science technology society essay

Essay on Science and Technology for Students and Children

500+ words essay on science and technology.

Essay on Science and Technology: Science and technology are important parts of our day to day life. We get up in the morning from the ringing of our alarm clocks and go to bed at night after switching our lights off. All these luxuries that we are able to afford are a resultant of science and technology . Most importantly, how we can do all this in a short time are because of the advancement of science and technology only. It is hard to imagine our life now without science and technology. Indeed our existence itself depends on it now. Every day new technologies are coming up which are making human life easier and more comfortable. Thus, we live in an era of science and technology.

Essentially, Science and Technology have introduced us to the establishment of modern civilization . This development contributes greatly to almost every aspect of our daily life. Hence, people get the chance to enjoy these results, which make our lives more relaxed and pleasurable.

Benefits of Science and Technology

If we think about it, there are numerous benefits of science and technology. They range from the little things to the big ones. For instance, the morning paper which we read that delivers us reliable information is a result of scientific progress. In addition, the electrical devices without which life is hard to imagine like a refrigerator, AC, microwave and more are a result of technological advancement.

Furthermore, if we look at the transport scenario, we notice how science and technology play a major role here as well. We can quickly reach the other part of the earth within hours, all thanks to advancing technology.

In addition, science and technology have enabled man to look further than our planet. The discovery of new planets and the establishment of satellites in space is because of the very same science and technology. Similarly, science and technology have also made an impact on the medical and agricultural fields. The various cures being discovered for diseases have saved millions of lives through science. Moreover, technology has enhanced the production of different crops benefitting the farmers largely.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

India and Science and Technology

Ever since British rule, India has been in talks all over the world. After gaining independence, it is science and technology which helped India advance through times. Now, it has become an essential source of creative and foundational scientific developments all over the world. In other words, all the incredible scientific and technological advancements of our country have enhanced the Indian economy.

Looking at the most recent achievement, India successfully launched Chandrayaan 2. This lunar exploration of India has earned critical acclaim from all over the world. Once again, this achievement was made possible due to science and technology.

In conclusion, we must admit that science and technology have led human civilization to achieve perfection in living. However, we must utilize everything in wise perspectives and to limited extents. Misuse of science and technology can produce harmful consequences. Therefore, we must monitor the use and be wise in our actions.

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The Program in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) focuses on the ways in which scientific, technological, and social factors interact to shape modern life. The program brings together humanists, social scientists, engineers, and natural scientists, all committed to transcending the boundaries of their disciplines in a joint search for new insights and new ways of reaching science and engineering students. The goal of the program is to set up a forum to explore the relationship between what scientists and engineers do and the constraints, needs, and responses of society.

Located in a major university where most people study science and engineering, STS is dedicated to understanding the context of science and engineering.

STS as a Second Major

Joint degree programs, minor in science, technology, and society, undergraduate study.

MIT students are increasingly seeking to understand the social and historical contexts in which they will work and the social consequences of what they will do in their professional careers. STS subjects help them think realistically and creatively about the intellectual, moral, political, and social issues raised by the rapid growth of science and technology in the 20th century and beyond.

STS contributes to undergraduate education at MIT in several ways. It offers general subjects to introduce students to broad social and intellectual perspectives on science and engineering fields. It also offers more specialized subjects in the history of science and technology and in social and cultural studies of science and technology. Within each of these categories, students can choose both introductory and more advanced subjects.

Students who wish to integrate their professional study of engineering or science with a rigorous treatment of its relation to social and historical forces may pursue STS as a second major in cooperation with the Schools of Engineering and Science. The object of this program is to give those students the full technical and scientific education provided by a science or engineering major, balanced with intensive study of the historical and social contexts of science and technology. Double major applications from students in other schools (e.g., Architecture and Planning; Management; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students in the double major program must complete all the requirements of both majors. The STS requirements include 13 subjects as follows:

STS.004 Intersections: Science, Technology, and the World

• At least one STS Tier I subject , in addition to STS.004
• At least one STS Tier II subject  
• Four other STS subjects
• Four subjects related to the historical and social study of science and technology
• STS.THT Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial  

STS.THU Undergraduate Thesis

If a student's other major also requires a thesis, students may coordinate their thesis effort, pending approval of undergraduate officers in both majors. Further details on the requirements of the STS program may be obtained from the STS undergraduate academic officer and the STS academic administrator.

Students who wish to integrate studies in STS and science or engineering in the context of a single degree should consider this program. It leads to one degree, either a Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Science or a Bachelor of Science in Humanities and Engineering. The STS requirement for either degree is 9 subjects as follows:

Consult the 21E and 21S degree charts for details on the requirements for these joint degrees. Further details may be obtained from the SHASS Dean's Office , Room 4-240, and the STS academic administrator.

The goal of the minor program is to give students a broad social perspective on the fields of engineering and science: how they have evolved and how they fit into the wider context of society, culture, politics, and values.

The Minor in Science, Technology, and Society consists of six STS subjects, including STS.004 , at least one additional subject from the Tier I list, and at least one subject from the Tier II list.

Graduate Study

In collaboration, STS, the History Faculty, and the Anthropology Program offer a doctoral program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology, and Society (HASTS).

The objective of the program is to develop advanced competence in the study of science and technology from a historical and social scientific perspective. Students are expected to develop professional mastery of a field of history or one of the social sciences. They must also master the underlying concepts in science and engineering that relate to their special field of interest.

Graduate students are required to take at least 10 subjects and usually complete them within their first two years. In addition, students must complete STS.840 HASTS Professional Perspective . Normally, all students take the following required introductory seminars in their first year:

Students are encouraged to take 21A.809 Designing Empirical Research in the Social Sciences or 21A.819 Ethnographic Research Methods at some point in their program. To fulfill the remaining subject requirement, students choose from among several departmental seminars designed to offer more in-depth study of particular topics. They may also take subjects offered by other MIT departments and through cross-registration with Harvard.

Students enrolled in the PhD program have the option to earn a SM in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology and Society (HASTS) en route to the PhD by satisfactorily completing first year requirements, submitting a master’s thesis, and completing six subjects (72 units) including the three required seminars above.

Upon the satisfactory completion of coursework, program milestones, and general examinations — normally all to be completed by the third year — students proceed to independent dissertation research and dissertation writing with the mentorship and guidance of a multidisciplinary dissertation committee.

Students from any academic discipline are invited to apply to the doctoral program.

Visit the website for additional information about the HASTS graduate program or contact the STS academic administrator , Room E51-163, 617-253-9759.

