Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics

College of Arts and Sciences

University of the Philippines Manila

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Course
(Syllabus adopted from the Science and Society Program, CS, U.P. Diliman)
Credit 3.0 units
The analysis from historical and futuristic perspectives of the nature and role of science
and technology in society and of the socio-cultural and politico-economic factors
Course Description
affecting the development of science and technology with emphasis on the Philippine
setting.
At the end of the course, the student should be able to:
1. Understand the character and functions of science and technology and their inter-
relationships with society from a historical perspective;
2. Anticipate and comprehend the impacts, implications, and limitations of the new
developments in science and technology;
Course Goals
3. Familiarize himself/herself with the sociological, cultural, ethical, environmental,
economic, ideological, political, and gender aspects of science and technology; and
4. Appreciate the key role of science and technology in national development and the
important policy issues involved in the scientific and technological development of
the Philippines.
2 Long Exams 40%
Reporting, Other Activities 30%
Course
Case Studies/Project 25%
Requirements
Attendance 5%
TOTAL 100%
First Long Examination
Second Long Examination
Start of Oral Reporting
Important Dates Submission of Case Studies
Last Day for Dropping
Last Day for Filing LOA
Last Day of Classes
Class Schedule Classroom

Instructor Consultation Hours

Faculty Room DPSM, RH 102 E-mail

COURSE GUIDELINES:

1. Class Attendance

The following University rule on class attendance (Article 346 of the University Code) shall
be strictly enforced in the course:

When the number of hours lost by absence of a student reaches 20 percent of the
hours of recitation, lecture, laboratory or any other scheduled work in one subject he shall
be dropped from the subject; Provided, That a faculty may prescribe a longer attendance
requirement to meet their special needs. If the majority of the absences are excused, the
student shall not be given a grade of “5” upon being thus dropped; but if the majority of
 the absences are not excused, he shall be given a grade of “5” upon being thus dropped.
Time lost by late enrolment shall be considered as time lost by absence.

2. Examinations in the Course

There will be two (2) examinations in the course. A student who fails to take any
examination will get a score of “0%” for that examination unless he/she has a valid excuse (e.g.,
illness [requires submission of a medical certificate]). A student who fails to take any two (2)
examinations shall either be dropped from the course or given a grade of “5.0”, regardless of
whether the absences were excused or not. There will be no final examination in the course.

CLASS POLICIES: To be discussed by the Course Instructor

GRADING SYSTEM:

The student’s final weighted average score shall have the following grade equivalents:

90 - 100% ------------------------------ 1.0 60 - 64% ----------------------------- 2.5

85 - 89% ----------------------------- 1.25 55 - 59% ----------------------------- 2.75
80 - 84% ----------------------------- 1.5 50 - 54% ----------------------------- 3.0
75 - 79% ----------------------------- 1.75 45 - 49% ----------------------------- 4.0
70 - 74% ----------------------------- 2.0 0 - 44% ----------------------------- 5.0
65 - 69% ----------------------------- 2.25

COURSE OUTLINE AND READINGS:

1. THE INTERACTION OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

Topic Readings Remarks

1.1 Science, Technology,
and Society in Ancient
Times
1.2 Science, Technology,
and Society from the
Middle Ages to the
Scientific Revolution
1.3 Science and
Technology in Pre-
Colonial Asian Societies
1.4 Science, Technology,
and the Industrial
Revolution
1.5 Science, Technology,
and Industrialization in
the 19th Century
(a) R.J. Forbes, “Technology and Society in the Stone Age”
(b) R.J. Forbes, “Technology and Society in the Bronze Age”
(c) J.D. Bernal, “Science, Technology, and Society in the Iron Age”
(a) J.D. Bernal, “Science, Technology, and Society in the Middle
Ages”
(b) Lynn White, Jr., “Technology in the Middle Ages”
(c) J. D. Bernal, “The Scientific Revolution”
(a) Susantha Goonatilake, “Pre-Colonial Science and Technology in
the Third World”
(b) Joseph Needham, “Poverty and Triumphs of Chinese Science
and Technology”
(c) Donald R. Hill, “Mechanical Engineering in the Medieval Middle
East”
(a) J.D. Bernal, “Science and the Industrial Revolution”
(b) Melvin Kranzberg, “Prerequisites for Industrialization”
(c) Ian Inkster, “Science and Technology in the British Industrial
Revolution”
(a) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “The Industrialization of Europe”
(b) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “The Industrialization of the USA”
(c) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “The Industrialization of Japan”

