Science and Technology in Society

Science and Technology #1

Vocabulary

• Engineering

• Feedback

• Goal

• Input

• Output

• Process

• Prototype

• Science

• Technology

• Universal Systems Model

What People Think

• Technology and engineering work together with science to help us better understand our world.

– Science seeks to understand the natural world.– Engineering uses scientific discoveries to design

new tools that can be used in science and to create new products.

– These new products and the processes used to create them are called technologies.

Some Scientific AdvancementsDate Historical Milestone Contributor

400 B.C. Concept of atom first proposed Democritus

140 A.D. Planets predicted to move in orbits Ptolemy

1543 Discovery that the sun was the center of the solar system

Nicolaus Copernicus

1665 Cells Discovered Robert Hooke

1687 Law of universal gravitation published Isaac Newton

1859 Theory of evolution proposed Charles Darwin

1869 Periodic Table Developed Dimitiri Mendeleev

1905 Theory of relativity published Albert Einstein

1951 DNA first photographed Rosalind Franklin

2007 Planet discovered circling a star 15 light years away

Dr. Jill Tarter

The Universal Systems Model

Goal

• The design process begins by identifying a need or problem that needs to be solved.– A company wants to develop a window that loses

less heat in the winter than most other windows.

• People do this by defining a goal to be achieved. – Define the goal that the engineers of the new

window want to achieve.__________________________________________

Input

• To meet the goal, the people must begin the input phase, or information gathering phase.– Research the problem.– Gather Data.– Identify constraints.

• From what sources could the people get information about windows?

_______________________________________

Process

• Once the input phase is complete, the next step is to brainstorm ideas and designs.

• The collected information is combined and summarized in the process phase.– People working in the process phase realize that

there is no one correct answer. – Rather there are many different answers.

Output

• Once the team agrees on a plan, the people will carry out the plan and get a result.

• This result is called an output.

• In our example, the people would put out their first version of the new window.– The first version of any new product is called a

prototype.

Feedback

• The people will then ask for feedback on the prototype.

• The people who provide the feedback are the same ones that who offered the original input.

• What do you think the people should do with the feedback on the prototype?

__________________________________________

Science in Everyday Life

• Knowledge and understanding of science and technology is essential for many careers.– Ex. Auto mechanics, Nurses, Artists and Potters,

Sales people, etc.

• Science offers a variety of opportunities for people with different interests and abilities.– Ex. Research scientist, Technology developer,

Veterinarian, Gaming, Engineering.

Science in Everyday Life

• Every citizen needs a basic knowledge of science and the ability to analyze and evaluate the effect of new technologies on society and the environment.

• A good understanding of science is necessary to make sound, informed choices for the future.