January 19, 2017

STS
Lecturer: Rodolfo S. Treyes, Ph.D.

Topic: What is Science, Technology, and Society (STS)?

Tuesday 7:00 8:30 a.m.

STS is an acronym for ScienceTechnologySociety. STS is recognized as reform in

science education across the world. The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) has
defined STS as the basic teaching and learning of science in the context of human experience.
It provides a setting and a reason for considering basic science and technology concepts and
process, as well as their applications to human experiences. UNESCO has also shifted its
emphasis from integrated science to STS. Therefore, STS becomes more suitable for all
learners. Many STS experts identify strands, lessons, topics, and special themes which labels
STS.

If we look at the definition of science, it states that: Science is a systematic body of

knowledge that is based on facts gathered through observations, experiences and experiments
in order to formulate a verifiable conclusion or law that serves as basis of technology for the
benefit of man and his environment. This idea of scientific knowledge, science processes,
technology, and their relation to human and environmental affairs are the focal point of the
definition of science. The definition reveals that the idea of science is STS in nature. The
definition of science expressed its constituents the knowledge, the process, and their function in
society and environmental issues.

At present, the idea of STS is an interdisciplinary field of study, which deals with how
science and technology influence society and in turn shape science and technology see figure 1
below.

Fig. 1 STS illustrates how science and technology

influence the society, and how science and
technology are influenced by the society.
 For example, the idea of sound learned in basic education level i.e. starting from grade 5
up to high school level. The concept is introduced utilizing the inquiry-based learning. The
lesson starts by asking What is sound?

Sound is a pressure wave which is created by a vibrating object. Sound is also a

mechanical wave resulting from the back and forth vibration of the particles of the medium
through which the wave is moving. These vibrations set particles in the surrounding medium
(typical air) in a wave vibrational motion, thus transporting energy through the medium, see
figure 2.

Fig. 2 An illustration of a sound wave.

Source: http://www.cs.toronto.edu/~gpenn/csc401/soundASR.pdf

How is sound transfer from person to person?

Alexander Graham Bell, developed a tool that facilitates the transmission of sound
(messages) from person to person in far distance. The telephone was invented by Alexander
Graham Bell, was granted the patent for the telephone on March 7, 1876, but he faced years of
legal battles on his claim that he was the sole inventor. Through the years, based on the need
of the users, engineers, designers, and artists were able to make innovations about the
telephone introduced by Bell.

The idea about mobile phone was conceived in 1908. It was Natahna B. Stubblefield
from Murray, Kentucky applied for the U.S. Patent 887, 357 for a wireless telephone. He
originally applied his patent to only radio telephone. But by doing this he only meant to develop
a telephone that could operate with strings. Mobile phone is actually a high-tech radio. At
present, mobile phones come in different style and according to the need or preference of the
users, see figure 3.

Fig. 3 the evolution of a modern telephone.

 Another example of STS in science learning is the about plants. Plants are important to
humans. Scientists have studied fundamental issues about plants: (1) development of plants,
(2) plants respond to their environment, (3) plants synthesize diversity of substances, which are
beneficial to humans and other living things.

What are the techniques used in propagating plant?

Tissue Culture Technique

Plant tissue culture involves the use of small pieces of plant tissue (explants) which are
cultured in a nutrient medium under sterile conditions, Figure 4. Plant tissue cultures
can be initiated from almost any part of a plant.

Fig. 4 Preparation of the carrot toot as Isolation of the carrot tissues and inoculation of carrot
the source of the tissue for tissue culture tissues into a growth medium

Formation of callus from the carrot tissues maintained Growing young carrot plants in the culture media.
in the culture medium and development of young
carrot plant from the callus.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a technique of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, (i.e. water
and fertilizers) without soil, Figure 5. Hydroponics is an efficient way to provide water and
nutrients to the plants being propagated.
 Fig 5 An example of a simple hydroponics system.
Source: http://ledlightsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Aquaponics-system.jpg

Plants grown using hydroponics method produce good crops because the impurities
from soil such as microorganisms, destructive pests, and competitive grasses are eliminated.
With hydroponics, water is enriched with these very same nutrient salts, formulating a
hydroponic nutrient solution that is perfectly balanced. And since this hydroponic nutrient
solution is contained, it does not harm the environment as does runoff from fertilized soil.
Additionally, very little water is lost to evaporation in a hydroponic system, owing to its
application in drought stricken areas. Figure below is an example of a hydroponic garden.

Fig. 6 Vegabale grown in a hydroponics system.

Source: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/f3/0e/10/f30e109386c643b974938940caca0390.jpg
 Fig 7 Tomato plants grown hydroponically.
Source: http://www.mustknowhow.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/05/Hydroponic-
Tomatoes-300x240.jpg
Gibberellic Acid and Plant

Gibberellins (gibberellic acids) first came to the attention of western scientists in 1950s,
they had been discovered much earlier in Japan. Rice farmers of Japan had long known of a
fungal disease called foolish seedling or bakanae disease in Japanese that causes rice plants to
grow taller and eliminated seed production. Plant pathologists found that these symptoms in rice
plant were induced by a chemical secreted by a pathogenic fungus, Gibberella fujikuroi.
Culturing this fungus in the laboratory and analyzing the culture filtrate enabled Japanese
scientists in the 1930s to obtain impure crystal of two fungal compounds possessing plant
growth promoting activity. One of these, because it was isolated from the fungus Gibberella,
was named gibberellin A. In 1950s scientists of Tokyo University separated and characterized 3
different gibberellins from gibberellin A sample, and named them gibberellin A1, gibberellin
A2 and gibberellin A3. The numbering system for gibberellins used in the past 50 y builds on this
initial nomenclature of gibberellins A1 (GA1), GA2, and GA3.

Fig 8. Pear untreated with gibberellic acid Pear treated with gibberellic acid
Organic Farming

Organic farming is a method of crop and livestock production that involves much more
than choosing not to use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, genetically modified organisms,
antibiotics and growth hormone.

Organic farming works in harmony with nature rather than against it. This involves using
techniques to achieve good crop yields without harming the natural environment or the people
who live and work in it. The methods and materials that organic farmers use are summarized as
follows: To keep and build good soil structure and fertility:

recycled and composted crop wastes and animal manures

the right soil cultivation at the right time
crop rotation
green manures and legumes
mulching on the soil surface.

The use of limited or small space gardening

Small space gardening has seen big growth in recent year. From rooftop gardens to
urban homesteads, people are taking back the control of their food supply by planting gardens.
Through creative gardening techniques, people are growing enough food to sustain their
families and have enough left over to sell and generate an income, producing high yields in
small spaces, Figure 9.

Fig 9. Vegatbale garden in a small space.

 STS provides ability for thinking critically and acting ethically and effectively in a
society influenced by science and technology.

References:

Ma. Dlucelina O. Sebastain and Rodolfo S. Treyes (2003). Preparation of Plant Material For
Tissue Culture. Power Point Presentation. Short-term Course on Techniques in Plant
Tissue Culture. University of the Philippines National Institute for Science and
Mathematics Education Development Quezon City.

Yager, R.E. (1992). The status of science-technology-society reform efforts around the world.
International Council of Associations for Science Education (ICASE). ICASE Yearbook
1992. UK.

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