GED 6 STS Handouts
GED 6 STS Handouts
▪ moons of Jupiter
▪ phases of Venus
▪ sunspots
● Tycho Brahe – first to describe 1572 Supernova and published the positions of 777 stars
− determined the distance of 1577 comet from Earth using parallax
− Believes that Sun and Moon revolved around Earth and other planets (Geo-heliocentric)
● John Ray – first to use species as the fundamental unit of classification
● Carolus Linnaeus – Father of Modern Taxonomy
− Modern system of classification of living organisms
● RA 8439 - Magna Carta for Scientists Engineers Researchers and other S&T Personnel in the Government
o To empower Filipino scientists, expand the country's pool of S&T experts, and motivate them to continue
working for the government.
● RA 7459 - Inventors and Inventions Incentive Act
o To empower Filipino scientists, expand the country's pool of S&T experts, and motivate them to continue
working for the government.
● RA 8749 - Clean Air Act of 1999
o To protect and preserve the environment and ensure the sustainable development of its natural
resources.
● RA 8792 - Electronic Commerce Act
o To outlaws computer hacking and provides opportunities for new businesses emerging from the
internet-driven New Economy
● RA 9637, Biofuel Act of 2006
o To direct the use of biofuels, establishing for this purpose the biofuel program, appropriating funds
therefore, and for other purposes.
● RA 7687 - Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994
o Provides for scholarships to talented and deserving students whose families’ are under socio-economic
status and do not exceed the set cut-off values of certain indicators.
● RA 2067 - DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship Program
o Formerly known as NSTA Scholarship
o Awarded to students with high aptitude in science and mathematics and are willing to pursue S&T
careers.
● RA 10612 - Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013
o Aims to strengthen the country’s S&T education by fast-tracking graduates in the sciences, mathematics
and engineering who shall teach science and mathematics in secondary schools throughout the country.
● RA 8293 - Intellectual Property Code
o An Act prescribing the Intellectual Property Code and establishing the Intellectual Property Office,
providing for its powers and functions, and for other purposes
▪ Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development
(PCIEERD)
o Research and Development Institutes
▪ Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI)
▪ Biotechnology
▪ ICT
▪ Microelectronics
▪ Environment
▪ Energy
● Status of S&T and Plans for Development under President Rodrigo Duterte
o DIWATA-1 satellite, made by Filipino scientists was launched in 2016
o DIWATA-2 satellite, was improved and was launched in 2018
o Installed the Zamboanga Doppler Weather Radar System
o RA 11035 – Balik Scientist Program - To give more incentives to returning Filipino experts, scientists,
inventors and engineers who would share expertise in the country.
● Science as a Method
B.1.3. What are the Human Conditions before and after science and technology?
Technological advancements and their effects on Humanity (Karehka Ramey, 2012)
1. Transportation
2. Communication
3. Business
4. Medicine and health
5. Agriculture
6. Education
B. 2. The Good Life
B.2.1. What is meant by a good life?
● Moral approval (Socrates)
● Pleasures in life (Epicurus)
● Fulfilled life (Aristotle)
● Meaningful life
B.2.2. Materialism, Hedonism, Stoicism, Theism, Humanism
● Materialism – comfort, pleasure and wealth are the only highest goals.
o Leucippus and Democritus
o Atomist Philosophers, universe and matter are only made up of atoms
● Hedonism – see the end goal of life in attaining pleasure
o Epicurus, life is limited, one must indulge itself with pleasures
o “Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die”
● Stoicism – asserts virtue is happiness
o Marcus Aurelius
o People do not have any control must not rely on external events
● Theism – one or more Gods exist within universe that are omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful)
and omnipresent (all-pervasive).
o Monotheism
o Polytheism
● Humanism – human beings have right and responsibility to give meaning and shape their own lives.
o Stewards of creation
o Have control for themselves and world outside them.
B.2.3. What is the ultimate goal of life?
● EudaimoniaTrue happiness is found by leading a virtuous life and doing what is worth doing.
● Realizing human potential is the ultimate goal.
