.
 The particular species making up an ecosystem determine its productivity, affect nutrient
cycles and soil contents, and influence environmental conditions such as water, cycles,
weather patterns, climate and other non-biotic aspects.
 The loss of biodiversity has many consequences that we understand and many that we
do not.
 As stated by Tilman, “The Earth will retain its most striking feature, its biodiversity, only if
humans have the prescience to do so. This will occur, it seems, only if we realize the
extent to which we use biodiversity (Rainforest Conservation Fund, 2017)”
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Nutritional Impact of Biodiversity
According to the World Health Organization, biodiversity is a vital element of a human being’s
nutrition because of its influence to food production.
Biodiversity is a major factor that contributes to sustainable food production for human beings.
A society or a population must have access to a sufficient variety of nutritious food as it is a

determinant of their health as human beings.
Nutrition and biodiversity are linked at many levels; the ecosystem, with food production as an
ecosystem service.
Nutritional composition between foods and among varieties/cultivars/breeds of the same food
can differ dramatically, affecting micronutrient availability in the diet.
Intensified and enhanced food production through irrigation, use of fertilizer, plant protection
(pesticides), or the introduction of crop varieties and cropping patterns affect biodiversity and
thus impact global nutritional status and human health.
Health, Biology, and Biodiversity
Almost all living organisms are dependent to their environment to live and reproduce. Basic
needs of living organisms such as air, water, food, and habitat are provided by its environment.
The evolution of human beings was due to the improved access to these basic needs.
Advances in agriculture, sanitation, water treatment, and hygiene have had a far greater.
Environmental hazards increase the risk of cancer, heart disease, asthma, and many other
illnesses. These hazards can be physical, such as pollution, toxic chemicals, and food
contaminants, or they can be social, such as dangerous work, poor housing conditions, urban
sprawl, and poverty.
Unsafe drinking water and poor sanitation and hygiene can lead to infectious diseases, such as
diarrhea, cholera
The interrelation between human health and biological diversity considerable and complex. With
the current biodiversity loss at unprecedented rates, the delicate balance between human health
and biological diversity is at risk.
Environment-Related Illnesses
Some human illnesses that are found to be related with its environment include Parkinson’s
disease, heart disease, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes,
obesity, occupational injuries, dysentery, arthritis, malaria, and depression.
According to experts, climate change could also have a serious impact on human health and
could deteriorate farming systems and reduce nutrients in some foods.
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Relationships between human health and the environment raise many ethical, social, and legal
dilemmas by forcing people to choose among competing values. Many of the issues at the
intersection of health and the environment have to do with managing benefits and risks.
For example pesticides play an important role in increasing crop yields, but they can also pose
hazards to human health and the environment. Alternatives to pesticide uses could significantly
reduce agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and increased food prices which
would, in turn increase starvation in some parts of the world.
When drafting and implementing environmental health regulations, it is important to consider

vulnerable subpopulations.
A vulnerable subpopulation is a group with an increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of

an environmental risk factor, due to their age, genetics, health status, or some other condition.
If an environmental regulation is designed to protect average members of the population, it may

fail to adequately protect vulnerable subpopulations. However, almost everyone in the
population has an above-average susceptibility to at least one environmental risk factor.
Various public health strategies pit the rights of individuals against the good society, such as
mandatory treatment, vaccination, or diagnostic testing; isolation and quarantine; and decease
surveillance.
Human right issues also come up with research on environmental health that evolves human
subjects.
For research to be ethical, human subjects must give consent, and great care must be taken to
ensure that they understand that they can opt out of the research project.
Since late 1990’s some pesticide companies have tested their products on human subjects to
gather data to submit to the government for regulatory purposes.
Some commentators charge that these experiments are unethical because they place people at
unacceptably high risk without a clear benefit to society.
Others have argued that the experiments, if properly designed and implemented, could produce
important benefits to society by providing useful knowledge about the effects of pesticides that
can lead to strong regulations
The importance of biodiversity to human health
Health is our most basic human right. For most people, it does not just mean freedom from
illness, but a state of overall social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cultural welfare. Being
well, and having the capacity to look after our health and that of our family or community,
depends upon a range of factors, including our economic status and ultimately on our
environment. Health is therefore one of the most important indicators of sustainable
development.
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Biodiversity is the foundation for human health. By securing the life-sustaining goods and
services which biodiversity provides to us, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
can provide significant benefits to our health. In contrast, the continuing loss of biodiversity on a
global scale represents a direct threat to our health and well-being. Without a global
environment that is healthy and capable of supporting a diversity of life, no human population
can exist.
The reports of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change have highlighted how human well-being is affected by the state of the global
environment and the sustainability of ecosystems. However, the enormous range of benefits
which biodiversity provides to our health and well-being is largely underappreciated and
unrecognised within the health community, and fails to inform critical decisions on global and
regional health strategies. At the same time, the wider social and public health importance of
biodiversity is not always understood by those concerned with biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity supports food security, dietary health, livelihood sustainability
Genetic diversity in food systems provides the foundation of crop development and food
security, and promotes resistance and resilience to environmental stresses including pests and
diseases of crops and livestock. Diets based on a diversity of food species promote health, and
can help to protect against disease by addressing the problem of micronutrient and vitamin
deficiencies. Loss of agricultural biodiversity can therefore threaten health, livelihood
sustainability and our future security of food and nutrition.
Biodiversity provides important resources for medical research
Studies of wildlife anatomy, physiology and biochemistry can lead to important developments in
human medicine. Examples of species of interest to medical science include bears (for insights
into osteoporosis, cardio-vascular disorders, renal disease and diabetes), sharks
(osmoregulation and immunology), cetaceans (respiration and treatments for divers suffering
from decompression sickness) and horse-shoe crabs (optometry / ophthalmology and molecular
cell biology).
Biodiversity provides important resources for traditional and modern medicine
Biodiversity loss can impact on community traditions and livelihoods centred on traditional
medicinal practices that utilise wild animals and plants, particularly for indigenous and local
communities. Millions of people depend upon traditional medicines for their primary health care.
Modern drugs derived from wild species include inter alia pain killers (e.g. Zinconitide from cone
snail toxin), cardiac drugs (e.g. Lanoxin from Digitalis plants), anti-cancer drugs (e.g. Taxol from
Taxus trees and Hycamtin from Camptotheca trees) and treatments for diabetes (including
Exanitide from Heloderma lizards). Many other potentially important species are yet to be
investigated or discovered.
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Biodiversity plays a role in the regulation and control of infectious diseases
Biodiversity loss and ecosystem change can increase the risk of emergence or spread of
infectious diseases in animals, plants and humans, including economically important livestock
diseases, zoonotic outbreaks and global pandemics. In recent years outbreaks of SARS, Ebola,
Marburg, Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, avian influenza and malaria have been attributed to
human impacts on biodiversity, the wildlife trade or unsustainable land use change. Without a
greater understanding of disease ecology, there is also a risk that programmes to tackle
infectious diseases may impact negatively on biodiversity, through use of biocides and other
chemicals and wildlife culls.
Biodiversity has social, cultural and spiritual importance within communities
Ecosystem change can result in disconnection of populations from open spaces or the wider
countryside, with negative implications for physical and mental well-being and loss of “sense of
place”. This has been linked to an increased prevalence of ‘diseases of affluence’ (diabetes,
obesity, cardio-pulmonary illness) and psychological disorders in many communities.
Conversely, access to ‘greenspace’ (natural and artificial) are associated with better health
outcomes, shorter hospital visits and reduced convalescence time for patients than purely urban
environments. An awareness of environmental values and respect for other species has been
associated with reduced propensity towards anti-social behaviour in children and young adults.
Conservation of biodiversity is essential for climate change adaptation
Climate change will have a range of significant impacts on human health, many of which are
directly associated with climate impacts on ecosystems. For example, changes in the ecology of
pathogens, or in the populations or distribution of disease vectors such as mosquitoes, could
lead to changes in disease patterns and increase the risk of outbreaks. Loss of ecosystem
services also places communities at greater risk from other climate impacts, such as extreme
weather events, drought and crop failure.
Intact ecosystems can reduce disaster risks and support relief and recovery efforts
Biodiversity and healthy ecosystems can provide important natural buffers against natural
disasters such as floods, drought and landslides. Habitat loss is also a contributory factor in
desertification and dryland salinity, impacting on livelihoods community stability. Those who are
poor or sick, or who experience low levels of livelihood security, are likely to be at greatest risk
from such events. In many regions, rural communities and the poor are typically more
dependent upon ecosystems for their livelihood security and well-being, and they are therefore
most vulnerable to the impact of disasters if these ecosystems are compromised before or by
disaster impacts. People who have been displaced by disaster or conflict may be more
susceptible to illness, and more dependent on ecosystem services for food, shelter and
medicine. Sustainable management of biodiversity can help to provide essential resources for
promoting health and rebuilding livelihoods in post-crisis situations.
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____________________________________________________________________________
What is GMO?
A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered or
modified in some way through genetic engineering.
In most cases, GMOs have been altered with DNA from another organism, be it a bacterium,
plant, virus or animal; these organisms are sometimes referred to as "transgenic" organisms.
Genetics from a spider that helps the arachnid produce silk, for example, could be inserted into
the DNA of an ordinary goat.
It sounds far-fetched, but that is the exact process used to breed goats that produce silk
proteins in their goat milk, Science Nation reported. Their milk is then harvested, and the silk
protein is then isolated to make a lightweight, ultra strong silk material with a wide range of
industrial and medical uses.
The dizzying range of GMO categories is enough to boggle the mind. CRISPR, a novel genome
editing tool, has allowed geneticists to breed GMO pigs that glow in the dark by inserting
jellyfish bioluminescence genetic code into pig DNA. CRISPR is opening doors to genetic
modifications the likes of which were unimaginable just a decade ago.
These are more comparatively wild examples, but GMOs are already very common in the
farming industry. The most common genetic modifications are designed to create higher yield
crops, more consistent products, and resist pests, pesticides and fertilizer.
Genetically modified food

According to the National Library of Medicine (part of the National Center for Biotechnology
Information, or NCBI), genetically engineered, or GM, foods are those that have had foreign
genes from other plants or animals inserted into their genetic codes. This has resulted in foods
that are consistently flavored, as well as resistant to disease and drought.
However, the NCBI also maintains a list of potential risks associated with GM foods, including
genetic alterations that can cause environmental harm. Specifically, it's possible that modified
organisms could be inbred with natural organisms, leading to the possible extinction of the
original organism. For instance, the banana tree is propagated entirely through cloning
methods. The bananas themselves are sterile.
By far, the biggest use of GMO technology is in large-scale agricultural crops. At least 90% of
the soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold in the United States have been genetically
engineered. The adoption of herbicide-resistant corn, which had been slower in previous years,
has accelerated, reaching 89% of U.S. corn acreage in 2014 and 2015, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture.
One of the biggest draws for widespread adoption of GMO crops is pest resistance. According
to the World Health Organization, one of the most widely used methods for incorporating pest
resistance into plants is through Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt) genetics, a bacterium that produces
proteins that repel insects. GMO crops that are modified with the Bt gene have a proven
resistance to insect pests, thus reducing the need for wide-scale spraying of synthetic
pesticides.
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Are GMOs safe?
Anti-GMO activists argue that GMOs can cause environmental damage and health problems for
consumers.
One such anti-GMO organization is the Center for Food Safety, which calls the genetic
engineering of plants and animals potentially "one of the greatest and most intractable
environmental challenges of the 21st century."
"Genetically modified foods have been linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sickness, sterile
and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals," according to
the Institute for Responsible Technology, a group of anti-GMO activists.
"Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe," according to the Non-GMO Project.
"In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan and all of the countries
in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and
sale of GMOs."
As You Sow is a non-profit environmental watchdog focusing its research on how corporate
actions affect our environment, including food production. According to Christy Spees, a
program manager with As You Sow, GMO foods are dangerous "because the modifications are
centered around resistance to toxic substances, such as pesticides and certain fertilizers. When
dangerous chemicals are applied, plants use them to grow, and the food itself can be
detrimental to our health."
Why GMOs are good