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1.6 The Imperialist (a) George Basalla, “The Spread of Western Science”
Diffusion of Science (b) Ian Inkster, “Science, Technology, and Imperialism: The Case of
and Technology India”
(c) Ian Inkster, “Science, Technology, and Imperialism: China and
Beyond”
1.7 Science, Technology, (a) Peter Drucker, “Technology and Society in the 20th Century”
and Society in the 20th (b) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “Industrialization in the West: 1930s to
Century the 1970s”
(c) Alvin Toffler, “From the Second Wave to the Third Wave”

2. HIGH TECHNOLOGIES: THEIR APPLICATIONS AND SOCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Topic Readings Remarks

2.1 Advanced Energy (a) Richard Brennan, “Energy Alternatives”
Technologies (b) Michael Zey, “Future Prospects in Energy”
(c) Scientific American, “Efficient Uses of Energy”
(d) Charles Harper, “Energy and Society”
(e) H. Ramos, “Prospects of Fusion Energy”
2.2 Microelectronics and (a) Richard Golob and Eric Brus, “Microelectronic Technology”
Photonics (b) Juan P. Rada, “Microelectronics from a Third World
Perspective”
(c) Allen A. Boraiko, “Lasers and Microlasers”
(d) Les C. Gunderson and Donald B. Keck , “Fiber-Optic
Technology”
2.3 Automation, (a) Peter Marsh, “From Mechanisation to Automation”
Robotics, and Other (b) Peter Scott, “Introduction to Robotics”
Advanced (c) Paul Kennedy, “Robotics, Automation, and a New Industrial
Manufacturing Revolution”
Technologies (d) Oliver Morton, “Advanced Manufacturing Technology”
2.4 Advanced Materials, (a) Thomas Canby, “Reshaping Our Lives: Advanced Materials”
Micromachines, and (b) Scientific American, “Nanotech, The Science of the Small
Nanotechnology Goes Down to Business”, Sept. 2001
2.5 Genetic Engineering (a) Richard Brennan, “Introduction to Biotechnology and
and Biotechnology Genetic Engineering”
(b) Edward Yoxen, “Biotechnology and the Life Industry”
(c) Oliver Morton, “A Survey of Biotechnology and Genetics”
(d) Articles on the “Human Genome Project” in Nature
(February 2001) and Science (February 2001).
2.6 Advances in Medical (a) Richard Brennan, “High Technology Medicine”
and Agricultural (b) Alexandra Wyke, “The Future of Medicine”
Technologies (c) Michael Zey, “Future Fields of Plenty”
(d) Paul Kennedy, “Biotech Agriculture”
2.7 Advances in (a) Michael Zey, “Future Prospects in Construction and
Construction, Transportation”
Transportation, and (b) Richard Brennan, “Advanced Transportation Technologies”
Space Technologies (c) Michael Zey, “Our Future in Space”

3. THE SOCIETAL ASPECTS AND IMPACTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

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 Topic Readings Remarks
3.1 The Sociological (a) J. Mulkay, “Sociology of the Scientific Research Community”
Aspects of Science and (b) James Adams, “The Complexity of Engineering”
Technology (c) James Adams, “Design and Invention”
(d) Sanford Lakoff, “Scientists, Technologists, and Political
Power”
3.2 The Dynamics of (a) Gernot Bohme, “Models for the Development of Science”
Scientific and (b) Susantha Goonatilake, “The Social Context of Science”
Technological Changes (c) Nawaz Sharif, “Technological Change”
(d) Everett M. Rogers, “The Generation of Innovations”
3.3 The Economic (a) Christopher Freeman, “The Economics of R&D and
Aspects of Science and Technological Change”
Technology (b) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “Classical Theories of Economic
Growth and Structure”
(c) Norman Clark, “Modern Views of Technological Change”
(d) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “Modern Analyses of Growth and
Structural Change”
3.4 The Business Aspects (a) Joseph P. Cory, “A Business Architecture for Technology
of Science and Management”
Technology (b) Theodore W. Schlie, “The Contribution of Technology to
Competitive Advantage”
(c) William G. Howard, Jr. And Bruce R. Guile, “Profiting from
Innovation”
(d) Michael Hobday, “Technological Learning in Latecomer
Firms”
3.5 Impacts of Science (a) Richard Brennan, “Environmental Penalties of High
and Technology on the Technology”
Environment (b) Charles Harper, “Alternative Futures: Sustainability and
Social Change”
(c) Paul Smith, “Industrialization and Environment”
(d) Scientific American, “Towards Environment-Friendly
Technologies”
3.6 Impacts of Science (a) Jean Ladriere, “The Impact of Science and Technology on
and Technology on the Aesthetics”
Arts (b) O.B. Hardison, Jr., “Computers and Arts”
(c) O.B. Hardison, Jr., “Computer Music”
(d) O.B. Hardison, Jr., “Computers and Literary Arts”
3.7 Impacts of Science (a) Harvey Sapolsky, “Science, Technology, and Military Policy”
and Technology on (b) Alvin Toffler, “First Wave War and Second Wave War”
War (c) Alvin Toffler, “Third Wave War”
(d) Alvin Toffler, “Futuristic Wars”