Faculty and Teaching Staff

Deborah K. Fitzgerald, PhD

Leverett Howell Cutten '07 and William King Cutten '39 Professor of the History of Technology

Head, Program in Science, Technology, and Society

Kate Brown, PhD

Thomas M. Siebel Distinguished Professor in the History of Science

Professor of Science, Technology, and Society

Michael M. J. Fischer, PhD

Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities

Professor of Science and Technology Studies

Professor of Anthropology

David I. Kaiser, PhD

Germeshausen Professor of the History of Science

Professor of Physics

(On leave, fall)

Jennifer S. Light, PhD

Bern Dibner Professor of the History of Science and Technology

Professor of Urban Studies and Planning

Kenneth R. Manning, PhD

Thomas Meloy Professor of Rhetoric

Chakanetsa Mavhunga, PhD

David A. Mindell, PhD

Frances and David Dibner Professor in the History of Engineering and Manufacturing

Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Merritt Roe Smith, PhD

Professor of History

Sherry R. Turkle, PhD

Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology

Associate Professors

Dwaipayan Banerjee, PhD

Associate Professor of Science, Technology, and Society

William Deringer, PhD

Eden Medina, PhD

Robin Scheffler, PhD

(On leave, spring)

Assistant Professors

Eli Nelson, PhD

Ford Career Development Assistant Professor of Science, Technology, and Society

Adjunct Professors

John R. Durant, PhD

Adjunct Professor of Science, Technology, and Society

Professors Emeriti

Louis L. Bucciarelli Jr, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Engineering and Technology Studies

Loren Graham, PhD

Professor Emeritus of the History of Science

Evelyn Fox Keller, PhD

Professor Emerita of the History and Philosophy of Science

Theodore A. Postol, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and National Security Policy

Eugene B. Skolnikoff, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Political Science

Professor Emeritus of Science, Technology, and Society

Rosalind H. Williams, PhD

Professor Emerita of Science, Technology, and Society

Undergraduate Subjects

Tier i subjects, sts.001 technology in american history.

Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

A survey of America's transition from a rural, agrarian, and artisan society to one of the world's leading industrial powers. Treats the emergence of industrial capitalism: the rise of the factory system; new forms of power, transport, and communication; the advent of the large industrial corporation; the social relations of production; and the hallmarks of science-based industry. Views technology as part of the larger culture and reveals innovation as a process consisting of a range of possibilities that are chosen or rejected according to the social criteria of the time.

M. R. Smith

STS.002 Finance and Society

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

Examines finance as a social technology intended to improve economic opportunity by moving capital to where it is most needed. Surveys the history of modern finance, from medieval Italy to the Great Depression, while addressing credit, finance and state (and imperial) power, global financial interconnection, and financial crises. Explores modern finance (since about 1950) from a variety of historical and social-scientific perspectives, covering quant finance, financialization, the crisis of 2007-2008, and finance in the digital age. Enrollment limited.

W. Deringer

STS.003 Ancient Greeks to Modern Geeks: A History of Science

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

Covers the development of major fields in the physical and life sciences, from 18th-century Europe through 20th-century America. Examines ideas, institutions, and the social settings of the sciences, with emphasis on how cultural contexts influence scientific concepts and practices.

W. Deringer, D. I. Kaiser

Exposes students to multidisciplinary studies in Science, Technology, and Society (STS), using four case studies to illustrate a broad range of approaches to basic principles of STS studies. Case studies vary from year to year, but always include a current MIT event. Other topics are drawn from legal and political conflicts, and arts and communication media. Includes guest presenters, discussion groups, field activities, visual media, and a practicum style of learning. Enrollment limited.

D. Fitzgerald

STS.005[J] Data and Society

Same subject as 11.155[J] , IDS.057[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Introduces students to the social, political, and ethical aspects of data science work. Designed to create reflective practitioners who are able to think critically about how collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data are social processes and processes that affect people.

E. Medina, S. Williams

STS.006[J] Bioethics

Same subject as 24.06[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

See description under subject 24.06[J] .

R. Scheffler

STS.008 Technology and Experience

Introduces the "inner history" of technology: how it affects intimate aspects of human experience from sociological, psychological and anthropological perspectives. Topics vary, but may include how the internet transforms our experience of time, space, privacy, and social engagement; how entertainment media affects attention, creativity, aesthetics and emotion; how innovations in wearable and textile technologies reshape notions of history and identity; how pharmaceuticals reshape identity, mood, pain, and pleasure. Includes in-class discussion of readings, short written and multimedia assignments, final project. Enrollment limited.

STS.009 Evolution and Society

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

Provides a broad conceptual and historical introduction to scientific theories of evolution and their place in the wider culture. Embraces historical, scientific and anthropological/cultural perspectives grounded in relevant developments in the biological sciences since 1800 that are largely responsible for the development of the modern theory of evolution by natural selection. Students read key texts, analyze key debates (e.g. Darwinian debates in the 19th century, and the creation controversies in the 20th century) and give class presentations.

J. Durant, R. Scheffler

STS.011 Engineering Life: Biotechnology and Society

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Provides instruction in the history of humanity's efforts to control and shape life through biotechnology, from agriculture to gene editing. Examines the technologies, individuals and socio-economic systems that are associated with such efforts, as well as the impact that these efforts have on society and science as a whole. Explores these issues with particular attention to the development of the modern biotechnology industry in the Greater Boston area. Includes a field trip.

R. W. Scheffler

STS.012 Science in Action: Technologies and Controversies in Everyday Life

Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Explores a range of controversies about the role of technology, the nature of scientific research and the place of politics in science: debates about digital piracy and privacy, the role of activism in science, the increasingly unclear boundaries between human and non-human, the role of MRIs as courtroom evidence, the potential influence of gender on scientific research, etc. Provides exposure to science in a dynamic relation with social life and cultural ideas. Materials draw from humanities and social science research, ethnographic fieldwork, films and science podcasts, as well as from experimental multimedia. Enrollment limited.

D. Banerjee

STS.014 Embodied Education: Past, Present, Future

Discusses recent scientific and educational research that finds that the human body in motion is a medium for learning. Explores how and why physical education was integrated into the US educational system while remaining separate from academic subjects — and how and why 21st-century institutions might combine the two. Weekly in-lecture labs demonstrate how exercise can inform academic instruction and invite students to create future curricula. Students who enroll in this class may receive both HASS-S credit for it and may enroll to earn two Physical Education and Wellness (PE&W) points. Limited to 20.

J. S. Light, DAPER Instructors

Tier II Subjects

Sts.021[j] science activism: gender, race, and power.

Same subject as WGS.160[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-E

See description under subject WGS.160[J] .

E. Bertschinger

STS.022[J] Gender, Race, and Environmental Justice

Same subject as 21A.407[J] , 21G.057[J] , WGS.275[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Provides an introduction to the analysis of gender in science, technology, and environmental politics from a global perspective. Familiarizes students with central objects, questions, and methods in the field. Examines existent critiques of the racial, sexual and environmental politics at stake in techno-scientific cultures. Draws on material from popular culture, media, fiction, film, and ethnography. Addressing specific examples from across the globe, students also explore different approaches to build more livable environments that promote social justice. Taught in English. Limited to 18.

B. Stoetzer

STS.023[J] Science, Gender and Social Inequality in the Developing World

Same subject as WGS.226[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

See description under subject WGS.226[J] .

STS.025[J] Making the Modern World: The Industrial Revolution in Global Perspective

Same subject as 21H.285[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Global survey of the great transformation in history known as the "Industrial Revolution." Topics include origins of mechanized production, the factory system, steam propulsion, electrification, mass communications, mass production and automation. Emphasis on the transfer of technology and its many adaptations around the world. Countries treated include Great Britain, France, Germany, the US, Sweden, Russia, Japan, China, and India. Includes brief reflection papers and a final paper.