Many scientific organizations and industry groups agree that the fear-mongering that runs
through discussions of GMO foods is more emotional than factual. "Indeed, the science is quite
clear: crop improvement by the modern molecular techniques of biotechnology is safe,"
the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) said in a 2012 statement.
"The World Health Organization, the American Medical Association, the U.S. National Academy
of Sciences, the British Royal Society, and every other respected organization that has
examined the evidence has come to the same conclusion: Consuming foods containing
ingredients derived from GM (genetically modified) crops is no riskier than consuming the same
foods containing ingredients from crop plants modified by conventional plant improvement
techniques," according to the AAAS.
Others point to the benefits of sturdier crops with higher yields. "GM crops can improve yields
for farmers, reduce draws on natural resources and fossil fuels and provide nutritional benefits,"
according to a statement on the website for Monsanto, the world's largest manufacturer of
GMOs.
Monsanto and other agriculture companies have a financial stake in the research and
messaging surrounding GM foods and have the resources to fund research that reinforces their
narrative. However, although there are plenty of scientific data that demonstrates the safety,
efficacy and resilience of GM crops, genetic modification remains a comparatively new scientific
field.
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GMO labeling debate
The argument over the development and marketing of GMO foods has become a political hot
potato in recent years.
In November 2015, the FDA issued a ruling that only requires additional labelling of foods
derived from genetically engineered sources if there is a material difference — such as a
different nutritional profile — between the GMO product and its non-GMO equivalent. The
agency also approved Aqua Advantage Salmon, a salmon designed to grow faster than non-
GMO salmon.
According to Monsanto, "there is no scientific justification for special labelling of foods that
contain GM ingredients. We support these positions and the FDA's approach."
According to GMO Answers, an industry group comprised of Monsanto, DuPont, Dow Agro
Sciences, Bayer, BASF, Crop Science and Syngenta, GMO agricultural products are "by far the
most regulated and tested product in agricultural history."
Additionally, their website states that "many independent scientists and organizations around
the world — such as the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, United Nations Food and
Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, American Medical Association and the
American Association for the Advancement of Science — have looked at thousands of scientific
studies and concluded that GM food crops do not pose more risks to people, animals or the
environment than any other foods."
The political issue that GMOs have become is almost as conductive as the scientific debate.
However, after much discussion among various lawmakers across the U.S., the National
Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS)was passed into law at the beginning of
2019.
According to the NBFDS current federal statutes, starting in 2020, all food must bear a BE
(bioengineered) label if it contains more than 5% bioengineered material. States are free to
impose their own labeling requirements as well, though it seems that most jurisdictions are
waiting for federal laws to be implemented before working on new legislation. One thing is for
certain: the scientific and political discussions surrounding GMO foods aren't going away any
time soon.
GMO IMPACT ON HEALTH
While GMO research is still in its early stages, critics of GMOs mention a number of health
concerns related to the consumption for GMOs. Lets take a look at some of the most popular.
1) Harm from Bt Protein:
Bt is a naturally occurring insecticide (a substance used to kill bugs) made from a type of
bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis. Genetic engineers remove the gene that produces Bt from
the bacteria and then reinsert it into the DNA of plants. After this genetic modification, plants
that have been genetically modified to contain Bt can protect themselves from insects, therefore
reducing the need for farmers to use harmful superficial insecticides to protect their crops. A
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new finding has also been revealed that the use of Bt crops has greatly reduced the use of
synthetic insecticides. GMO Bt crops have a long history of reported safety and
success. Organic farmers have even been known to use the original Bt protein as an insecticide
given that it is a natural non-pathogenic bacterium naturally found in the soil.
How can this Bt genetic modification be safe? Well, given that the Bt plant-incorporated
protectants are proteins (remember proteins are commonly found in the diet) they
present minimal risk except for few well-described cases such as food allergens, which we will
explain below. Numerous reports, including those from Greenpeace have discovered that the
level of toxins present in Bt crops was highly “limited, and that “the plants sampled showed in
general very low Bt concentrations.” Additionally, dozens of research studieshave discovered
that Bt is in fact one of the world’s safest pesticides with little to no reported instances of human
infection. Based on findings collected from 1996 to 2015, the Bt trait genetically modified in
corn has contributed to a statistically significant increase in crop yields, especially in areas
where there is high insect-pest pressure and low availability of water. This is good news, right?
2) Allergies:
According to a recent national survey, the potential that GMO foods may trigger allergies is
highly concerning to consumers. To begin with, virtually any food is capable of causing an
allergic response. Awareness of GMO’s and their link to potential allergens has increased due
to the knowledge that allergy inducing proteins known to be present in one specific species will
remain an allergen after being engineered into a second species. A well-known example of this
is the Brazil nut allergen, which was transferred into the soybean species. It was discovered that
the allergy producing property associated with the particular protein in the Brazil nut was still
produced even after being expressed in the soybean, which could obviously be bad news bears
for someone with a nut allergy enjoying some French fries cooked in soybean oil. This case
documents that we are capable of detecting known allergens that have been genetically
engineered from one species to another.
Besides known allergenic proteins, it should also be noted that when foods are manufactured
through biotechnology, a new gene is introduced into a plant’s DNA, resulting in the production
of a new protein. It is possible that isolated cases of allergic responses to these new genes
have the potential to arise; however, jumping to the conclusion that GMO foods cause allergic
reactions is not justified at this point. Even though there has been a rise in food allergies over
time, a committee that reviews hundreds of studies on GMO foods, could not find any
relationship between the consumption of GMOs and the prevalence of food allergies. There are
so many other factors involved that could explain the rise in food allergies, but for the time
being, it doesn’t seem to be GMOs.
3) Constituents that can Alter Nutrient Bioavailability:
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Genetic modifications can potentially influence the bioavailability of certain
nutrients (bioavailability is the ability our body has to absorb nutrients). Mycotoxins, for
example, are toxins produced by molds and other fungi. It is possible that changes to a crop by
genetic modification may make the crop more or less susceptible to mycotoxin production.
These changes in myotoxin production have been seen with corn modified to express Bacillus
Thuringiensis Another example involves phytoestrogens, which we know are naturally present in
soy and other legumes. It’s possible that genetic engineering can increase or decrease the
amount of phytoestrogens in the crop, which in turn may have positive health effects for some
individuals and negative health effects in excess for others. Of course, these are just
possibilities that need further investigation, and would simply need to be tested for in genetically
modified products. Also, another thing to keep in mind is that aside from GMOs, there are many
factors that may alter the nutrient content of a crop, such as: agricultural growing/feeding
practices, soil quality, and harvesting methods/timing, so future studies will have to factor in
those effects when determining what the likely cause is of low bioavailability.
4) Random Gene Insertion
Critics of GMOs often worry of the dangers of inserting a gene into DNA, as it is thought that the
randomness of it may cause mutations or change the way genes are expressed. This may be
true, but it is also true in other forms of conventional breeding. Genes and larger fragments of
DNA can often get rearranged or inserted during conventional plant breading, and experts
believe that this process is far more unpredictable in conventional breeding then in the heavily-
regulated GM process. Furthermore, changes in DNA are also a natural part of evolution. It
happens every day to a wide range of crops as part of evolution, so what we see in GMOs is not
exactly novel.
5) Lack of Long-Term Studies
An updated review was conducted in 2016, where Domingo re-iterates the concern with the lack
of long-term studies. The researcher also states the majority of GMO research is based on
nutritional studies (which have shown GMO and non-GMO foods are nutritionally equivalent) but
limited long-term toxicology studies exist.
One positive thing that Domingo points out in his review is that recently GMO research has
reached certain equilibrium, meaning aside from just biotechnology companies funding
research, there have also emerged a number of studies conducted by independent research
groups that do not have the intention of commercializing the GM crop. Kicking biased studies to
the curb means we can more confidently support the findings in these studies.
One thing that remains difficult in the study of GMO is without GMO labeling (where we could
know who is eating GMOs and who isn’t), it’s very hard to know for sure what the long-term
impacts are. Also, while it may be appropriate to say that GMOs are safe based on current
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research, this may not be true for future crops. Each crop will need to be tested on a case-by-
case basis but thankfully, that’s exactly what is done.
GMO IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT
There have been concerns with respect to the influence of GM crops on biodiversity. Let’s look
at some of the potential concerns.
1) Honey Bees
Genetically modified (GM) plants and their impact on honey bees have been widely studied, and
the results indicate that genetically modified plants are actually not harmful to honey bees.
A review by Malone and Pham-Delègue looked at seven studies. Their conclusion was that “Bt
transgene products are very likely to be safe for honey bees and bumblebees.” One large
study by Duan et al. looked at 25 different studies and concluded that “the Bt Cry proteins used
in genetically modified crops for control of caterpillar and beetle pests do not negatively affect
the survival of honey bee larvae or adults in the laboratory.” The study included an experiment
where they exposed honey bees to 50 times the dose of Bt varieties and there was no mortality
noted. A more recent 2015 article by Johnson reviewed a number of studies and concluded
confidently that Bt pollen and nectar are not harmful to honey bees. This is great news for honey
lovers everywhere!
2) Superweeds
Superweeds are weeds that have become immune to the herbicides sprayed on them. One of
the most common herbicides used to kill weeds is the “Roundup” (glyphosate) because it is less
toxic than other common herbicides. You’ve probably heard about Monsanto’s GMO line of
seeds called Round Up Ready seeds, which were manufactured to be resistant to Round Up. In
other words, farmers could use a less toxic herbicide to kill the weeds but not damage their
crops.
However, the over reliance on herbicides like Round Up and the lack of diversity in weed
management practices have resulted in 14 weed species becoming resistant to the herbicide.
In other words, they’ve become Superweeds. So, while they may have been introduced to
reduce the use of herbicides, they have only increased farmers’ dependence on finding more
powerful alternatives. On top of that, recently the World Health Organization declared that
glyphosate may be a carcinogen. Granted, this was a controversial statement and further
studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind glyphosate and its potential link
to cause cancer. This is something to be aware of since glyphosate is the world’s most widely
produced herbicide and used extensively in agriculture. The question remains if we are
engineering plants to use more of these herbicides; we need to ensure they don’t pose a
serious health threat. It seems that the effects of herbicide resistant GMOs on yields is mixed
and depends on how much weed control costs are reduced and genetically engineered seed
costs increase.
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Slightly more promising is the use of genetically engineered insect-resistant (Bt) crops. Expects
suggest that in high pest scenarios, Bt crops like corn and cotton seem to increase the net
returns of crops when compared to conventional seeds. But this advantage is also dependant
on a variety of factors including how traits are stacked with genetically engineered traits. While
there is some indications that insect resistance is developing to some insecticides, it seems to
be more delayed than what’s seen with herbicides like Round Up thanks to farmers planting
sufficient non-Bt crops near the Bt crops. Clearly the solution to pest management is not that
simple.
GMO GENETIC DIVERSITY
The abundance of genetic modification occurring in a variety of plants and animals has
prompted many to argue that genetically modified plants may affect the genetic diversity of a
population through crossbreeding or uncontrolled growth. Genetic Diversity (the DNA that
codes for an organism is varied between species) is important for the environment because it
provides a better opportunity for organizes to adapt to a changing environment. A common
event that showcases the dangers of the lack of genetic diversity happened in the 1800s, during
the potato famine in Ireland. At the time, the same potatoes were planted year after year, until
suddenly one pathogen invaded and killed the entire potato crop. If they had a greater diversity
of crops, some would have been able to withstand the pathogen, preventing the famine.
Now, if for say, wild crops and GMOs mate, it is possible for the two plants to naturally cross-
pollinate producing a hybrid version of the two. But, on the same note, natural hybridization
usually has a positive impact on genetic diversity because it introduces a new combination of
traits to that environment. That being said, critics of GMOs assert that with the introduction of
wild plant populations into the environment through this process, they could unintentionally
cause a fitness advantage in the hybrid species giving them more power to reproduce. A
study on GMO crops and wild species looked at a company that genetically engineered
‘creeping bentgrass’ (commonly used on golf courses) to resist herbicides so that they could
apply spray to kill their weeds but not their grass. Researchers found that after collecting seeds
from the wild plants at all different areas, the existence of the herbicide resistant gene was
noted in wild grass up to 9 miles away from its origin only one year after the grass was planted.
Although this study indicated clear hybridization patterns in this species of plants, it is important
to note that many crops cultivated in the U.S. (like corn, soy and cotton) don’t have wild relatives
growing in such proximity and the majority of hybridization effects have been reported in less
than a mile apart. Future investigation is still needed to determine if these hybridizations
increase the fitness of wild species.
On the other hand, some GMOs are given traits that give them advantages against their wild
cousins, which may take resources away from their non-GMO relatives if they are in the same
area. This is the concern, for example, with genetically engineered salmon. Many are unsure
what the implications would be if the GMO salmon were released into the wild. Would they
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continue to grow at a faster rate than the wild due to their genetic advantages or would they not
adapt to their wild environment. Experts aren’t quite sure.
It was discovered in a 2016 report, that the use of Bt variety crops resulted in higher insect
biodiversity compared to non-Bt trait crops so that’s a good start.
Ultimately, while there isn’t a lot of strong research against GMOs on biodiversity any more than
a traditional crop cultivation practice, it doesn’t mean there won’t be serious future
consequences. Clearly, more research needs to be completed and strategies and procedures
upheld to prevent any disruption to biodiversity.
GMO SOCIAL AND ETHICAL IMPACT
Mandatory Labeling:
In 1997, GMOs and genetically modified products were introduced by the European Union (EU)
for consumers to have the right to know about the information of GM ingredients. Currently, the
established labeling regulations can be classified into two categories: voluntary (e.g., Canada,
USA, Honk Kong, and South Africa) and mandatory (e.g., Australia, the EU, Japan, Brazil, and
China). Among the countries with mandatory labeling, there are many different aspects among
their rules and regulations (see Table 1). The FDA supports voluntary labeling that provides
consumers with this information and has issued draft guidance to industry regarding such
labeling.
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Some of the problems manufacturers of GMOs have with “mandatory labelling” is the fear that
consumers might perceive the information as dangerous. Unless you read the evidence- based
information out there and scientific journals that have been published on GMOs, the lay person
may familiarize themselves as recognizing GMOs as awful and avoidable. That’s probably not a
huge deal and ultimately one’s choice if you have the money to choose organic if you please,
but many families cannot afford to regularly choose non-GMO and will be made to feel that they
are making a bad choice for their family. Furthermore, these families may end up avoiding very
healthy foods (like fruits and vegetables) just because they are GMO and they cannot afford the
non-GMO alternative. It’s also important to note that labelling foods as GMOs won’t tell the
consumer any specifics about the nutritional value, ie. how calorie-laden your food is, % of
macro and micronutrients, % of added sugar, additives etc. so there is fear that consumers will
make a decision based on one piece of information that may end up being completely irrelevant
in the grand scheme of health.
Dietary Observances:
A fellow RD of mine told me she wanted to know if a food that is traditionally Kosher or Pareve
(contains no dairy or meat products) is genetically modified to include a non-kosher product’s
protein (ie. shellfish), does that make it no longer Kosher or Pareve? Paul Patel, who works in
the Quality Lab for ED Technologies, told us that whether or not the ingredients are Certified
Kosher (OU) or contain Pareve ingredients, they can still contain GM ingredients. I think some
rabbi’s and observant Jews may object to having shellfish proteins in their Kosher corn, but
because GMOs are not labelled, they may not know. Like with allergens, this may be one of
those unique situations where labelling would be important.
Importance of biodiversity for health research and traditional medicine