B.3. When Technology and Humanity Cross
● Television Sets, Mobile Phones, Computers, and Humanity
● Paul Gottlieb Nipknow, send images through wires with the aid of rotating metal disk, “electric telescope”
● Alan Arachibald Campbell Swinton and Boris Rosing, used cathode-ray tube in television, mechanical and
electronic television
● Martin Cooper, made the first mobile phone, Motorola
● Charles Babbage, originated the concept of a digital programmable computer
● Osborne 1, first true portable computer, Laptop
● Roles Played by These Technological Advancements
o Advertisements and information dissemination
o Recreational activity
o Propagandas and advocacies
o Communication
● Robotics and Humanity
● Robot is actuated mechanism programmable in two or more axes with degree of autonomy, moving within
its environment, and performed intended tasks.
o A service robot perform useful tasks for humans or equipment excluding industrial automation
application.
o A personal robot is a service robot for non-commercial tasks
● Roles Played by Robot
o Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) - make decisions in near real-time as they go.
o Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs) - tracks or predefined paths and often require operator
oversight.
o Articulated Robots - emulate the functions of a human arm.
o Humanoids - perform human-centric functions and often take human-like forms.
o Cobots - function alongside or directly with humans.
o Hybrids - capable of more complex tasks
● Ethical Dilemma/s Faced by Robotics
o Privacy & Surveillance - information privacy and the right to secrecy and personhood
o Manipulation of Behavior - vulnerability to “nudges”, manipulation, and deception
o Opacity of AI Systems - lack of due process, accountability, community engagement, and auditing
o Bias in Decision Systems - where and when police forces will be needed most
o Human-Robot Interaction – can not be replaced by robots: care, love, and sex.
o Ethical Dilemma/s Faced by Robotics
o Automation and Employment - “job polarization”
o Autonomous Systems - must adapt to or whether they just require technical adjustments.
o Machine Ethics - ensuring that the behavior of machines toward human users and other machines
o Artificial Moral Agents – robots having rights and responsibilities
o Singularity - trajectory of artificial intelligence reaches up to systems that have a human level of
intelligence
C. Specific Issues in STS
C.1. Information Age
C.1.1. Historical Development
● 21st century, also called Computer Age
● Characterized by rapid shift from traditional industry
● 4 Periods
o Pre-Mechanical – 3,000 BC to 1450 AD
o Mechanical – 1450-1840
o Electro-Mechanical – 1840-1940
o Electronic/Information – 1940 to present
● Clade Shannon, Father of Information Age
C.1.2. Living in the Information Age
● Advantages of Information Technology
● Globalization
● Communication
● Cos-effectiveness
● Creation of new jobs
C.2. Understanding Gene Therapy
C.2.1. Understanding Gene Therapy
● Gene therapy is a technique that uses a gene(s) to treat, prevent or cure a disease or medical disorder.
o adding new copies of a gene that is broken
o replacing a defective or missing gene in a patient’s cells with a healthy version of that gene
● Ex vivo - introducing normal genes in isolated cells from patients
● In vivo - introducing DNA directly into cells while they are in the patient.
● Genetic Engineering - It is a process to alter the DNA makeup of an organism by changing a single base pair (A-T
or C-G), deleting a region of DNA or adding a new segment of DNA.
C.2.2. Diseased People Cured by Fixing their Genes
● CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) to treat sickle cell anemia
● CAR-T cell therapy (Chimeric antigen receptor) to treat ccute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
● Lukturna, FDA approved voretigene neparvovecrzyl to treat retinal dystrophy
● Spinraza, FDA approved nusinersen to treat Spinal muscular atrophy
● Diseased People Cured by Fixing their Genes
C.2.3. Ethical Considerations
● Justice and equity
● Informed consent
● Genome-Editing Research Involving Embryos
● Safety
C.2.4. The Role of Genes in Heredity
● Gene is considered the basic unit of inheritance.
● Humans have approximately 20,000 protein-coding genes.
C.4. Nanotechnology
● Nanotechnology is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale (1 to 100 nm)
● Richard Feynman, Father of Nanotechnology
● Commercial Applications
o Body armor/vests
o Surface protection materials
o Solar panels
o Food products and packaging
o Transdermal patches
o Bandages
● Potential Uses
o Energy production
o Agriculture productivity
o Water treatment and remediation
o Disease screening and diagnosis
o Health monitoring
o Food processing and storing
o Air pollution control
o Construction
o Pest detection and control
▪ Orbital Changes
E. Environmental Awareness
E.1. Promotion of Environmental Awareness
● Components of Environmental Education
o Awareness and sensitivity
o Knowledge and understanding of the environment
o Attitude of concern and motivation to improve or maintain environment quality
o Skills to identify and help resolve
o Participation in activities that lead to resolution
E.2. Top 10 benefits of Environmental Education
o Heightened imagination and enthusiasm.
o Learning transcends the classroom
o Critical and creative thinking are enhanced
o Develop tolerance and understanding
o State and national learning standards are met for multiple subjects
o Decline in biophobia and nature deficit disorder
o Healthy lifestyle
o Communities are strengthened
o Responsible action is taken to better the environment
o Students and teacher are empowered.