STS.026 History of Manufacturing in America

Subject meets with STS.425 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Introductory survey of fundamental innovations and transitions in American manufacturing from the colonial period to the mid-twentieth century. Primary emphasis on textiles and metalworking, with particular attention to the role of the machine tool industry in the American manufacturing economy. Students taking graduate version are expected to explore the material in greater depth.

STS.027[J] The Civil War and the Emergence of Modern America: 1861-1890

Same subject as 21H.205[J] Subject meets with STS.427 Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Using the American Civil War as a baseline, considers what it means to become "modern" by exploring the war's material and manpower needs, associated key technologies, and how both influenced the United States' entrance into the age of "Big Business." Readings include material on steam transportation, telegraphic communications, arms production, naval innovation, food processing, medicine, public health, management methods, and the mass production of everything from underwear to uniforms – all essential ingredients of modernity. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments.

STS.028 Seven Wonders of the Engineering World

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Uses case studies to take a broad-ranging look at seven major engineering achievements in world history. Examines the nature of engineering as a source of knowledge production/application, how it reflects the cultural settings in which it emerges, and how it changes as it enters different cultural and economic settings. Includes weekly reflection papers. Achievements covered vary from term to term. Limited to 20.

STS.030 Forensic History: Problem Solving into the Past

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Explores new pathways to use the latest science and technologies to understand the past. Working like detectives, students draw on research methods from such fields as climate science, geology, molecular biology, proteomics, DNA testing, carbon dating and big data analysis to invent their own forensic historical research techniques. They also study new narrative forms to accompany novel research techniques. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Enrollment limited.

STS.031[J] Environment and History

Same subject as 12.386[J] , 21H.185[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-S; CI-H

See description under subject 21H.185[J] . Enrollment limited.

K. Brown, S. Solomon

STS.032 Energy, Environment, and Society

Uses a problem-solving, multi-disciplinary, and multicultural approach that takes energy beyond the complex circuits, grids, and kilojoules to the realm of everyday life, with ordinary people as practitioners and producers of energy knowledge, infrastructures, and technologies. The three main objectives are to immerse students in the historical, cultural, multi-cultural, and entrepreneurial aspects of energy across the world to make them better energy engineers; to introduce them to research and analytical methods; and to deploy these methods and their various skills to solve/design a solution, in groups, to a specific energy problem chosen by the students. Each cohort tackles a different energy problem. Provides instruction on how to be active shapers of the world and to bring students' various disciplinary skills and cultural diversity into dialogue as conceptual tools for problem-solving. Enrollment limited.

C. Mavhunga

STS.033[J] People and the Planet: Environmental Histories and Engineering

Same subject as 11.004[J] Subject meets with 11.204[J] , IDS.524[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-3-6 units. HASS-E

See description under subject 11.004[J] .

A. Slocum, R. Scheffler, J. Trancik

STS.034 Science Communication: A Practical Guide

Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

Develops students' abilities to communicate science effectively in a variety of real-world contexts. Covers strategies for dealing with complex areas like theoretical physics, genomics and neuroscience, and addresses challenges in communicating about topics such as climate change and evolution. Projects focus on speaking and writing, being an expert witness, preparing briefings for policy-makers, writing blogs, giving live interviews for broadcast, and influencing public dialogue through opinion-editorials. Enrollment limited.

B. Venkataraman

STS.035 Exhibiting Science

Prereq: One CI-H/CI-HW subject and permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 2-2-8 units. HASS-A

Project-based seminar covers key topics in museum communication, including science learning in informal settings, the role of artifacts and interactives, and exhibit evaluation. Students work on a term-long project, organized around the design, fabrication, and installation of an original multimedia exhibit about current scientific research at MIT. Culminates with the project's installation in the MIT Museum's Mark Epstein Innovation Gallery. Limited to 20; preference to students who have taken STS.034 .

STS.036 Science in American Life: 1920-2020

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Assesses the place of science in American public life from the 1920s to the present. Takes a historically inflected approach to examine the social relations of science in the modern United States. Examines science and (in turn) religion, warfare, health, education, the environment, and human rights to explore how an international leader in science is also home to some of the developed world's most persistent forms of "science denialism." Examples include the denial of evolution, human-induced climate change, and particular medical-scientific aspects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

STS.038 Risky Business: Food Production, Environment, and Health (New)

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 2-1-9 units. HASS-H

Follows the shifts in food production between small-holder, local production to large-scale industries and back again to "localvore" food production in the 19th and 20th centuries. Tracks how people grew anxious about health risks associated with modern food over time. In a weekly lab, students build a compost production facility and/or a segment of a perennial food forest. Discusses food politics, food security and justice, food sustainability and safety, and first steps in growing one's own food. Limited to 25.

STS.040 A Global History of Commodities

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

Inspires students to think about production chains in ways that reflect their impact on the environment, labor practices, and human health. Examines how commodities connect distant places through a chain of relationships, and link people, e.g., enslaved African producers with middle-class American consumers, and Asian factory workers with Europeans taking a holiday on the beach. Studies how mass production and mass demand for commodities, such as real estate, bananas, rubber, corn, and beef, in the 20th century changed the way people worked, lived, and saw themselves as they adopted new technologies to produce and consume in radically different ways from their parents and grandparents. Assignments include creation of a board game for buying and selling real estate in Boston, a two-minute mini-documentary, and an article on a commodity and country. Limited to 25.

STS.041 Exercise is Medicine: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Health Care Systems (New)

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

Explores the history of exercise in preventing and curing physical and mental illness. Combines readings and discussion with experiential learning. Doing Yoga and Qigong alongside readings on Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine enables students to viscerally experience concepts in medical history such as prana and chi; activities including Pilates and High Intensity Interval Training deepen students' understanding of the challenges integrating scientific discovery into everyday life. Students who enroll in this class may receive both HASS-S credit for it and may enroll to earn two Physical Education and Wellness (PE&W) points.

J. S. Light

STS.042[J] Einstein, Oppenheimer, Feynman: Physics in the 20th Century

Same subject as 8.225[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Explores the changing roles of physics and physicists during the 20th century. Topics range from relativity theory and quantum mechanics to high-energy physics and cosmology. Examines the development of modern physics within shifting institutional, cultural, and political contexts, such as physics in Imperial Britain, Nazi Germany, US efforts during World War II, and physicists' roles during the Cold War. Enrollment limited.

D. I. Kaiser

STS.043 Technology and Self: Science, Technology, and Memoir

Subject meets with STS.443 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 2-0-7 units. HASS-S

Focuses on the memoir as a window onto the relationship of creative people (scientists, engineers, designers, and others) to their work. Examines how class, race, ethnicity, family history, and trauma shape the person who shapes artifacts, experiments, and ideas. Readings explore the connection between material culture, identity, and personal development. Offers the opportunity, if desired, to examine personal experiences and write memoir fragments. Students taking graduate version write a longer final paper. Limited to 15; no listeners.

STS.044 Technology and Self: Things and Thinking

Subject meets with STS.444 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 2-0-7 units. HASS-S

Explores emotional and intellectual impact of objects. The growing literature on cognition and "things" cuts across anthropology, history, social theory, literature, sociology, and psychology and is of great relevance to science students. Examines the range of theories, from Mary Douglas in anthropology to D. W. Winnicott in psychoanalytic thinking, that underlies "thing" or "object" analysis. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15; no listeners.