Traditional medicine continue to play an essential role in health care, especially in primary
health care. Traditional medicines are estimated to be used by 60% of the world’s population
and in some countries are extensively incorporated into the public health system. Medicinal
plant use is the most common medication tool in traditional medicine and complementary
medicine worldwide. Medicinal plants are supplied through collection from wild populations
and cultivation. Many communities rely on natural products collected from ecosystems for
medicinal and cultural purposes, in addition to food.
Although synthetic medicines are available for many purposes, the global need and demand
for natural products persists for use as medicinal products and biomedical research that
relies on plants, animals and microbes to understand human physiology and to understand
and treat human diseases.
Climate change, biodiversity and health

Biodiversity provides numerous ecosystem services that are crucial to human well-being at
present and in the future. Climate is an integral part of ecosystem functioning and human
health is impacted directly and indirectly by results of climatic conditions upon terrestrial and
marine ecosystems. Marine biodiversity is affected by ocean acidification related to levels of
carbon in the atmosphere. Terrestrial biodiversity is influenced by climate variability, such as
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extreme weather events (ie drought, flooding) that directly influence ecosystem health and
the productivity and availability of ecosystem goods and services for human use. Longer
term changes in climate affect the viability and health of ecosystems, influencing shifts in the
distribution of plants, pathogens, animals, and even human settlements
References:
https://www.slideshare.net/FerJTagacay1/biodiversity-and-the-healthy-society
https://www.cbd.int/doc/health/cohab-policy-brief1-en.pdf
https://www.livescience.com/40895-gmo-facts.html
https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/nutrition-gmos-part-2-implications-genetically-modified-orga/
https://www.who.int/globalchange/ecosystems/biodiversity/en/
Make some research about the Golden Rice. Then, make a PowerPoint presentation about
Golden Rice and its implications.
Lesson 11: The Nano World
Overview:
Society is at the threshold of a revolution that will transform the ways in which materials
and products are created. How will this revolution develop? The opportunities that will develop
in the future will depend significantly upon the ways in which a number of challenges are met.
As new systems are designed at Nano scale, the scientific community develops the capability to
redesign the structure of all materials -- natural and synthetic along with rethinking the new
possibilities of the reconstruction of any and all materials. Such a change in design power of
products represents tremendous social and ethical questions. In order to enable the future
leadership to make decisions for sustainable ethical, economic nanotechnological development,
it is imperative that all nanotechnology stakeholders are educated about the short-term and
long-term benefits, limitations and risks of nanotechnology. The social implications of
nanotechnology encompass so many fundamental areas such as ethics, privacy, environment,
and security.
 Discuss the major impacts (both potential and realized) of nanotechnology on society
 Analyze the issue through conceptual STS lenses
 Critique the issue on its costs and benefits to society
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Course Materials:
Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and

technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is
about 1 to 100 nanometers.
Nanoscience and nanotechnology are the study

and application of extremely small things and
can be used across all the other science fields,
such as chemistry, biology, physics, materials
science, and engineering.
How it Started
The ideas and

Physicist Richard Feynman, concepts behind
nanoscience and
the father of nanotechnology. nanotechnology
started with a talk
entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by physicist Richard
Feynman at an American Physical Society meeting at the California
Institute of Technology (CalTech) on December 29, 1959, long
before the term nanotechnology was used. In his talk, Feynman
described a process in which scientists would be able to manipulate
and control individual atoms and molecules. Over a decade later, in
his explorations of ultraprecision machining, Professor Norio
Taniguchi coined the term nanotechnology. It wasn't until 1981, with
the development of the scanning tunneling microscope that could
"see" individual atoms, that modern nanotechnology began.
Fundamental Concepts in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

It’s hard to imagine just how small nanotechnology is. One
nanometer is a billionth of a meter, or 10 -9 of a meter. Here are a few
illustrative examples:
 There are 25,400,000 nanometers in an inch

Medieval stained glass
 A sheet of newspaper is about 100,000 nanometers thick
 On a comparative scale, if a marble were a nanometer, then windows are an example
one meter would be the size of the Earth of how nanotechnology
was used in the pre-
Nanoscience and nanotechnology involve the ability to see and to modern era. (Courtesy:
control individual atoms and molecules. Everything on Earth is made NanoBioNet)
up of atoms—the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the buildings
and houses we live in, and our own bodies.
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But something as small as an atom is impossible to see with the naked eye. In fact, it’s
impossible to see with the microscopes typically used in a high school science classes. The
microscopes needed to see things at the nanoscale were invented relatively recently—about 30
years ago.
Once scientists had the right tools, such as the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) and the
atomic force microscope (AFM), the age of nanotechnology was born.
Although modern nanoscience and nanotechnology are quite new, nanoscale

materials were used for centuries. Alternate-sized gold and silver particles created colors in the
stained glass windows of medieval churches hundreds of years ago. The artists back then just
didn’t know that the process they used to create these beautiful works of art actually led to
changes in the composition of the materials they were working with.
Today's scientists and engineers are finding a wide variety of ways to deliberately make
materials at the nanoscale to take advantage of their enhanced properties such as higher
strength, lighter weight, increased control of light spectrum, and greater chemical reactivity than
their larger-scale counterparts.
Nanotechnology will eventually impact every area of our world
Nanoethics seeks to examine the potential risks and rewards of applications of

nanotechnology. This up-to-date anthology gives the reader an introduction to and basic
foundation in nanotechnology and nanoethics, and then delves into near-, mid-, and far-
term issues. Comprehensive and authoritative, it:
 Goes beyond the usual environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns to
explore such topics as privacy, nanomedicine, human enhancement, global
regulation, military, humanitarianism, education, artificial intelligence, space
exploration, life extension, and more
 Features contributions from forty preeminent experts from academia and industry
worldwide, reflecting diverse perspectives
 Includes seminal works that influence nanoethics today
 Encourages an informed, proactive approach to nanoethics and advocates
addressing new and emerging controversies before they impede progress or
impact our welfare
This resource is designed to promote further investigations and a broad and balanced
dialogue in nanoethics, dealing with critical issues that will affect the industry as well as
society. While this will be a definitive reference for students, scientists in academia and
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industry, policymakers, and regulators, it's also a valuable resource for anyone who
wants to understand the challenges, principles, and potential of nanotechnology.
Benefits of nanotechnologies for the environment and human health
Nanotechnology holds the promise of meeting global challenges of the twenty-first

century regarding providing alternative energy, protecting the human right to clean water,
ensuring wildlife protection, clean-up of brownfields, and reducing the global disease burden.
1. Cheap and clean energy
Prototype solar panels incorporating nanotechnology are more efficient than standard
designs when converting sunlight into electricity. Nanotechnology is in use in batteries,
nanomaterials may improve hydrogen storage materials and catalysts for fuel cells. By creating
more surface area and lighter storage units, nanotechnology can enhance energy generation,
conversion and storage for: fuel cell, solar cell, thermo-to-electric, biomass energy, hydrogen
storage, secondary batteries, super-capacitors, and thermal storage fluids.
2. Protecting the human right to clean water
Nanotechnology offers inexpensive water purification due to rapid, low cost impurity
detection. Magnetic interactions using ultra small rust can help remove arsenic from drinking
water. Nanotechnology may also improve air and water quality monitoring, by developing more
sensitive detection devices that can measure a broad range of pollutants and toxic agents
simultaneously. Rapid detection allows for swift response, thereby minimising damage and
reducing remediation costs. According to the Rapporteur, "nanoporous membranes that filter
pathogens and other undesirable material are now commercially available. Some scientists
propose to remediate ground water pollution by using nanoparticles of iron as a chemical
reductant. Nano-engineered membranes could be used for more energy-efficient water
purification processes (desalination by reverse osmosis) (sic)".
3. Clean-up of brownfields
Antimicrobial properties of nano-silver may clean up oil spills and hazardous chemicals.
4. Pollution reduction and environmental progress
Lighter cars and machinery that require less fuel; alternative fuel and energy sources;
and materials that detect and clean up environmental contaminants all seem possible. The
University College of Dublin (UCD) Center for Bio-Nano Interactions (CBNI) studies the impact
of nanoparticles dispersed in environmental milieu, where decaying plant and animal matter
becomes natural organic matter, typically composed of polysaccharides, interact with
nanoparticles, and examines how this interaction affects organic stability, dispersability,
environmental fate and behaviour.
5. Reducing the global disease burden
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Improvements in health care through enhanced diagnosis and treatment will increase
personal wellbeing worldwide, as discussed below.
6. Mitigating economic crisis
Investment in nanotechnology will stimulate economic growth that otherwise might not
exist during the economic crisis. This will in turn support development of ancillary industries,
such as marketing for new products, recycling and disposal of waste and litigation regarding:
intellectual property and liability.
Nanotechnology and Risks
The risks associated with current consumer and industrial uses remain unknown and therefore
unquantified. CBNI has begun research regarding plants, animals, and micro-organisms in order
to understand the potential impact of nanoparticles upon ecosystems.
A. Nanotechnology and human health
Nanomedicine:
Instead of the large and costly "packaging" associated with capsules and pills,
application of nanotechnology to medicine will allow probes and pharmaceuticals to move into
tissues by traversing cell membranes, thereby disrupting the disease process. This will enable
doctors to diagnose, treat and cure diseases and illnesses that were previously considered
untreatable. So too, lighter and stronger medical implants could be created using
nanotechnology. For example, nanoelectronic systems might detect and process information
leading to the development of artificial retina or cochlea. Pharmaceuticals reformulated with
nanoparticles have greater absorption, and, applying nanotechnology, opticians can use new
coatings for eyeglasses to make them scratch resistant.
Although human exposure to nanoparticles remains miniscule, it is believed the