3.8 Ethical Aspects of (a) Robert Cohen, “Ethics and Science”

Science and (b) Enzo Russo and David Cove, “Science, Technology, and
Technology Ethics”
(c) Charles E. Harris, Jr. et al., “Introduction to Engineering
Ethics”
(d) Charles E. Harris, Jr. et. al., “On Becoming a Responsible
Engineer”

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3.9 Ideological Aspects (a) John Ziman, “Scientism and Its Manifestations”
of Science and (b) Helen Longino, “Science and Ideology”
Technology (c) David Dickson, “The Case Against Contemporary
Technology”
(d) Andrew Feenberg. “Critical Theory of Technology”

4. THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Topic Readings Remarks

4.1 The International (a) Chris Farrands, “Interpretations of the Diffusion and
Political Economy of Absorption of Technology”
Science and (b) Robert Gilpin, “Dependency and Economic Development”
Technology (c) Ross Singleton, “The International Political Economy of
Knowledge and Technology”
(d) Margaret Sharp, “Technology, Globalization, and Industrial
Policy”
4.2 Science and (a) Francisco Sagasti, “Underdevelopment ,Science, and
Technology Policies of Technology
National Development (b) Normal Clark, “Science, Technology, and Development”
(c) Roger Posadas, “Framework for Science and Technology
Policies”
(d) Francisco Sagasti, “Technology Policies”
4.3 National (a) Nawaz Sharif, “Technology Transfer and Appropriate
Development Issues in Technologies”
the Selection and (b) David Dickson, “Intermediate Technology and the Third
Acquisition of World”
Technologies (c) Tom Hewitt and David Wield, “Technology and
Industrialization”
(d) Alvin Toffler, “Gandhi With Satellite” and “The Fast and the
Slow”
4.4 The National (a) David Mowery and Nathan Rosenberg, “The U.S. National
Innovation Systems of Innovation System”
Three Advanced (b) Hiroyuki Odagiri and Akira Goto, “The Japanese System of
Industrialized Innovation”
Countries: the U.S.A., (c) Otto Keck, “The National System for Technical Innovation in
Japan, and Germany” Germany”
(d) Lester Thurow, “Head to Head: A New Economic Game”
4.5 The National (a) G.N. von Tunzelmann, “The Newly Industrializing Countries”
Innovation Systems of (b) Michael Hobday, “Innovation in the Republic of Korea:
Two East Asian NICs: Catching up in Large Corporations”
South Korea and (c) Chi-Ming Hou and San Gee, “The National Innovation
Taiwan. System of Taiwan”
4.6 The National Science (a) Poh-Kam Wong, “Singapore’s Technology Strategy”
and Technology (b) Hamzah Kassim, “Building a Workable S&T Infrastructure in
Systems and Strategies Malaysia”
of ASEAN Countries (c) Chatri Sripaipan, “Technology Upgrading in Thailand: A
Strategic Perspective”
(d) Dipo Alam, “Building a Strong S&T System in Indonesia”

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4.7 Science and (a) Celso Roque and Roger Posadas, “Philippine Technological
Technology in the Dependence and Backwardness”
Philippines: Present (b) Olivia C. Caoili, “History of Science and Technology in the
Conditions and Future Philippines”
Options (c) Roger Posadas, “Technological Leapfrogging as a Strategic
Option for the Philippines”
(d) William Padolina, “Preparing the Ground for Sustainable
Development in Science and Technology”
(e) Henry J. Ramos, “Philippine Science and Technology vis-à-vis
the NICs and HDCs”