STS.046[J] The Science of Race, Sex, and Gender

Same subject as 21A.103[J] , WGS.225[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject WGS.225[J] .

STS.047 Quantifying People: A History of Social Science

Historical examination of the quest to understand human society scientifically. Focuses on quantification, including its central role in the historical development of social science and its importance in the 21st-century data age. Covers the political arithmetic of the 17th century to the present. Emphasizes intensive reading of primary sources, which represent past attempts to count, calculate, measure, and model many dimensions of human social life (population, wealth, health, happiness, intelligence, crime, deviance, race). Limited to 25.

STS.048 African Americans in Science, Technology, and Medicine

Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

A survey of the contributions of African Americans to science, technology, and medicine from colonial times to the present. Explores the impact of concepts, trends, and developments in science, technology, and medicine on the lives of African Americans. Examples include the eugenics movement, the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, the debate surrounding racial inheritance, and IQ testing.

STS.049 The Long War Against Cancer

Examines anticancer efforts as a critical area for the formation of contemporary biomedical explanations for health and disease. Begins with the premise that the most significant implications of these efforts extend far beyond the success or failure of individual cancer therapies. Considers developments in the epidemiology, therapy, and politics of cancer. Uses the history of cancer to connect the history of biology and medicine to larger social and cultural developments, including those in bioethics, race, gender, activism, markets, and governance.

STS.050 The History of MIT

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Examines the history of MIT, from its founding to the present, through the lens of the history of science and technology. Topics include William Barton Rogers; the modern research university and educational philosophy; campus, intellectual, and organizational development; changing laboratories and practices; MIT's relationship with Boston, the federal government, and industry; and notable activities and achievements of students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Includes guest lecturers, on-campus field trips, and interactive exercises. Enrollment limited.

STS.051[J] Documenting MIT Communities

Same subject as 4.626[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 2-0-7 units. HASS-H

Researches the history and culture of an MIT community to contribute to its documentation and preservation. Through the practice of doing original research, students learn about the history of an MIT community. Provides instruction in the methods historians use to document the past, as well as methods from related fields.

STS.053 Multidisciplinary Interactive Learning Through Problem-Solving

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-E

Interdisciplinary problem-solving at the intersection of humanities, science, engineering, and business. Team-taught face-to-face classes at multiple US and African universities connected live via Zoom. Divided into four sections/assessments: US and African histories, cultures, politics, and development relations; HASS as a problem-solving tool; STEM applications to real-life problem-solving; and introduction to summer field-class sites or exchange programs. Goal is to equip students with skills for team-based trans-disciplinary and cross-cultural problem-solving.

C. C. Mavhunga

STS.055[J] Living Dangerously: Environmental Problems from 1900 to Today

Same subject as 12.384[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H; CI-H

See description under subject 12.384[J] . Limited to 18.

S. Solomon, K. Brown

STS.060[J] The Anthropology of Biology

Same subject as 21A.303[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 21A.303[J] .

S. Helmreich

STS.064[J] DV Lab: Documenting Science through Video and New Media

Same subject as 21A.550[J] Subject meets with 21A.559 Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-3-6 units. HASS-A; CI-H

See description under subject 21A.550[J] . Limited to 12.

C. Walley, C. Boebel

STS.065[J] The Anthropology of Sound

Same subject as 21A.505[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 21A.505[J] .

STS.074[J] Art, Craft, Science

Same subject as 21A.501[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S Credit cannot also be received for 21A.509[J] , STS.474[J]

See description under subject 21A.501[J] .

STS.075[J] Technology and Culture

Same subject as 21A.500[J] Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) 2-0-7 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 21A.500[J] . Limited to 50.

STS.080[J] Youth Political Participation

Same subject as 11.151[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H

Surveys youth political participation in the US since the early 1800s. Investigates trends in youth political activism during specific historical periods, as well as what difference youth media production and technology use (e.g., radio, music, automobiles, ready-made clothing) made in determining the course of events. Explores what is truly new about "new media" and reviews lessons from history for present-day activists based on patterns of past failure and success. Some mandatory field trips may occur during class time. Limited to 40.

STS.081[J] Innovation Systems for Science, Technology, Energy, Manufacturing, and Health

Same subject as 17.395[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 2-0-7 units. HASS-S

Examines science and technology innovation systems, including case studies on energy, computing, advanced manufacturing, and health sectors. Emphasizes public policy and the federal government's role in that system. Focuses on the US but uses international examples. Reviews foundations of economic growth theory, innovation systems theory, and the basic approaches to science and technology policy. Explores the organization and role of energy and medical science R&D agencies, as well as gaps in those innovation systems. Also addresses the science and technology talent base as a factor in growth, and educational approaches to better support it. Class meets for nine weeks; in the remaining weeks, students work on a final paper due at the end of the term. Limited to 25.

W. B. Bonvillian

STS.082[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Same subject as 17.309[J] , IDS.055[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units. HASS-S; CI-H Credit cannot also be received for 17.310[J] , IDS.412[J] , STS.482[J]

See description under subject 17.309[J] .

K. Oye, N. Selin

STS.083 Computers and Social Change

Provides instruction on how people have historically connected computers to ideas on social, economic, and political change and how these ideas have changed over time. Based on a series of case studies from different parts of the world. Explores topics such as how computers have intertwined with ideas on work, freedom, governance, and access to knowledge. Limited to 25.

STS.084[J] Social Problems of Nuclear Energy

Same subject as 22.04[J] Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 22.04[J] . Limited to 18.

STS.085[J] Foundations of Information Policy

Same subject as 6.4590[J] Subject meets with STS.487 Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 6.4590[J] . Enrollment limited.

H. Abelson, M. Fischer, D. Weitzner

STS.086[J] Cultures of Computing

Same subject as 21A.504[J] , WGS.276[J] Prereq: None U (Spring) 3-0-9 units. HASS-S

See description under subject 21A.504[J] .

STS.087 Biography in Science

An examination of biography as a literary genre to be employed in the history of science. The use of biography in different historical periods to illuminate aspects of the development of science. A critical analysis of autobiography, archival sources, and the oral tradition as materials in the construction of biographies of scientists. Published biographies of scientists constitute the major reading, but attention is given to unpublished biographical sources as well. Comparison is drawn between biography as a literary form in the history of science and in other disciplines.

STS.088 Africa for Engineers

Covers historical, cultural, and ethical dimensions of engineering in Africa. Focuses on construction of big projects like cities, hydroelectricity dams, roads, railway lines, ports and harbors, transport and communication, mines, industrial processing plant, and plantations. Explores the contributions of big capital, engineers, politicians, and ordinary people. Emphasizes how local culture, politics, labor, and knowledge affect engineering. Also focuses on environmental and cultural impact assessment. Prepares students who wish to work or study in Africa and the Global South. Enrollment limited.

STS.095, STS.096 Independent Study in Science, Technology, and Society

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For students who wish to pursue special studies or projects with a member of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society. STS.095 is letter-graded; STS.096 is P/D/F.

Special Subjects

Sts.s20, sts.s21 special subject: science, technology and society.

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: U (IAP) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Addresses subject matter in Science, Technology and Society that is not offered in the regular curriculum.