consequences of these small exposures may be great. No one knows exactly how nanoparticles
interact with biological systems, or with each other. Consequently, the same dazzling feature of
nanotechnology that makes possible crossing the semi-impermeable membrane of cells for
nanomedicine also may unleash negative results that cannot be contained. For this reason, the
EU laboratories of "QNano" are studying the so-called "fate" and behaviour of nanoparticles that
interact with biological processes. The Rapporteur noted, "2004 reports from two academies in
the UK emphasised the importance of the life cycle of the enhanced material from “cradle-to-
grave” or Life Cycle Assessment-LCA analysis." This approach is consistent with sound
industrial hygiene practice and accepted methods for ecological protection.
Friend or foe?
The same ability to traverse the cell wall or to cling to the protein corona at the exterior
of the cell membrane in order to heal also has some scientists worried about the ability of
unwanted nanoparticles to do the same thing: disrupt the ongoing biological process in humans
or the larger ecosystem. Uncontrolled mass doses of toxic nanoparticles could have
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catastrophic effects, thus inadvertently causing harm. Working with NIOSH, the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in November 2007 established the OECD
Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials; their collaboration established a NIOSH-led
project to raise awareness about - and harmonise approaches for - exposure measurement and
risk mitigation when using nanomaterials. In 2010, NIOSH asked for public comment:
“Whether the hazard identification, risk estimation, and discussion of health effects for carbon
nanotubes and nanofibers are a reasonable reflection of the current understanding of the
evidence in the scientific literature” in the hope of learning more about filters, barriers best
practices and the bio-nano interactions that can stop or cause illness and injury in the
workplace.
New research on the movement of nanoparticles asks whether air pollution that includes
nanoparticles can cause changes in heart rhythm or blood pressure, leading to episodes of
heart attack or respiratory distress. Research about air pollution suggests that cells and organs
may demonstrate toxic responses even to apparently non-toxic substances when they are
exposed to a sufficient dose at the nanoscale.This notion is intuitively logical, although
empirically hard to prove.
The question whether the type or source of nanoparticle interactions makes a difference
under law is one area, however, where regulators must make a policy decision whether all
nanoparticles (regardless whether natural, synthetic, manufactured, engineered or accidental)
and the context in which they come into contact with humans should be treated the same way
under law. The source of nanoparticles that cause harm could allow some types of
nanoparticles to be exempted or held to a higher standard. If so, methods must be built into the
law to tease apart the types of nanoparticles, unless the law makes a policy decision to
deliberately examine only the context and effects. Methods for determining which types of
nanoparticles make an important difference from the standpoint of liability, unless legislators
determine that a duty exists to protect against all types of nanoparticles.
Evidence of occupational exposure leading to damage of the lung from the application of
nanotechnology in China has already appeared in the scientific literature. Claims that seven
Chinese factory workers developed severe lung damage from inhaling nanoparticles are stoking
the debate over the environmental - health effects of nanotechnology. A paper published in the
European Respiratory Journal claims to be the first to document cases of ill health caused by
nanoparticles in humans. The study described seven women, aged 18–47 years, who worked in
an unidentified printing factory in China; two of them later died. They had pleural granulomas —
ball-like collections of immune cells in the lining of the lung that form when the immune system
is unable to remove a foreign body. They also had excessive, discoloured fluid in the lung lining.
Particles around 30 nanometres in diameter were found in lung fluid and tissue in the lung.
B. Impact on the environment and non-human species
Significant gaps in our knowledge about the environmental fate and toxicity of
nanoparticles after they have been used for a targeted purpose have raised grave concern
among researchers and policymakers. No one knows the effect of nanoparticles on animals,
plants or micro-organisms once the particles come into contact with cell membranes or the
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proteins that surround the cell. Do they bind to them, or are there some types of particles that
will cluster by themselves or be repelled by the organism? According to the Rapporteur,
"Various impacts were observed on crustaceans and fish in several studies: alterations of
embryonic development in zebrafish (Danio rerio), alterations in the respiratory capacity of
rainbow trout exposed to single wall carbon nanotubes, mortality events in amphibians exposed
to high concentrations of carbon nanotubes with double walls."
Current data suggests that the biological behaviour of nanoparticles and the subsequent
effects of that behaviour involves a biological interface, but the natural process itself remains
poorly understood. Thus, sound information describing this scientific phenomenon is limited;
therefore few conclusions can be drawn to guide regulatory activities using robust evidence, at
this time.
Nanotechnology and bioethics
Are there bioethical issues of health policy regarding the widespread application of
nanotechnologies in commerce in Europe in the 21st century ?
Short Answer: Nanotechnology poses the greatest bioethical issue of informed consent for the
21st Century, for Europe and for the rest of the world. The state of the art is such that sound
regulators of health-policy issues have more questions than reasonable people or responsible
scientists can clearly answer at this stage. This preliminary discussion therefore outlines key
areas for further research, but underscores that any conclusion about the content of the
requisite disclosure that are the building blocks of informed consent is premature.
NANOTECHNOLOGY: BENEFITS AND APPLICATIONS
After more than 20 years of basic nanoscience research and more than fifteen years of focused
R&D under the NNI, applications of nanotechnology are delivering in both expected and
unexpected ways on nanotechnology’s promise to benefit society.
Nanotechnology is helping to considerably improve, even revolutionize, many technology and
industry sectors: information technology, homeland security, medicine, transportation, energy,
food safety, and environmental science, among many others. Described below is a sampling of
the rapidly growing list of benefits and applications of nanotechnology.
Everyday Materials and Processes
Many benefits of nanotechnology depend on the fact that it is possible to tailor the structures of
materials at extremely small scales to achieve specific properties, thus greatly extending the
materials science toolkit. Using nanotechnology, materials can effectively be made stronger,
lighter, more durable, more reactive, more sieve-like, or better electrical conductors, among
many other traits. Many everyday commercial products are currently on the market and in daily
use that rely on nanoscale materials and processes:
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 Nanoscale additives to or surface treatments of fabrics can provide lightweight
ballistic energy deflection in personal body armor, or can help them resist wrinkling,
staining, and bacterial growth.
 Clear nanoscale films on eyeglasses, computer and camera displays, windows, and
other surfaces can make them water- and residue-repellent, antireflective, self-
cleaning, resistant to ultraviolet or infrared light, antifog, antimicrobial, scratch-
resistant, or electrically conductive.
 Nanoscale materials are beginning to enable washable, durable “smart fabrics”
equipped with flexible nanoscale sensors and electronics with capabilities for health
monitoring, solar energy capture, and energy harvesting through movement.
 Lightweighting of cars, trucks, airplanes, boats, and space craft could lead to
significant fuel savings. Nanoscale additives in polymer composite materials are
being used in baseball bats, tennis rackets, bicycles, motorcycle helmets, automobile
parts, luggage, and power tool housings, making them lightweight, stiff, durable, and
resilient. Carbon nanotube sheets are now being produced for use in next-generation
air vehicles. For example, the combination of light weight and conductivity makes
them ideal for applications such as electromagnetic shielding and thermal
management.
 Nano-bioengineering of enzymes is
aiming to enable conversion of cellulose
from wood chips, corn stalks, unfertilized
perennial grasses, etc., into ethanol for
fuel. Cellulosic nanomaterials have
demonstrated potential applications in a
wide array of industrial sectors, including
electronics, construction, packaging,
food, energy, health care, automotive,
and defense. Cellulosic nanomaterials
are projected to be less expensive than
many other nanomaterials and, among
High-resolution image of a polymer- other characteristics, tout an impressive
silicate nanocomposite. This material strength-to-weight ratio.
has improved thermal, mechanical,  Nano-engineered materials in
and barrier properties and can be automotive products include high-power
used in food and beverage containers, rechargeable battery systems;
fuel storage tanks for aircraft and thermoelectric materials for temperature
automobiles, and in aerospace control; tires with lower rolling
components. (Image courtesy of resistance; high-efficiency/low-cost
NASA.)
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sensors and electronics; thin-film smart solar panels; and fuel additives for cleaner
exhaust and extended range.
 Nanostructured ceramic coatings exhibit much greater toughness than conventional
wear-resistant coatings for machine parts. Nanotechnology-enabled lubricants and
engine oils also significantly reduce wear and tear, which can significantly extend the
lifetimes of moving parts in everything from power tools to industrial machinery.
 Nanoparticles are used increasingly in catalysis to boost chemical reactions. This
reduces the quantity of catalytic materials necessary to produce desired results,
saving money and reducing pollutants. Two big applications are in petroleum refining
and in automotive catalytic converters.
 Nano-engineered materials make superior household products such as degreasers
and stain removers; environmental sensors, air purifiers, and filters; antibacterial
cleansers; and specialized paints and sealing products, such a self-cleaning house
paints that resist dirt and marks.
 Nanoscale materials are also being incorporated into a variety of personal care
products to improve performance. Nanoscale titanium dioxide and zinc oxide have
been used for years in sunscreen to provide protection from the sun while appearing
invisible on the skin.
Electronics and IT Applications
Nanotechnology has greatly contributed to major advances in computing and electronics,

leading to faster, smaller, and more portable systems that can manage and store larger and
larger amounts of information. These continuously evolving applications include:
 Transistors, the basic switches that enable all modern computing, have gotten
smaller and smaller through nanotechnology. At the turn of the century, a typical
transistor was 130 to 250 nanometers in size. In 2014, Intel created a 14 nanometer
transistor, then IBM created the first seven nanometer transistor in 2015, and then
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab demonstrated a one nanometer transistor in 2016!
Smaller, faster, and better transistors may mean that soon your computer’s entire
memory may be stored on a single tiny chip.
 Using magnetic random access memory (MRAM), computers will be able to “boot”
almost instantly. MRAM is enabled
by nanometer‐scale magnetic
tunnel junctions and can quickly
and effectively save data during a
system shutdown or enable
resume‐play features.
 Ultra-high definition displays and
televisions are now being sold that
use quantum dots to produce more
vibrant colors while being more
energy efficient.
 Flexible, bendable, foldable, rollable, and

stretchable electronics are reaching into SUNY College of Nanoscale Science and
various sectors and are being integrated
Engineering's Michael Liehr, left, and IBM's
Bala Haranand display a wafer comprised of
7nm chips in a NFX clean room in Albany, 75
New York. (Image courtesy of IBM.)
into a variety of products, including wearables, medical applications, aerospace
applications, and the Internet of Things. Flexible electronics have been developed using, for
example, semiconductor nanomembranes for applications in smartphone and e-reader
displays. Other nanomaterials like graphene and cellulosic nanomaterials are being used for
various types of flexible electronics to enable wearable and “tattoo” sensors, photovoltaics
that can be sewn onto clothing, and electronic paper that can be rolled up. Making flat,
flexible, lightweight, non-brittle, highly efficient electronics opens the door to countless smart
products.
 Other computing and electronic products include Flash memory chips for smart
phones and thumb drives; ultra-responsive hearing aids; antimicrobial/antibacterial
coatings on keyboards and cell phone casings; conductive inks for printed
electronics for RFID/smart cards/smart packaging; and flexible displays for e-book
readers.
 Nanoparticle copper suspensions have been developed as a safer, cheaper, and
more reliable alternative to lead-based solder and other hazardous materials
commonly used to fuse electronics in the assembly process.
Medical and Healthcare Applications
Nanotechnology is already broadening the medical tools, knowledge, and therapies currently
available to clinicians. Nanomedicine, the application of nanotechnology in medicine, draws on
the natural scale of biological phenomena to produce precise solutions for disease prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment. Below are some examples of recent advances in this area:
Commercial applications have adapted gold

nanoparticles as probes for the detection of targeted
sequences of nucleic acids, and gold nanoparticles
are also being clinically investigated as potential
treatments for cancer and other diseases.
 Better imaging and diagnostic tools enabled by
nanotechnology are paving the way for earlier
diagnosis, more individualized treatment options, and
better therapeutic success rates.
This image shows the bamboo-  Nanotechnology is being studied for both the
like structure of nitrogen-doped diagnosis and treatment of atherosclerosis, or the
carbon nanotubes for the buildup of plaque in arteries. In one technique,
treatment of cancer. (Courtesy of researchers created a nanoparticle that mimics the
Wake Forest and the National body’s “good” cholesterol, known as HDL (high-
Cancer Institute) density lipoprotein), which helps to shrink plaque.
 The design and engineering of advanced solid-state
nanopore materials could allow for the development of novel gene sequencing
technologies that enable single-molecule detection at low cost and high speed with
minimal sample preparation and instrumentation.
 Nanotechnology researchers are working on a number of different therapeutics where a
nanoparticle can encapsulate or otherwise help to deliver medication directly to cancer
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cells and minimize the risk of damage to healthy tissue. This has the potential to change
the way doctors treat cancer and dramatically reduce the toxic effects of chemotherapy.
 Research in the use of nanotechnology for regenerative medicine spans several
application areas, including bone and neural tissue engineering. For instance, novel
materials can be engineered to mimic the crystal mineral structure of human bone or
used as a restorative resin for dental applications. Researchers are looking for ways to
grow complex tissues with the goal of one day growing human organs for transplant.
Researchers are also studying ways to use graphene nanoribbons to help repair spinal
cord injuries; preliminary research shows that neurons grow well on the conductive
graphene surface.
 Nanomedicine researchers are looking at ways that nanotechnology can improve
vaccines, including vaccine delivery without the use of needles. Researchers also are
working to create a universal vaccine scaffold for the annual flu vaccine that would cover
more strains and require fewer resources to develop each year.
Energy Applications
Nanotechnology is finding application in traditional energy sources and is greatly enhancing

alternative energy approaches to help meet the world’s increasing energy demands. Many
scientists are looking into ways to develop clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources,
along with means to reduce energy consumption and lessen toxicity burdens on the
environment:
 Nanotechnology is improving the efficiency of fuel

production from raw petroleum materials through
better catalysis. It is also enabling reduced fuel
consumption in vehicles and power plants through
higher-efficiency combustion and decreased
friction.
 Nanotechnology is also being applied to oil and
gas extraction through, for example, the use of
nanotechnology-enabled gas lift valves in offshore
operations or the use of nanoparticles to detect
microscopic down-well oil pipeline fractures.
 Researchers are investigating carbon nanotube
“scrubbers” and membranes to separate carbon
New solar panel films incorporate
dioxide from power plant exhaust.
nanoparticles to create lightweight,
flexible solar cells. (Image courtesy
of Nanosys)
 Researchers are developing wires containing

carbon nanotubes that will have much lower
resistance than the high-tension wires currently used in the electric grid, thus reducing
transmission power loss.
 Nanotechnology can be incorporated into solar panels to convert sunlight to electricity
more efficiently, promising inexpensive solar power in the future. Nanostructured solar
cells could be cheaper to manufacture and easier to install, since they can use print-like
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manufacturing processes and can be made in flexible rolls rather than discrete panels.
Newer research suggests that future solar converters might even be “paintable.”
 Nanotechnology is already being used to develop many new kinds of batteries that are
quicker-charging, more efficient, lighter weight, have a higher power density, and hold
electrical charge longer.
 An epoxy containing carbon nanotubes is being used to make windmill blades that are
longer, stronger, and lighter-weight than other blades to increase the amount of
electricity that windmills can generate.
 In the area of energy harvesting, researchers are developing thin-film solar electric
panels that can be fitted onto computer cases and flexible piezoelectric nanowires
woven into clothing to generate usable energy on the go from light, friction, and/or body
heat to power mobile electronic devices. Similarly, various nanoscience-based options
are being pursued to convert waste heat in computers, automobiles, homes, power
plants, etc., to usable electrical power.
 Energy efficiency and energy saving products are increasing in number and types of
application. In addition to those noted above, nanotechnology is enabling more efficient
lighting systems; lighter and stronger vehicle chassis materials for the transportation
sector; lower energy consumption in advanced electronics; and light-responsive smart
coatings for glass.
Environmental Remediation
In addition to the ways that nanotechnology can help improve energy efficiency (see the section
above), there are also many ways that it can help detect and clean up environmental
contaminants:
 Nanotechnology could help meet the need for affordable, clean drinking water through
rapid, low-cost detection and treatment of impurities in water.
 Engineers have developed a thin film membrane with nanopores for energy-efficient
desalination. This molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) membrane filtered two to five times
more water than current conventional filters.
 Nanoparticles are being developed to clean industrial water pollutants in ground water
through chemical reactions that render the pollutants harmless. This process would cost
less than methods that require pumping the water out of the ground for treatment.
 Researchers have developed a nanofabric "paper towel" woven from tiny wires of
potassium manganese oxide that can absorb 20 times its weight in oil for cleanup
applications. Researchers have also placed magnetic water-repellent nanoparticles in oil
spills and used magnets to mechanically remove the oil from the water.
 Many airplane cabin and other types of air filters are nanotechnology-based filters that
allow “mechanical filtration,” in which the fiber material creates nanoscale pores that trap
particles larger than the size of the pores. The filters also may contain charcoal layers
that remove odors.
 Nanotechnology-enabled sensors and solutions are now able to detect and identify
chemical or biological agents in the air and soil with much higher sensitivity than ever
before. Researchers are investigating particles such as self-assembled monolayers on
mesoporous supports (SAMMS™), dendrimers, and carbon nanotubes to determine how
to apply their unique chemical and physical properties for various kinds of toxic site
remediation. Another sensor has been developed by NASA as a smartphone extension
that firefighters can use to monitor air quality around fires.
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Future Transportation Benefits
Nanotechnology offers the promise of developing multifunctional materials that will contribute to
building and maintaining lighter, safer, smarter, and more efficient vehicles, aircraft, spacecraft,
and ships. In addition, nanotechnology offers various means to improve the transportation
infrastructure:
 As discussed above, nano-engineered materials in automotive products include polymer

nanocomposites structural parts; high-power rechargeable battery systems;
thermoelectric materials for temperature control; lower rolling-resistance tires; high-
efficiency/low-cost sensors and electronics; thin-film smart solar panels; and fuel
additives and improved catalytic converters for cleaner exhaust and extended range.
Nano-engineering of aluminum, steel, asphalt, concrete and other cementitious
materials, and their recycled forms offers great promise in terms of improving the
performance, resiliency, and longevity of highway and transportation infrastructure
components while reducing their life cycle cost. New systems may incorporate
innovative capabilities into traditional infrastructure materials, such as self-repairing
structures or the ability to generate or transmit energy.
 Nanoscale sensors and devices may provide cost-effective continuous monitoring of the
structural integrity and performance of bridges, tunnels, rails, parking structures, and
pavements over time. Nanoscale sensors, communications devices, and other
innovations enabled by nanoelectronics can also support an enhanced transportation
infrastructure that can communicate with vehicle-based systems to help drivers maintain
lane position, avoid collisions, adjust travel routes to avoid congestion, and improve
drivers’ interfaces to onboard electronics.
 “Game changing” benefits from the use of nanotechnology-enabled lightweight, high-
strength materials would apply to almost any transportation vehicle. For example, it has
been estimated that reducing the weight of a commercial jet aircraft by 20 percent could
reduce its fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent. A preliminary analysis performed
for NASA has indicated that the development and use of advanced nanomaterials with
twice the strength of conventional composites would reduce the gross weight of a launch
vehicle by as much as 63 percent. Not only could this save a significant amount of
energy needed to launch spacecraft into orbit, but it would also enable the development
of single stage to orbit launch vehicles, further reducing launch costs, increasing mission
reliability, and opening the door to alternative propulsion concepts.
Social Implications of Nanotechnology
The projected impact of Nanotechnology has been touted as a second industrial

revolution -- not the third, fourth, or fifth, because despite similar predictions for technologies
such as computers and robotics, nothing has yet eclipsed the first . Society is at the threshold of
a revolution that will transform the ways in which materials and products are created. How will
this revolution develop? The opportunities that will develop in the future will depend significantly
upon the ways in which a number of challenges are met. As we design systems on a nanoscale,
we develop the capability to redesign the structure of all materials -- natural and synthetic along
with rethinking the new possibilities of the reconstruction of any and all materials. Such a
change in our design power represents tremendous social and ethical questions. In order to
enable our future leadership to make decisions for sustainable ethical, economic
nanotechnological development, it is imperative that we educate all Nanotechnology
stakeholders about the short-term and longterm benefits, limitations and risks of
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Nanotechnology. The social implications of Nanotechnology encompass so many fundamental
areas such as ethics, privacy, environment, and security.
Nanotechnology, like its predecessor technologies, will have an impact on all areas. For
example, in healthcare it is very likely that Nanotechnology in the area of medicine will include
automated diagnosis. This in turn will translate into fewer patients requiring physical evaluation,
less time needed to make a diagnosis, less human error and wider access to health care
facilities. And with nanomedicines if the average life span of humans increases, it will create a
large portion of elderly persons requiring medical attention, resulting in increased health
expenditures.
It is essential for the Nanotechnology stakeholders to strive to achieve four social

objectives (1) developing a strong understanding of local and global forces and issues which
affect people and societies, (2) guiding local/global societies to appropriate uses of technology,
(3) alerting societies to technological risks and failures, and (4) developing informed and ethical
personal decision-making and leadership to solve problems in a technological world.
Advances in Nanotechnology also present numerous challenges and risks in health and
environmental areas. Nanotechnology risk assessment methods and protocols need to be
developed and implement by the regulatory bodies. Eric Drexler, author of Engines of Creation
has identified four challenges in dealing with the development, impact and effects of
Nanotechnology on society.
1. The Challenge of Technological Development (control over the structure of matter)

2. The Challenge of Technological Foresight (sense of the lower bounds of the future
possibilities)
3. The Challenge of Credibility and Understanding (clearer understanding of what these
technological possibilities)
4. The Challenge of Formulating Public Policy (formulating polices based on
understanding)
As the global economy continues to be transformed by new technology, an intense

competition will grow for intellectual capital and intellectual property. Technology will continue to
drive the global and domestic GDP. Advances in nanoscience will enable researchers to
manipulate the behavior of a “single cell,” reverse disease, repair and grow human tissues.
Nanotechnology could supply improved services for a small fraction of current energy in
lightening, computing, printing, water filtration. Nanotechnology innovations such as quantum
dots, semi-conductor nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and nanoshells will enable the
fabrication of electronics hardware devices using the “bottom-up,” approach in contrast to
present “topdown,” approach.
The presence of nanomaterials (materials that contain nanoparticles) is not in itself a

threat. It is only certain aspects that can make them risky, in particular their mobility and their
increased reactivity. Only if certain properties of certain nanoparticles were harmful to living
beings or the environment would we be faced with a genuine hazard. In this case it can be
called nanopollution.
In addressing the health and environmental impact of nanomaterials we need to
differentiate between two types of nanostructures: (1) Nanocomposites, nanostructured
surfaces and nanocomponents (electronic, optical, sensors etc.), where nanoscale particles are
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incorporated into a substance, material or device (“fixed” nano-particles); and (2) “free”
nanoparticles, where at some stage in production or use individual nanoparticles of a substance
are present. These free nanoparticles could be nanoscale species of elements, or simple
compounds, but also complex compounds where for instance a nanoparticle of a particular
element is coated with another substance (“coated” nanoparticle or “core-shell” nanoparticle).
There seems to be consensus that, although one should be aware of materials
containing fixed nanoparticles, the immediate concern is with free nanoparticles.
Nanoparticles are very different from their everyday counterparts, so their adverse
effects cannot be derived from the known toxicity of the macro-sized material. This poses
significant issues for addressing the health and environmental impact of free nanoparticles.
To complicate things further, in talking about nanoparticles it is important that a powder
or liquid containing nanoparticles almost never be monodisperse, but contain instead a range of
particle sizes. This complicates the experimental analysis as larger nanoparticles might have
different properties from smaller ones. Also, nanoparticles show a tendency to aggregate, and
such aggregates often behave differently from individual nanoparticles.
Using nanotechnology as an urgent example for responsible decision making, a number

of teaching and learning tools are used including: cultural field studies, case studies, modeling,
and flow charts. Such approaches promote not only concept and practical awareness but also
lead to constructivist understanding of macro and micro problems of present and future
technologies and issues. In typical exercises students are encouraged to find questions to the
following questions:
1. How should we manage exposure to nanowaste by humans and environment?