STS.UR Undergraduate Research

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

Undergraduate research opportunities in the STS Program.

STS.URG Undergraduate Research

Prereq: None U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

STS.THT Undergraduate Thesis Tutorial

Prereq: None U (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Definition and early-stage work on thesis project leading to STS.THU . Taken during first term of student's two-term commitment to thesis project. Student works closely with STS faculty tutor. Required of all candidates for an STS degree.

Prereq: STS.THT U (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Completion of work of the senior major thesis under the supervision of a faculty tutor. Includes gathering materials, preparing draft chapters, giving an oral presentation of thesis progress to faculty evaluators early in the term, and writing and revising the final text. Students meet at the end of the term with faculty evaluators to discuss the successes and limitations of the project. Required of all candidates for an STS degree.

Graduate Subjects

Required introductory subjects, sts.250[j] social theory and analysis.

Same subject as 21A.859[J] Prereq: None G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 21A.859[J] .

STS.260 Introduction to Science, Technology, and Society

Prereq: None G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Intensive reading and analysis of major works in historical and social studies of science and technology. Introduction to current methodological approaches, centered around two primary questions: how have science and technology evolved as human activities, and what roles do they play in society? Preparation for graduate work in the field of science and technology studies and introduction to research resources and professional standards.

Advanced Seminars

Sts.310 history of science.

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Intensive reading and analysis of key works in the history and historiography of science. Introduces students to basic interpretive issues, bibliographic sources, and professional standards. Topics change from year to year.

STS.320[J] Environmental Conflict

Same subject as 21A.429[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Explores the complex interrelationships among humans and natural environments, focusing on non-western parts of the world in addition to Europe and the United States. Use of environmental conflict to draw attention to competing understandings and uses of "nature" as well as the local, national and transnational power relationships in which environmental interactions are embedded. In addition to utilizing a range of theoretical perspectives, subject draws upon a series of ethnographic case studies of environmental conflicts in various parts of the world.

STS.330[J] History and Anthropology of Medicine and Biology

Same subject as 21A.319[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 21A.319[J] .

STS.340 Introduction to the History of Technology

Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Introduction to the consideration of technology as the outcome of particular technical, historical, cultural, and political efforts, especially in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include industrialization of production and consumption, development of engineering professions, the emergence of management and its role in shaping technological forms, the technological construction of gender roles, and the relationship between humans and machines.

M. R. Smith, D. Mindell

STS.360[J] Ethnography

Same subject as 21A.829[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Practicum style course introduces students to ethnographic methods and writing in global health research. Organized around interviewing and observational assignments. Students develop a bibliography of  anthropological and ethnographic writing relevant to their project, and write a short paper about integrating ethnographic methods into a future research project. Preference to HASTS students; open to others with permission of instructor.

STS.412 Quantification

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Surveys research on quantification, the practice of using numerical data and calculation to analyze, order, and control. Begins by examining historical accounts of the rise of quantitative methods and values since c. 1600. Goes on to explore the dynamics and consequences of quantification across a range of modern domains, including science, politics, governance, health, education, crime, law, economic development, finance, and environmental regulation. Readings drawn from STS, history, anthropology, sociology, and philosophy.

STS.414[J] Risk, Fortune, and Futurity

Same subject as 21H.984[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 21H.984[J] . Open to undergraduates with permission of instructor; consult department for details.

W. Deringer, C. Horan

STS.417 STS Seminar on the Global South

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Covers Africa and its diaspora, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Asia, and Oceania. Seeks to explore meanings of science and technology from traditions, experiences, and literatures of these regions; to understand encounters and outcomes of endogenous and inbound ideas, artifacts, and practice; and to engage European and North American science, technology, and society (STS) in dialogue with these literatures. Provides a global view of STS in an increasingly interconnected world. Focuses on peoples of the Global South as innovative intellectual agents, not just victims of technology or its appropriators.

STS.419 Global STS: Ethnography, Literature, and Film

Going beyond issues of brain drain and brain circulation, explores how contemporary science and technology innovations look from, and are being created in, parts of the world other than the US and Europe. Uses films, novels, and artworks to think across disciplinary boundaries and the impact of science and technology on social worlds (as well as the social worlds of scientists and engineers). Open to upperclassmen with permission of instructor.

STS.421 Graduate Super-Seminar on Global South Cosmologies and Epistemologies

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Team-taught subject that centers Global South cosmologies and epistemologies marginalized by colonization, slavery, and racism across the world. Explores how different societies make sense of and develop knowledges of the physical and animate world, and what it means to be human(e) within it. Opens up trans-hemispheric conversations between constituencies that seldom talk to each other, each bringing its ways of seeing, thinking, knowing, and doing to the matrix to mutually inform one another. Goal is to build qualitative — not just quantitative — diversity (i.e., diversity as method of learning and thinking).

STS.424[J] Race, History, and the Built Environment

Same subject as 11.244[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 11.244[J] . Limited to 14 students.

Erica James

STS.425 History of Manufacturing in America

Subject meets with STS.026 Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

STS.427 The Civil War and the Emergence of Modern America: 1861-1890

Subject meets with 21H.205[J] , STS.027[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

STS.430 Multi-Species Histories of Plant People, Wild and Cultivated

Examines how centering plants changes our understanding of what it means to be human. Considers how, in response to the naming of the Anthropocene and anxieties over ecological crises, researchers in various fields have turned to plants as central players. Using this as a starting point, explores how researchers have described and re-calibrated relations among plants, humans, and environment, between life and non-life, action and being, subjectivity and autonomy in ways that radically altered ruling epistemologies in a range of disciplines. Looks at how philosophers, farmers, foresters, eco-critics, geographers, botanists, and popular science writers adapted research questions and narratives to incorporate not only plant uses, but plant intelligence and sentience.

STS.432[J] Narrating the Anthropocene: Understanding a Multi-Species Universe (New)

Same subject as 21H.990[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Examines human concern about the planet and how that fixation shapes concepts of time & space, knowledge-production, understandings of what it means to be human and non-human, as well as trends in scholarship, art, culture & politics. Indexes the way numerous actors and institutions came to understand, debate & narrate the Anthropocene, a geological epoch defined by human-induced climate change. Explores how it as a concept has opened up new ways of understanding relations within the planet, including care, accountability & multi-species mutualism. Considers narrative registers as well, how scholars, writers, artists & working people narrate the Anthropocene. Students undertake an original project in research &/or experimental narrative forms inspired by the reading. Limited to 12.

K. Brown, M. Black

STS.436 Cold War Science

Examines the history and legacy of the Cold War on science and the environment in the US and the world. Explores scientists' new political roles after World War II, ranging from elite policy makers in the nuclear age to victims of domestic anti-Communism. Also examines the changing institutions in which various scientific fields were conducted during the postwar decades, investigating possible epistemic effects on forms of knowledge. Subject closes by considering the places of science in the US during the post-Cold War era.

K. Brown, D. I. Kaiser

STS.441 Technology and Self: Technology and Conversation

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 2-0-10 units

Explores the relationship between technology and conversation, with an emphasis on conversation in our digital age when so many say they would rather text than talk. Topics center on the psychology of online life, such as the way in which we both share and withhold information about the self. Discussion about the ways new kinds of online conversation are playing out in education, the workplace, and in families and what the changes in conversation mean for collaboration, innovation, and leadership. Readings include works in history, literature, anthropology, psychology, and linguistics. Open to undergraduates by permission of instructor. Limited to 15; no listeners.