2. How can we develop effective risk management strategies dealing with the uncertainties
of nanotechnologies?
3. How should people be educated about the potential benefits and risks of
nanotechnology?
4. What will be the impact of nanotechnology on the privacy of the individual?
5. How can prevent the proliferation of nanotechnology based weapons be prevented?
6. Is humankind playing the role of God when it comes to applying nanotechnology in the
areas of biotechnology and genetics?
7. Will nanotechnology be the catalyst for future military interventions and hegemony by the
ruling world powers?
8. What will be the impact of human-machine union? How it will affect the ideology of
existentialism relative to the “being” in general?
9. What will be the impact of nanotechnology on the developing countries?
10. What will be the governing moral principles for advancement of life by artificial means
through nanotechnology?
11. What would the social impact of implementing nanotechnology-based systems at
workplace, homes, industries, government, etc.?
12. Will Nanotechnology intensify the divide between the haves and the have nots?
References:
https://www.nano.gov/nanotech-101/what/definition
https://www.wiley.com/en-us/Nanoethics%3A+The+Ethical+and+Social+Implications+of+Nanotechnology-p-9780470084175
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https://www.qscience.com/content/papers/10.5339/qproc.2015.elc2014.57
https://www.nano.gov/you/nanotechnology-benefits
http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2013/Asocdocinf03_2013.pdf
file:///C:/Users/Dakoy/Downloads/STS_Paper_Khan_ASEE_2012_FINAL_AC.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impact_of_nanotechnology
Choose 5 questions from the box above then answer it briefly.
Lesson 12: The Gene Therapy (Stem Cells)
Overview:
Gene therapy using germ line cells results in permanent changes that are passed down
to subsequent generations. If done early in embryologic development, such as during
preimplantation diagnosis and in vitro fertilization, the gene transfer could also occur in all cells
of the developing embryo. The appeal of germ line gene therapy is its potential for offering a
permanent therapeutic effect for all who inherit the target gene. Successful germ line therapies
introduce the possibility of eliminating some diseases from a particular family, and ultimately
from the population, forever. However, this also raises controversy. Some people view this type
of therapy as unnatural, and liken it to "playing God." Others have concerns about the technical
aspects. They worry that the genetic change propagated by germ line gene therapy may
actually be deleterious and harmful, with the potential for unforeseen negative effects on future
generations.
 Describe gene therapy and its various forms

 Assess the issue’s potential benefits and detriments to global health
Course Materials:
What is gene therapy?
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Gene therapy is when DNA is introduced into a patient to treat a genetic disease. The new DNA
usually contains a functioning gene to correct the effects of a disease-causing mutation.
Gene therapy uses sections of DNA (usually genes) to treat or prevent disease.
 The DNA is carefully selected to correct the effect of a mutated gene that is causing
disease.
 The technique was first developed in 1972 but has, so far, had limited success in
treating human diseases.
 Gene therapy may be a promising treatment option for some genetic diseases,
including muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis.
 There are two different types of gene therapy depending on which types of cells are
treated:
o Somatic gene therapy: transfer of a section of DNA to any cell of the body that
doesn’t produce sperm or eggs. Effects of gene therapy will not be passed onto the
patient’s children.
o Germline gene therapy: transfer of a section of DNA to cells that produce eggs or
sperm. Effects of gene therapy will be passed onto the patient’s children and
subsequent generations.
Gene Therapy Techniques

There are several techniques for carrying out gene therapy. These include:
 Gene augmentation therapy

 This is used to treat diseases caused by a mutation that stops a gene from producing
a functioning product, such as a protein.
 This therapy adds DNA containing a functional version of the lost gene back into the
cell.
 The new gene produces a functioning product at sufficient levels to replace the
protein that was originally missing.
 This is only successful if the effects of the disease are reversible or have not resulted
in lasting damage to the body.
 For example, this can be used to treat loss of function disorders such as cystic
fibrosis by introducing a functional copy of the gene to correct the disease (see
illustration below).
 Gene inhibition therapy
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 Suitable for the treatment of infectious diseases, cancer and inherited disease
caused by inappropriate gene activity.
 The aim is to introduce a gene whose product either:
- inhibits the expression of another gene
- interferes with the activity of the product of another gene.
 The basis of this therapy is to eliminate the activity of a gene that encourages the
growth of disease-related cells.
 For example, cancer is sometimes the result of the over-activation of
an oncogene (gene which stimulates cell growth). So, by eliminating the activity of
that oncogene through gene inhibition therapy, it is possible to prevent further cell
growth and stop the cancer in its tracks.
 Killing of specific cells

 Suitable for diseases such as cancer that can
be treated by destroying certain groups of cells.
 The aim is to insert DNA into a diseased cell that causes that cell to die.
 This can be achieved in one of two ways:
- the inserted DNA contains a “suicide” gene that produces a highly toxic product
which kills the diseased cell
- the inserted DNA causes expression of a protein that marks the cells so that the
diseased cells are attacked by the body’s natural immune system.
 It is essential with this method that the inserted DNA is targeted appropriately to avoid
the death of cells that are functioning normally.
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How is DNA transfer done?
 A section of DNA/gene containing instructions for making a useful protein is packaged

within a vector, usually a virus, bacterium or plasmid.
 The vector acts as a vehicle to carry the new DNA into the cells of a patient with a
genetic disease.
 Once inside the cells of the patient, the DNA/gene is expressed by the cell’s normal
machinery leading to production of the therapeutic protein and treatment of the patient’s
disease.
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Challenges of Gene Therapy
 Delivering the gene to the right place and switching it on:

 it is crucial that the new gene reaches the right cell
 delivering a gene into the wrong cell would be inefficient and could also cause health
problems for the patient
 even once the right cell has been targeted the gene has to be turned on
 cells sometimes obstruct this process by shutting down genes that are showing
unusual activity.
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 Avoiding the immune response:
 The role of the immune system is to fight off intruders.
 Sometimes new genes introduced by gene therapy are considered potentially-
harmful intruders.
 This can spark an immune response in the patient, that could be harmful to them.
 Scientists therefore have the challenge of finding a way to deliver genes without the
immune system ‘noticing’.
 This is usually by using vectors that are less likely to trigger an immune response.
 Making sure the new gene doesn’t disrupt the function of other genes:
 Ideally, a new gene introduced by gene therapy will integrate itself into the genome
of the patient and continue working for the rest of their lives.
 There is a risk that the new gene will insert itself into the path of another gene,
disrupting its activity.
 This could have damaging effects, for example, if it interferes with an important gene
involved in regulating cell division, it could result in cancer.
 The cost of gene therapy:

 Many genetic disorders that can be targeted with gene therapy are extremely rare.
 Gene therapy therefore often requires an individual, case-by-case approach. This
may be effective, but may also be very expensive.
____________________________________________________________________________
Gene therapy remains a fairly new and still experimental procedure for the treatment of disease.
In addition stem cells are still a relatively new concept and remain a confusing and complicated
technology that much of the public struggles to understand. The potential for stem cells to be
used in gene therapies is however, a valid one that has important ramifications for treating a
range of diseases, many of which currently have no cure.
Understanding Gene Therapy

Gene therapy involves inserting genes into a person’s cells with the aim of providing treatment
for a particular disease. At a very simplistic level, gene therapy is the use of a person’s own
cells to provide a therapeutic effect. In most types of gene therapy, a healthy and normal gene
is inserted into a cell or tissue to replace a gene that is abnormal and thus, produces disease.
Delivery of the gene can be difficult and viruses are commonly used to ‘carry’ the normal gene
into the cell.
Because a virus places its own genetic material into the host as part of its own replication cycle,
it is an effective way to deliver the normal gene into the cell, thereby replacing the abnormal
one. It may seem odd to imagine a virus – which we associate with poor health and disease –
as a delivery mechanism for a gene, but it’s quite an interesting and successful concept. The
disease causing genes of the virus are first removed and then the desired normal gene for the
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host is introduced. This allows the virus to ‘infect’ the host’s cell with the normal gene, which
then replaces the abnormal one, assuming the procedure works as intended.
Using Stem Cells for Gene Therapy

There are many reasons why stem cells hold great potential for successful use in gene
therapies. Stem cells have the ability to self-renew, which means that the need to provide
repeated administrations of gene therapy can be reduced or possibly even eliminated. In
particular, hematopoietic stem cells are an ideal choice because they can easily be removed
from the blood, bone marrow or umbilical cord. They are not as difficult to identify and isolate as
other stem cells and can be more readily coaxed to differentiate in a laboratory setting before
injection into the patient.
Other stem cells that suggest promise for gene therapy include myoblasts and neural stem
cells. Researchers have found that myoblasts work particularly well for injection into muscle
tissue because they readily join with other muscle fibers and therefore integrate well into the
network of muscle fibers.
Neural stem cells appear to hold potential for treating gliomas, which are a difficult type of brain
tumour to treat. When a patient suffers from a glioma, the tumour cells attack the healthy brain
tissue and travel throughout the brain. In studies thus far, scientists have been able to take
neural stem cells and then genetically modify them to create a protein that activates a precursor
drug that is not toxic to one that destroys tumour cells. After injecting these genetically modified
stem cells into mice who had human-derived gliomas, there was a significant reduction in
tumour size within only two weeks.
Research involving embryonic stem cells and gene therapy rather than the previously
mentioned adult stem cells is another area that is currently under investigation. Because
embryonic stem cells have a greater potential for self-renewal as opposed to adult stem cells,
repeated administrations of gene therapy are less likely to be necessary. This means that over
the long-term, embryonic stem cells could provide better maintenance of therapeutic effects in
comparison with adult stem cells.
Overall, there are benefits and challenges to both embryonic and adult stem cell use in gene
therapies. Both sources of stem cells, however, hold potential for treating diseases in this
manner and the continuation of research will hopefully yield tangible therapies one day soon.
Read the article below.
14 Advantages and Disadvantages of Gene Therapy

Feb 26, 2019 by Editor in Chief
Gene therapy is a medically-based practice that uses normalized genetics to replace genes which are
either not present or abnormal for some individuals. Doctors would take the specific gene sequences that
need adjustment, and then insert them into the cellular information of the patient in various ways. Most
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forms of gene therapy are still in the clinical research stage, but there have been stories of encouraging
results.
Several inherited immune deficiencies are being treated successfully right now with gene therapy. When
the blood stem cells are removed from patients, retroviruses then deliver working copies of the defective
genes to the body.
For the gene therapy options which have been approved for use, there are many success stories to
consider. Sebastian Misztal is one such story. He was a patient in a hemophilia gene therapy trial in 2011.
After receiving the therapy, Misztal no longer experiences episodes of spontaneous bleeding.
Roughly 70% of the currently active gene therapy clinical trials are based in the United States. Europe
approved their first treatment in this area in 2012. These are the pros and cons of this scientific approach
to consider.
List of the Pros of Gene Therapy
1. Gene therapy provides hope for those who may not have had any in the past.
About 3% of American children are born with a genetic condition which requires gene therapy as a way to
treat the issue. At this time, the diseases and disorders which are present in this population will take the
life of the child before there is an opportunity to correct the condition. Birth defects are the leading cause
of newborn death in the United States, with as many as 1 in 5 children suffering from them. Advances in
gene therapy could help to correct these issues instead of forcing parents into a heartbreaking scenario.
2. Gene therapy could change the perspectives that people have about disease.
Roughly 10% of all Americans are affected by a rare disease or condition on any given day.
Approximately 33 million people are suffering from a disability that is directly attributed to their genetic
profile. The promise of gene therapy is that it can reduce or eliminate the pain and discomfort that these
abnormalities cause. 80% of the diseases that we know impact human health in negative ways have a
genetic foundation. If we can replace the cells or chromosomes that are at-fault, then it becomes possible
to offer relief.
3. Gene therapy could offer the potential of new discoveries.
Our world is a better place when there is an emphasis on diversity. When we have effective gene therapy
treatments that can save lives or prolong them, then we are adding strength to our existence. There will
be more opportunities to research, new ideas that could lead to critical discoveries, and relationships that
can lead to future generations that experience these benefits as well. There will always be a segment of
society that looks at gene therapy as a way to “play God.” The reality of this medical treatment is that it
can help people continue to live a life that they love.
4. Gene therapy could be used in different ways to improve life.
Right now, the focus of gene therapy research is to provide solutions for people who are suffering from
specific illnesses or diseases. When we begin to experience successes in this field, then the information
we learn can apply to other treatment areas as well. Gene therapy could be useful in the treatment of
infertility issues. The processes involved may help people struggling with vision or hearing issues. Even if
the only thing that we can do with this science is to relieve chronic pain, that would be tremendously
beneficial for the futures of many people.
5. Gene therapy does not just apply to human treatment options.
When we discuss the pros and cons of gene therapy, it is essential to remember that the benefits we can
experience as humans apply to other forms of life as well. The technologies we create from this research
could help us to grow crops that adapt more effectively to changing climate conditions. We could use this
information to correct the various genetic conditions that we know about in the animal kingdom. This data
could help us to grow healthier foods, increase the shelf life of harvests, or produce more items in our
overall yields.
6. Gene therapy allows us to use technology to improve the quality of life for people.
Many of our medical discoveries rely on technological processes that we apply to natural items. Even
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some of the most critical advancements of our era, such as the development of a polio vaccine by Dr.
Jonas Salk (and the work of many others) relied on the use of inactivated virus materials to create the first
usable product. Gene therapy would become one of the first treatment options for doctors that was purely
technological. That means our opportunity to develop new resources from it are virtually unlimited.
7. Gene therapy allows us to treat the “untreatable” diseases.
Gene therapy is potential miracle worker when we start to look at its full potential for humanity. It offers us
the opportunity to eliminate, and then prevent hereditary diseases like hemophilia and cystic fibrosis. The
technologies behind this treatment option could provide us with a possible cure for heart disease.
Potential medical options include cancer and AIDS cures. Even if there is a fair amount of risk involved
when treating these health issues, there are a lot of patients who don’t have much to lose. Gene therapy
opens a door that we once thought was permanently locked.
List of the Cons of Gene Therapy
1. Gene therapy does not have a reliable delivery method.

Retrovirus delivery systems are the most common way for gene therapies to be delivered to patients. The
problem with this option is that the enzyme used to encourage the transfer of genetic data can be
eliminated by the immune system before it has the chance to work. There could be issues with cell
division or replication that limit the effectiveness of the treatment.
When there is a noticeable change to the cell, the body might attack itself without the presence of an
immunosuppressant. Until we can remove and replace genetic data with more reliability, the success
stories for gene therapy will always be hit or miss.
2. Gene therapy is an expensive procedure.

There are several gene therapy options which are available right now, but they come at a steep price. If
you use Luxturna to treat both eyes as a way to treat blindness, then the final cost could be more than $1
million. Even the “affordable” options in this field start at $200,000 per treatment. That’s why many
patients weight for clinical trials to begin, and then apply for a spot in one to receive the help they need.
Most healthcare insurance plans will not cover the cost of these procedures because of their uncertainty.
3. Gene therapy requires ongoing treatment s to be effective.
Many people have found that the benefits of their gene therapy treatments began to wear off as soon as
they were no longer taking their medicine or visiting their doctor for treatments. It can be a lifelong course
that someone must follow to reduce or eliminate the genetic issues that hold back their health. Unless you
can keep taking the products which are often priced above $100,000 per treatment, then you will
experience a reversal in your condition.
4. Gene therapy may not be able to adapt to a changing world.
It has taken less than a century for prescription-grade antibiotics to no longer be as effective for the
treatment of bacterial infections as it once was. Antibiotic resistance can impact anyone at any age, and
in any country. Sometimes it occurs naturally, but the most common reason for this issue is that antibiotic
misuse has led to a growing number of infections, including pneumonia, tuberculosis, and salmonellosis
being more challenging to treat because the medicine is not as effective against the bacteria.
This issue could occur with gene therapies too. We have already seen people begin to have their
progress reverse itself when they stop following their treatment plan. Over the next couple of generations,
the body could start resisting this option too.
5. Gene therapy might only delay the inevitable.

Jolee Mohr was lying in a Chicago hospital, her body swollen by internal bleeding and organ failure. The
sight was so difficult that her husband decided not to bring their 5-year-old daughter into the room to say
goodbye. Although there was no evidence to suggest a link, Jolee had taken an experimental treatment
for rheumatoid arthritis. She was only 36 years old.
The National Institutes of Health approved the first human gene transfer study in 1989. Through 2006,
there were 800 gene therapy studies that involved 5,000 patients. In those 17 years, the total number of
approved therapies was zero. The only success story was a cure for the “bubble boy” disease that also
caused leukemia thanks to the virus that delivered the treatment.
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And Jolee wasn’t the only story. A teenager named Jesse Gelsinger also died because of treatments
offered inn a clinical research study. We must remember that there are sad stories to tell in addition to the
happy ones when evaluating this treatment option.
6. Gene therapy will shift society toward new polarization.

The United States is already highly polarized from a political perspective If gene therapies are approved
for widespread use, then it may create another layer of separation from a medical perspective. Although
most people can get behind the idea of creating a cure for cancer, birth defects, or chromosomal
disorders, the processes used could also create designer genetics that promise a specific outcome.
Should we pursue a scientific field that could help our children become smarter, faster, or better looking?
7. Gene therapy could change the way we think about competition.
Although the discussion of “designer babies” often involves looks, the science behind gene therapy could
also encourage specific traits to develop in children. Parents with wealth could work with their doctors to
support a healthier muscle mass, faster fat burning capabilities, or an adaptive body frame that allows for
greater flexibility in sports. People could design an outcome where results could follow a curve where
outcomes could be planned for years in advance. This process would result in another layer of
socioeconomic separation that would likely lead to even more polarization.
The pros and cons of gene therapy still require a lot of soul searching, even though we are 30 years and
counting into this field of research. We are beginning to see some successes, but it has also come at the
expense of some high-profile failures. Only time will tell if we can put this information to good use for the
betterment of humanity. Until then, we must continue searching to find more solutions to the significant
health issues our race faces each day.
Gene therapy has some potential risks. A gene can't easily be inserted directly into your cells.
Rather, it usually has to be delivered using a carrier, called a vector.
The most common gene therapy vectors are viruses because they can recognize certain cells
and carry genetic material into the cells' genes. Researchers remove the original disease-
causing genes from the viruses, replacing them with the genes needed to stop disease.
This technique presents the following risks:
 Unwanted immune system reaction. Your body's immune system may see the newly
introduced viruses as intruders and attack them. This may cause inflammation and, in
severe cases, organ failure.
 Targeting the wrong cells. Because viruses can affect more than one type of cells, it's
possible that the altered viruses may infect additional cells — not just the targeted cells
containing mutated genes. If this happens, healthy cells may be damaged, causing other
illness or diseases, such as cancer.
 Infection caused by the virus. It's possible that once introduced into the body, the
viruses may recover their original ability to cause disease.
 Possibility of causing a tumor. If the new genes get inserted in the wrong spot in your
DNA, there is a chance that the insertion might lead to tumor formation.
The gene therapy clinical trials underway in the U.S. are closely monitored by the Food and
Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health to ensure that patient safety issues are
a top priority during research.
91
ADVANTAGES OF GENE THERAPY
 Give a chance of a normal life to baby born with genetic disease.

 Give hope of healthy life to cancer patient.
 For certain disease that do not have any cure except gene therapy, it could save many
lives
DISADVANTAGES OF GENE THERAPY
 The genetic testing, screening and research in finding the availability of certain gene is
very controversy.
 May increase rate of abortion if prenatal test regarding baby with genetic disease is
done.
 The cost is very high and the patient might need an insurance to cover the treatment.
 Cosmetic industry may monopolized this gene therapy if it is used in enhancing beauty
and in vanishing the aging effect, rather than used for treatment of a disease.
References:
https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-gene-therapy#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20different%20types,passed%20onto
%20the%20patient's%20children.
http://www.genetherapynet.com/types-of-gene-therapy.html
http://www.explorestemcells.co.uk/stemcellsandgenetherapy.html
https://www.slideshare.net/syeimy/gene-therapy-ppt
https://connectusfund.org/14-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-gene-therapy
Answer the questions briefly:
1. How can “good” and “bad” uses of gene therapy be distinguished?

2. Who decides which traits are normal and which constitute a disability or disorder?
3. Will the therapy only benefit the wealthy due to its high cost?
4. Could the widespread use of gene therapy make the society less accepting of people
who are different?
5. Should people be allowed to use gene therapy to enhance basic human traits such as
height, intelligence, or athletic ability?
Lesson 13: Mandated Topics: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis
And Environmental Awareness
Overview:
Environmental awareness is to understand the fragility of our environment and the
importance of its protection. Promoting environmental awareness is an easy way to become an
92
environmental steward and participate in creating a brighter future for our children. Energy plays
an important role in many aspects of our lives. For example, we use electricity for lighting and
cooling. We use fuel for transportation, heating, and cooking. Our energy production and use is
interconnected with many other aspects of modern life, such as water consumption, use of
goods and services, transportation, economic growth, land use, and population growth. Our
production and use of energy (most of which comes from fossil fuels) also contributes to climate
change, accounting for more than 84% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
 Identify the causes of climate change

 Assess the various impacts of climate change including economical, geopolitical,
biological, meteorological, etc.
 Apply STS concepts to the issue of climate change
Course Materials:
Climate Change is the defining issue of our time and we are at a defining moment. From shifting
weather patterns that threaten food production, to rising sea levels that increase the risk of
catastrophic flooding, the impacts of climate change are global in scope and unprecedented in
scale. Without drastic action today, adapting to these impacts in the future will be more difficult
and costly.
Unit 1: Climate Change and the Energy Crisis
Earth’s climate is now changing faster than at any point in the history of modern civilization,
primarily as a result of human activities. Global climate change has already resulted in a wide
range of impacts across every region of the country and many sectors of the economy that are
expected to grow in the coming decades.
93
Thousands of studies conducted by researchers around the world have documented increases
in temperature at Earth’s surface, as well as in the atmosphere and oceans. Many other aspects
of global climate are changing as well. High temperature extremes and heavy precipitation
events are increasing, glaciers and snow cover are shrinking, and sea ice is retreating. Seas are
warming, rising, and becoming more acidic, and flooding is become more frequent along the
U.S. coastline. Growing seasons are longer, and large wildfires occur more frequently. Many
species are moving to new locations, and changes in the seasonal timing of important biological
events are occurring in response to climate change.
These trends are all consistent with a warming world and are expected to continue.
Many lines of evidence demonstrate that human activities, especially emissions of heat-
trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and land-use change, are
primarily responsible for the climate changes observed in the industrial era, especially over the
last six decades. The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide, the largest contributor to
human-caused warming, has increased by about 40% over the industrial era. This change has
intensified the natural greenhouse effect, driving an increase in global surface temperatures and
other widespread changes in Earth’s climate that are unprecedented in the history of modern
civilization.
Greenhouse gas emissions from human activities will continue to affect Earth’s climate for
decades and even centuries. Humans are adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere at a rate far
greater than it is removed by natural processes, creating a long-lived reservoir of the gas in the
atmosphere and oceans that is driving the climate to a warmer and warmer state.
Beyond the next few decades, how much the climate changes will depend primarily on the
amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere; how much of those greenhouse
gases are absorbed by the ocean, the biosphere, and other sinks; and how sensitive Earth’s
climate is to those emissions.
Impacts on Society
Climate change is affecting the American people in far-reaching ways. Impacts related to
climate change are evident across regions and in many sectors important to society—such as
human health, agriculture and food security, water supply, transportation, energy, ecosystems,
and others—and are expected to become increasingly disruptive throughout this century and
beyond.
Climate change affects human health and wellbeing through more extreme weather events and
wildfires, decreased air quality, and diseases transmitted by insects, food, and water. Climate
disruptions to agriculture have been increasing and are projected to become more severe over
this century, a trend that would diminish the security of America’s food supply. Surface and
groundwater supplies in some regions are already stressed, and water quality is diminishing in
many areas, in part due to increasing sediment and contaminant concentrations after heavy
downpours.
94
In some regions, prolonged periods of high temperatures associated with droughts contribute to
conditions that lead to larger wildfires and longer fire seasons. For coastal communities, sea
level rise, combined with coastal storms, has increased the risk of erosion, storm
surge damage, and flooding. Extreme heat, sea level rise, and heavy downpours are affecting
infrastructure like roads, rail lines, airports, port facilities, energy infrastructure, and military
bases.
The capacity of ecosystems like forests, barrier beaches, and wetlands to buffer the impacts of
extreme events like fires, floods, and severe storms is being overwhelmed. The rising
temperature and changing chemistry of ocean water is combining with other stresses, such as
overfishing and pollution, to alter marine-based food production and harm fishing communities.
Some climate changes currently have beneficial effects for specific sectors or regions. For
example, current benefits of warming include longer growing seasons for agriculture and longer
ice-free seasons for shipping on the Great Lakes. At the same time, however, longer growing
seasons, along with higher temperatures and carbon dioxide levels, can increase pollen
production, intensifying and lengthening the allergy season. Longer ice-free periods on the
Great Lakes can result in more lake-effect snowfalls.
Today, these and other aspects of climate change are having increasingly complex and
important impacts on the American economy and quality of life.
The impacts of global climate change in the United States are already being felt and are
projected to intensify in the future, especially without further action to reduce climate-related
risks. As the impacts of climate change grow, Americans face decisions about how to respond.
Actions to prepare for and adjust to changing climate conditions—thereby reducing negative
impacts or taking advantage of new opportunities—are known as adaptation. The other major
category of response options—known as mitigation—involves efforts to reduce the amount and
speed of future climate change by limiting emissions or removing carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere. Adaptation and mitigation actions are linked in multiple ways and can be
considered complementary strategies—mitigation efforts can reduce future risks, while
adaptation can minimize the consequences of changes that are already happening as a result of
past and present emissions.
____________________________________________________________________________
Climate change is one of the most fundamental challenges ever to confront humanity. Its
adverse impacts are already being seen and may intensify exponentially over time if nothing is
done to reduce further emissions of greenhouse gases. Decisively dealing NOW with climate
change is key to ensuring sustainable development, poverty eradication and safeguarding
economic growth. Scientific assessments indicate that the cost of inaction now will be more
costly in the future. Thus, economic development needs to be shifted to a low-carbon emission
path.
In 1992, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was
adopted as the basis for a global response to the problem. The Philippines signed the UNFCCC
95
on 12 June 1992 and ratified the international treaty on 2 August 1994. Presently, the
Convention enjoys near-universal membership, with 194 Country Parties.
Recognizing that the climate system is a shared