STS.443 Technology and Self: Science, Technology, and Memoir

Subject meets with STS.043 Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 2-0-7 units

STS.444 Technology and Self: Things and Thinking

Subject meets with STS.044 Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 2-0-7 units

Explores emotional and intellectual impact of objects. The growing literature on cognition and “things” cuts across anthropology, history, social theory, literature, sociology, and psychology and is of great relevance to science students. Examines the range of theories, from Mary Douglas in anthropology to D.W. Winnicott in psychoanalytic thinking, that underlies “thing” or “object” analysis. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Limited to 15; no listeners.

STS.454 Museums, Science and Technology

Examines science, technology and museums. Includes regular readings and discussions about the evolution of museums of science and technology from (roughly) 1800 to the present. Students undertake special projects linked to the MIT Museum's re-location to a new building under construction in Kendall Square. Students act as informal consultants to the MIT Museum, offering proposals for innovative elements that will be seriously considered for inclusion in the new Museum.

STS.458 Science, Technology, and Human Rights

Explores the relationship of science and technology to ideas about human rights over time, including how science and technology have been mobilized historically in the defense of human rights and to assist in the pursuit of truth and justice after atrocity. Discusses literature in history, anthropology, law, and related fields to address how science and technology have historically shaped understandings of human rights and the ways that human rights frameworks have shaped the creation and use of scientific and technological capabilities.

STS.461 History and Social Study of Computing

Examines the history and social study of computers. Introduces students to the core and canonical literature in this area while also providing the opportunity to read and discuss more recent works from multiple disciplines.      

STS.462 Social and Political Implications of Technology

Historical and contemporary studies are used to explore the interaction of technology with social and political values. Emphasis on how technological devices, structures, and systems influence the organization of society and the behavior of its members. Examples drawn from the technologies of war, transportation, communication, production, and reproduction.

STS.463[J] Technocracy

Same subject as 11.461[J] Prereq: None G (Fall) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-9 units

Survey of the history of efforts to apply scientific methods and technological tools to solve social and political problems, with a focus on the United States since 1850. Topics include: city planning, natural resource management, public education, economic development, quantification and modeling in the social and policy sciences, technology transfer, and political economies of expertise.

STS.464 Computing from the Global South

Examines the rise and development of computing technologies in the global south. Surveys the effects of decolonization in the mid-twentieth century on the imagination of computational technologies in places such as South America, Africa, and Asia. Covers the failures and defeats of postcolonial projects when faced with the challenge of asymmetric access to global markets and capital. Identifies contemporary forms of resistance and imaginations of innovation that still endure and flourish in the global south, challenging perspectives from the global north.

STS.465[J] Research Seminar on Technology and the Work of the Future

Same subject as 11.652[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Examines the past, present and future of work from an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing from the humanities, social sciences, and cognitive science and engineering. Integrates perspectives from history, philosophy, sociology, economics, management, political science, brain and cognitive science and other relevant literatures, creating a solid foundation from which to interpret current public discourse on the subject. Discussion focuses primarily on the US; comparative perspectives from other countries incorporated into discussions and analysis. Limited to 15.

D. Mindell, E. B. Reynolds

STS.467[J] The History of Aviation

Same subject as 16.707[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Spring) 3-0-9 units

Reading course in the history of aviation, focusing on science and technology and cultural and political context. Themes include: the science of aeronautics, pilots and piloting, control systems and electronics, engineering epistemology, infrastructure, industry, government and politics, evolution of aeronautics research, culture and experience, automation and autonomy, role of MIT, literature and film. Case studies of specific systems and engineering projects. Emphasis is on book-length texts, close reading, historical methods of analyzing technological change. Study of social and political dimensions of engineering projects, examination of aviation institutions. Students prepare weekly response papers to readings, make extended presentations to class twice per semester, and submit a final research paper.

STS.468[J] Entrepreneurship in Aerospace and Mobility Systems

Same subject as 16.445[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

See description under subject 16.445[J] .

D. A. Mindell

STS.471[J] Engineering Apollo: The Moon Project as a Complex System

Same subject as 16.895[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 4-0-8 units

Detailed technical and historical exploration of the Apollo project to fly humans to the moon and return them safely to Earth as an example of a complex engineering system. Emphasizes how the systems worked, the technical and social processes that produced them, mission operations, and historical significance. Guest lectures by MIT-affiliated engineers who contributed to and participated in the Apollo missions. Students work in teams on a final project analyzing an aspect of the historical project to articulate and synthesize ideas in engineering systems.

STS.474[J] Art, Craft, Science

Same subject as 21A.509[J] Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units Credit cannot also be received for 21A.501[J] , STS.074[J]

See description under subject 21A.509[J] .

STS.477[J] Writing: Science, Technology, and Society

Same subject as 21W.820[J] Prereq: 21H.991 Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Spring) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered 3-0-9 units

Examination of different "voices" used to consider issues of scientific, technological, and social concern. Students write frequently and choose among a variety of non-fiction forms: historical writing, social analysis, political criticism, and policy reports. Instruction in expressing ideas clearly and in organizing a thesis-length work. Reading and writing on three case studies drawn from the history of science; the cultural study of technology and science; and policy issues.

STS.482[J] Science, Technology, and Public Policy

Same subject as 17.310[J] , IDS.412[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 4-0-8 units Credit cannot also be received for 17.309[J] , IDS.055[J] , STS.082[J]

See description under subject 17.310[J] .

STS.487 Foundations of Information Policy

Subject meets with 6.4590[J] , STS.085[J] Prereq: Permission of instructor Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) 3-0-9 units

Studies the growth of computer and communications technology and the new legal and ethical challenges that reflect tensions between individual rights and societal needs. Topics include computer crime; intellectual property restrictions on software; encryption, privacy, and national security; academic freedom and free speech. Students meet and question technologists, activists, law enforcement agents, journalists, and legal experts. Instruction and practice in oral and written communication provided. Students taking graduate version complete additional assignments. Enrollment limited.

H. Abelson, R. David Edelman, M. Fischer, D. Weitzner

STS.S91 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: G (Fall) Acad Year 2024-2025: Not offered Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Addresses a special topic in Science, Technology and Society which is not offered in the regular curriculum.

STS.S92 Special Subject: Science, Technology and Society

Prereq: None Acad Year 2023-2024: Not offered Acad Year 2024-2025: G (Fall) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Research and Teaching

Sts.800 teaching science, technology and society.

Prereq: None G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For qualified graduate students serving as either a teaching assistant or instructor for subjects in Science, Technology and Society (STS). Enrollment limited by availability of suitable teaching assignments.

STS.840 HASTS Professional Perspective

Prereq: Permission of advisor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) 0-1-0 units

Required for doctoral students in the doctoral program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology and Society (HASTS) to explore and gain professional perspective through academic, non-profit, government, or industry experiences. Professional perspective options include, but are not limited to, internships, teacher training, professional development for entry into academia, or public academic engagement. For an internship experience, an offer from a company or organization is required prior to enrollment. A written narrative or report is required upon completion of the experience. Proposals subject to departmental approval in consultation with advisor.

STS.850 Practical Experience in HASTS Fields

Prereq: None G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For HASTS students participating in curriculum-related off-campus professional internship experiences. Before registering for this subject, students must have an offer letter from a company or organization and must receive written prior approval from their advisor.  Upon completion of the experience, students must submit a substantive final report, approved by their advisor.  Subject to departmental approval. Consult departmental graduate office. Permission of advisor.

STS.880 Proposal Writing in HASTS

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged [P/D/F] Can be repeated for credit.

For students in the doctoral program in History, Anthropology, and Science, Technology and Society (HASTS) who are working on their dissertation proposal and/or research grant proposal program requirement. Work is done in consultation with the student's advisor, in accordance with the guidelines in the HASTS Student Handbook. Restricted to HASTS PhD students.

STS.901-STS.904 Independent Study in Science, Technology, and Society

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, Spring) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

For students who wish to pursue special studies or projects at an advanced level with a faculty member of the Program in Science, Technology, and Society.

STS.THG Graduate Thesis

Prereq: Permission of instructor G (Fall, IAP, Spring, Summer) Units arranged Can be repeated for credit.

Program of graduate research leading to the writing of a PhD thesis, to be arranged by the student with an appropriate MIT faculty member, who is the thesis supervisor.

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The PDF includes all information on this page and its related tabs. Subject (course) information includes any changes approved for the current academic year.

Essay on Impact Of Science And Technology On Society

Students are often asked to write an essay on Impact Of Science And Technology On Society in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Impact Of Science And Technology On Society

Changes in daily life.

Science and technology have changed how we live every day. We use smartphones to talk, get information, and have fun. Washing machines clean our clothes, and microwaves cook food fast. Life is easier and we can do more things in a day.

Health Improvements

Doctors use new tools to treat sickness. Medicine helps us live longer and healthier. Vaccines stop diseases from spreading. We can fix hearts and even replace some body parts. People are healthier now than ever before.

Education and Learning

Learning is different now. Children use computers and the internet for homework and research. They can watch videos to understand tough subjects. Teachers can reach students far away through online classes.

Work and Jobs

Robots and computers do many jobs that people used to do. This can make things faster and cheaper, but some people may lose their jobs. New jobs in technology are created too, so people need to learn new skills.

Environment and Challenges

Science helps us know about pollution and climate change. We can make clean energy like solar and wind power. But technology can also harm the environment. We must be careful and protect our planet.

250 Words Essay on Impact Of Science And Technology On Society

Science and technology have changed the way we live every day. Long ago, people had to do everything by hand. Now, we have machines that wash our clothes and dishwashers that clean our plates. We can talk to someone far away by using a phone or a computer. These tools save us time and make life easier.

Thanks to science, we are healthier and live longer. Doctors use new tools to find out what is wrong with us and have better ways to treat illnesses. We have medicines for diseases that once had no cure. This means fewer people get sick and can enjoy their lives more.

Learning has changed a lot because of technology. Students can find information on the internet and learn from videos and games. They don’t have to go to a library to read about things; they can learn from anywhere with a computer or a tablet.

Environment and Energy

Science helps us understand our planet and how to take care of it. We know more about how to save energy and use less water. There are also new types of energy that don’t harm the earth, like solar and wind power.

Jobs and the Economy

Technology creates new jobs and helps the economy grow. People can work with computers and robots, and there are jobs that didn’t exist before, like designing apps for phones. This means more people can work and have money to buy things they need.

In conclusion, science and technology have a big impact on our society. They make our lives better, help us stay healthy, change the way we learn, protect our planet, and give us new jobs. The world keeps changing, and science and technology will continue to be a big part of that change.

500 Words Essay on Impact Of Science And Technology On Society

Introduction to science and technology.

Science and technology are like two sides of the same coin. They both help us understand the world and make our lives better. Science is about discovering new things and understanding how everything works. Technology uses science to solve problems and create tools that make our lives easier. Together, they have a big effect on how we live every day.

Communication and Information

One of the biggest changes science and technology have brought is the way we talk to each other. Long ago, sending a message to someone far away could take days or even months. Now, with computers and phones, we can talk to anyone around the world instantly. The internet lets us find information about anything in seconds. This has made learning and sharing ideas much easier and faster.

Health and Medicine

Science and technology have also changed how we stay healthy. Doctors use new tools to find out what’s wrong with us and to help us get better. We have medicines for illnesses that once had no cure. Because of this, people are living longer and healthier lives. Even in places that are hard to reach, mobile health services can give medical care to those who need it.

Travel and Transportation

Think about how we move from one place to another. Cars, buses, trains, planes, and ships have all become faster and safer thanks to technology. We can travel long distances in a short time, which has made the world feel smaller. It’s easier to go to new places, meet new people, and learn about different cultures.

Work and Industry

Robots and machines are now doing many jobs that were once done by people. This can be good because it means products can be made quickly and without mistakes. But it also means that some jobs are not needed anymore, and people have to learn new skills to work with these machines. This change is a big challenge for society.

Science and technology can help protect our planet too. We have learned how to make energy from the sun, wind, and water, which are cleaner than burning coal or oil. Scientists are also working on ways to reduce trash and pollution. Still, technology can harm the environment if we use it without thinking about the consequences.

In the end, science and technology have both good and bad effects on our lives. They make many things easier and better, but they can also cause problems if we’re not careful. It’s important for everyone, not just scientists and engineers, to think about how we use technology. By working together, we can make sure that science and technology help make a better world for all of us.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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History and sociology of science.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & SOCIETY MAJOR

Welcome to science, technology and society.

Thank you for your interest in STSC! Please explore our site to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how you can get involved in our exciting program!

Upcoming Events

About science, technology and society (stsc).

Science, Technology & Society (STSC) examines the social contexts and consequences of science and technology. In a wide array of courses, STSC students learn to think critically about questions such as: Why does modern science look the way it does? How and why do particular technologies and technological systems emerge, expand and become obsolete? How do science and technology sometimes exacerbate race, gender and class inequalities, and how might they be changed to reduce them? How do science and technology shape society, and how does society shape science and technology?

The STSC major has an interdisciplinary methodology. It balances a broad foundation of courses within the department with submajors that draw on courses from across the university. Those submajors focus on more specialized interests within science and technology studies, including biotechnology and biomedicine, energy and environment, global science and technology, information and organizations, and the history and philosophy of science.

The major equips its graduates with sophisticated critical faculties, multidisciplinary skills and wide knowledge. It prepares them for careers in business, law, government, journalism, research, and education, and it provides a foundation for citizenship in a globalizing, diversifying world with rapid technological and scientific change. To see what our graduates are doing, go to our STSC alum page .

STSC courses teach students to:

• Analyze the interplay of social factors that have resulted in particular scientific and technological outcomes both in the present and in the past
• Read scientific, technological and historical texts critically, assessing their social, cultural and political origins and ramifications
• Pursue research projects using published sources, technical and scientific data and unpublished archival materials
• Deploy evidence and reasoning to build strong arguments about the relationships between science, technology and society

Why major in STSC? Here's what our graduates say:

"I've long struggled with expressing the merit of my Science, Technology, and Society studies – until I realized that the inexpressible was the merit itself. As opposed to the many pre-professional, unambiguous majors of my peers, STSC has given me a flexible analytical framework which which to see the world – a brilliant alchemy of history, sociology, and anthropology. Robert Safian, the editor of Fast Company, declared our generation 'Generation Flux' – the age of agility and adaptability – and I could think of no better way to prepare for this world that my studies in STSC."