resource which is greatly affected by
anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases,
the UNFCCC has set out an overall framework for
intergovernmental efforts to consider what can be
done to reduce global warming and to cope with
whatever temperature increases are inevitable. Its
ultimate objective is to stabilize greenhouse gas
concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that
will prevent dangerous human interference with
the climate system.
Countries are actively discussing and negotiating

ways to deal with the climate change problem
within the UNFCCC using two central approaches.
The first task is to address the root cause by
reducing greenhouse gas emissions from human
activity. The means to achieve this are very
contentious, as it will require radical changes in the way many societies are organized,
especially in respect to fossil fuel use, industry operations, land use, and development. Within
the climate change arena, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is called mitigation.
The second task in responding to climate change is to manage its impacts. Future impacts on
the environment and society are now inevitable, owing to the amount of greenhouse gases
already in the atmosphere from past decades of industrial and other human activities, and to the
added amounts from continued emissions over the next few decades until such time as
mitigation policies and actions become effective. We are therefore committed to changes in the
climate. Taking steps to cope with the changed climate conditions both in terms of reducing
adverse impacts and taking advantage of potential benefits is called adaptation.
Scientific assessments have indicated that the Earth is now committed to continued and faster
warming unless drastic global mitigation action is put in place the soonest. The likely impacts of
climate change are numerous and most could seriously hinder the realization of targets set
under the Millennium Development Goals; and thus, sustainable development. Under the
UNFCCC, Country Parties have common but differentiated responsibilities. All Country Parties
share the common responsibility of protecting the climate system but must shoulder different
responsibilities. This means that the developed countries including those whose economies are
in transition (or the so-called Annex 1 Parties) have an obligation to reduce their greenhouse
gas emissions based on their emissions at 1990 levels and provide assistance to developing
countries (or the so-called non-Annex 1 Parties) to adapt to impacts of climate change.
In addition, the commitment to mitigate or reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions by

countries which share the responsibility of having historically caused this global problem, as
96
agreed upon in the Kyoto Protocol, is dictated by the imperative to avoid what climate scientists
refer to as the climate change tipping point. Tipping point is defined as the maximum
temperature increase that could happen within the century, which could lead to sudden and
dramatic changes to some of the major geophysical elements of the Earth. The effects of these
changes could be varied from a dramatic rise in sea levels that could flood coastal regions to
widespread crop failures. But, it still is possible to avoid them with cuts in anthropogenic
greenhouse gases, both in the developed and developing countries, in particular, those which
are now fast approaching the emission levels seen in rich countries.
In the Philippines, there are now a number of assisted climate change adaptation programmes
and projects that are being implemented. Among these are the Millennium Development Goals
Fund 1656: Strengthening the Philippines Institutional Capacity to Adapt to Climate Change
funded by the Government of Spain, the Philippine Climate Change Adaptation Project (which
aims to develop the resiliency and test adaptation strategies that will develop the resiliency of
farms and natural resource management to the effects of climate change) funded by the Global
Environmental Facility(GEF) through the World Bank, the Adaptation to Climate Change and
Conservation of Biodiversity Project and the National Framework Strategy on Climate Change
(envisioned to develop the adaptation capacity of communities), both funded by the GTZ,
Germany.
Unit 2: Environmental Awareness
What is Environmental Awareness?
To define environmental awareness we must first understand the environmentalist movement.

Environmentalism is an ideology that evokes the necessity and responsibility of humans to
respect, protect, and preserve the natural world from its anthropogenic (caused by humans)
afflictions.
Environmental awareness is an integral part of the movement’s success. By teaching our

friends and family that the physical environment is fragile and indispensable, we can begin fixing
the problems that threaten it.
How to Promote Environmental Awareness
Before you can begin promoting environmental awareness in your community, you must first
make sure that you have a thorough understanding of environmental issues. Stay up to date on
environmental news, read books and other resources, and learn about the issues affecting your
own community. It’s much easier to talk to others about the environment if you’ve already taken
the time to educate yourself.
Numerous resources are available to promote environmental awareness and education: group
learning (inside or outside of the classroom), informational and inspirational seminars, online
courses, books, articles, videos, and brochures are just a few of the tools that can get you
involved in promoting the environment
97
A good course of action that ensures your continued participation is to pick an environmental
issue that strikes you as the most urgent. The amount of environmental issues seems limitless,
and while they are all important, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Try choosing one issue to focus
on at a time. You will soon see that all environmental issues are intertwined and will find your
niche of interest.
Examples of Environmental Issues
Here are several cause-and-effect problems that harm our environment:
 Oil Drilling- This issue is one that causes a great deal of environmental destruction. Our
dependence on fossil fuel is a global addiction that affects every aspect of the world. Oil
spills and offshore drilling poison marine life, oil drilling (on land) suffocates the earth,
and the combustion of fossil fuels add to the increased atmospheric CO₂, which in turns
causes the progression of global warming and ocean acidification. This is a multifaceted
issue and is a good cause to get involved with because it covers such a broad spectrum
of issues.
 Deforestation- Millions of acres of forest are cut down for industrial benefit, such as
large scale farming, oil mining, and the production of paper goods. Deforestation causes
wildlife and biodiversity extinction because the loss of habitat threatens many species’
existence. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has a Red List of
environmentally threatened species with up-to-date information.
 Production of Plastic Goods- Currently our society creates a great deal of waste and
much of that waste consists of plastic. According to the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) in 2010 alone 31 million tons of plastic waste was created. This waste
ends up all over the globe in both land and water, a good example is the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch. Not only is plastic waste an issue, but the production of plastic is also
dependent on fossil fuel combustion. According to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA) in 2010 191 million barrels of liquid petroleum gases(LPG) and
natural gas liquids (NGL) were used in the U.S. alone to produce plastic goods.
Share Your Knowledge
After you’ve chosen an issue and educated yourself, engage your community, family, and
friends in a conversation about the issue’s urgency and importance.
By engaging your community in the conversation, you are not only promoting environmental
awareness, but you may also find opportunities to participate in communal projects or to get
involved in other related causes.
Make a Difference
Once you’re well versed in environmental issues, you can use that knowledge to start beneficial
projects in your home and/or in your community.
98
Possible Project Ideas
 Instead of driving to work or school, take the bus, carpool, walk, or ride your bike to cut
down on greenhouse gas emissions. According to the EPA transportation adds to 33%
of the total atmospheric CO₂.
 Consider investing in appropriate technology like clean power (solar or wind), if not for
your home then maybe for a community center. This supports a transition to clean and
renewable energy.
 Buy reusable products such as glass bottles, reusable bags and reusable cups. Avoid
buying disposable goods such as paper towels, plastic bottles, and plastic bags.
 Start composting and recycling, which will help cut down our waste production.
 Support local businesses and farmers, and buy organic and pesticide-free food when
you can. Or, start your own community garden.
Once you have chosen your cause and have started a personal or community project, share it
with the world! Get your coworkers, neighbors, friends, family, or even your local government
involved. It’s much easier and more effective to spread environmental awareness and start a
local project if you collaborate with others in your community.
Promoting environmental awareness is a crucial part of being an environmental steward. Start

participating in the change and teach your community what is needed to create a sustainable
future.
References
https://www.globalchange.gov/climate-change
http://bagong.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/information/climate-change-in-the-philippines
https://www.pachamama.org/environmental-awareness
Answer the questions briefly.
1. Will the actions we take today be enough to forestall the direct impacts of climate
change? Or is it too little too late?
2. Will taking action make our lives better or safer, or will it only make a difference to future
generations?
Then, make a poster about Environmental Awareness.
References:
Webliography
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https://www.pachamama.org/environmental-awareness
101

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Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

Compiled by by: Checked by:

Assoc. Prof. Carmelita M. Cauli Assoc. Prof. Ayreenlee E. Resus

Date: _________________ Date: ___________________

Engr. Rosalia P. Pinlac Dr. Agnes Y. Gonzaga

Date: _________________ Date: __________________

THE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES

PUP: The National Polytechnic University

 provide democratized access to educational opportunities for the holistic development of

 offer industry-oriented curricula that produce highly-skilled professionals with managerial

 embed a culture of research and innovation

 establish a strong presence and impact in the international academic community

As a state university, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines believes that:

Pillar 1: Dynamic, Transformational, and Responsible Leadership

SHARED VALUES AND PRINCIPLES

 Integrity and Accountability

 Quality and excellent graduates

The College of Engineering aims to:

COURSE TITLE : Science, Technology and Society

At the end of the course, the students should be able to:

Institutional Program Outcomes Course Outcomes

The course requirements are as follows:

Note: Some activities will be rated using the Rubrics.

Week Topic Learning Outcomes Methodology Resources Assessment

7 Lesson 4  Analyze the human Lecture Articles and 20 items quiz

After successful completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

What does science, technology and society mean?

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STUDIES

 STS was the result of a “sociological turn” in science studies.

How science and technology affect society?

What is the relationship between science and society?

Unit 1: In the world: Ancient, Middle and Modern Ages

Nineteenth Century Invention of textile manufacturing machines Division of labor Increase

Major influence on Society

Tim Berners-Lee's vision of a global hyperlinked information system became a possibility by

Unit 2: History Of Science And Technology In The Philippines

Numerous national scientists have contributed in different fields of science including Fe

The Spanish introduced formal education and founded scientific institution.

The Galleon Trade have accounted in the Philippine colonial economy.

On July 1, 1901 The Philippine Commission established the Bureau of Government

In 1974, a science development program was included in the government's Four-Year

Paradigm is a typical example or pattern of something. It is a distinct set of concepts or thought

WHAT IS A PARADIGM SHIFT?

 a fundamental change in approach or underlying assumptions.

WHY ARE PARADIGM SHIFTS IMPORTANT?

The Kuhn Cycle

Kuhn showed this viewpoint was wrong.

The Steps Of The Kuhn Cycle

Historical Examples Of Paradigms

References: http://changingminds.org/explanations/research/articles/kuhn _paradigm.htm o

Answer the following questions briefly:

After successful completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

 Articulate ways by which society is transformed by science and technology.

INTELLECTUAL REVOLUTIONS THAT DEFINED SOCIETY

AFRICAN-The fight against colonialism and imperialism in Africa.

IDEAS OF KNOWN INTELLECTUALS

NICHOLAS COPERNICUS (1473-1543)

 Brahe’s observation of the star Cassiopeia

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