"When I look back at my time at Penn, one of the best parts of my college experience was my major: Science, Technology, and Society. I was able to meet frequently with professors and develop close relationships, take a variety of fascinating lecture and seminar courses, work passionately on my thesis for over a year with continuous help and support from my advisors, and create lasting friendships with other STSC major students."

"STSC challenged me to examine the relationships between science and technology, and the material, social, religious, political, and cultural environments in which these practices occur.  This type of thinking and approach, along with the writing and research skills I developed, have been applicable to many aspects of my job and graduate level courses."

"My coursework taught me to approach all tasks with clear and rational thinking. It has shown me the rewards of perseverance, innovation, and careful attention to detail. These lessons will translate well when developing complex solutions in the business world."

"I think I offer a different perspective than a lot of the other analysts hired at my consulting firm, as most of them  are  business  undergrads  who may  not  have  the  broad  critical  thinking  skills  to consider the societal implications of any technology we might be implementing."

For Prospective Students

• We encourage you to explore the website in advance of contacting faculty or visiting campus.  
• Any appointments with faculty must be arranged prior to visiting campus and depend on faculty schedules and availability.  
• If you wish to speak with the STSC Chair or Associate Chair, please contact them by email to arrange an appointment. 
• If you wish to visit classes, the recommended courses for visitors are listed on the College’s  Courses for Visitors page. Prospective students should check with the course instructor to make sure that the day they plan to visit is good for seeing the class in action, and that there is no field trip or exam on that day. 
• Talk to a MAP advisor about STSC
• What STSC Graduates Do
• Link to the College of Arts and Sciences

Myths about Majors: 

• I have to find the right major to get a job/get into graduate school
• I have to know now exactly what my career path is
• I have to do something pre-professional right now
• I am the only person at Penn who doesn't know what they want to do after college

Science and Technology: Impact on Human Life Essay

Introduction, part i: science in personal and professional life, part ii: science and technology in a multicultural world.

Science plays an important role in everyday life, and people depend on technologies in a variety of ways by creating, using, and improving them regularly. Sometimes, a person hardly notes how inevitable the impact of science can be on personal or professional life. Evaluating such technologies as the Internet, smartphones, notebooks, smartwatches, and brain-medicine interfaces helps recognize their positive and negative outcomes compared to the period when traditional lifestyles and natural resources like ginger were highly appreciated.

Most people are confident in their independence and neglect multiple technologies that determine their lives. During the last 25 years, technology has dramatically changed human interactions (Muslin, 2020). In addition to domestic technological discoveries like washing machines and stoves, four technologies, namely, the Internet, smartphones, notebooks, and smartwatches, are used throughout the day. Despite their evident advantages in communication, data exchange, and connection, some negative impacts should not be ignored.

Regarding my personal life changes, these technologies provoke mental health changes such as depression. I prefer to avoid my dependence on all these technologies that imperceptibly shape everyday activities. However, I constantly check my vitals, messengers, and calls not to miss something important. On the one hand, this idea of control helps improve my life and makes it logical. On the other hand, I am concerned about such relationships with technologies in my life. Similar negative impacts on society emerge when people prefer to communicate virtually instead of paying attention to reality. Technologies compromise social relationships because individuals are eager to choose something easier that requires less movement or participation, neglecting their unique chances to live a real life. They also challenge even the environment because either smartwatches or notebooks need energy that is associated with air pollution, climate change, and other harmful emissions (Trefil & Hazen, 2016). Modern technologies facilitate human life, but health, social, and environmental outcomes remain dangerous.

Thinking about my day, I cannot imagine another scientific discovery that makes this life possible except the Internet. Today, more devices have become connected to the Internet, including cars, appliances, and personal computers (Thompson, 2016). With time, people get an opportunity to use the Internet for multiple purposes to store their personal information, business documentation, music, and other files that have a meaning in their lives. The Internet defines the quality of human relationships, starting with healthcare data about a child and ending with online photos after the person’s death.

Although the Internet was invented at the end of the 1980s, this technology was implemented for everyday use in the middle of the 1990s. All people admired such possibilities as a connection across the globe, increased job opportunities, regular information flows, a variety of choices, online purchases, and good education opportunities (Olenski, 2018). It was a true belief that the Internet made society free from real-life boundaries and limitations. However, with time, its negative sides were revealed, including decreased face-to-face engagement, laziness, and the promotion of inappropriate content (Olenski, 2018). When people prefer their virtual achievements and progress but forget about real obligations like parenting, education, or keeping a healthy lifestyle, the Internet is no longer a positive scientific discovery but a serious problem.

Many discussions are developed to identify the overall impact of the Internet as a major scientific discovery. Modern people cannot imagine a day without using the Internet for working, educational, or personal purposes. However, when online life becomes someone’s obsession, the negatives prevail over its positives. Therefore, the human factor and real-life preferences should always be recognized and promoted. During the pandemic, the Internet is a priceless contribution that helps deal with isolation and mental health challenges. Some people cannot reach each other because of family issues or business trips, and the Internet is the only reliable and permanent means of connection. Thus, such positives overweight the negatives overall if everything is used rationally.

The Internet makes it possible for healthcare providers to exchange their knowledge and experiences from different parts of the world. This possibility explains the spread of the westernized high-tech research approach to medical treatment and the promotion of science in a multicultural care world. Biomedical research changes the way how people are diagnosed and treated. Recent genomic discoveries help predict the possibility of cancer and human predisposition to other incurable diseases to improve awareness of health conditions. The benefit of new brain-interface technologies (BMI) is life improvement for disabled people to move their prosthetics easily (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2016). Instead of staying passive, individuals use smart technology to hold subjects, open doors, and receive calls. BMI has a high price, but its impact is priceless. At the same time, some risks of high-tech research exist in medical treatment. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2016) underlines damaged neurons and fibers depend on what drugs are delivered to the system and how. The transmission of electrical signals is not always stable, and the safety of BMI processes is hardly guaranteed.

Some populations reject technologies in medical treatment and prefer to use natural resources to stabilize their health. For example, ginger is characterized by several positive clinical applications in China. Researchers believe that this type of alternative medicine effectively manages nausea, vomiting, and dizziness (Anh et al., 2020). Its major advantage is reported by pregnant patients who use ginger to predict morning sickness, unnecessary inflammation, and nausea. However, like any medication, ginger has its adverse effects, covering gastrointestinal and cardiovascular symptoms (Anh et al., 2020). The disadvantage of using traditional medicine is its unpredictable action time. When immediate help is required, herbs and other products are less effective than a specially created drug or injection.

There are many reasons for having multicultural approaches to medical treatment, including ethical recognition, respect, diversity, and improved understanding of health issues. It is not enough to diagnose a patient and choose a care plan. People want to feel support, and if one culture misses some perspectives, another culture improves the situation. Western and traditional cultural approaches may be improved by drawing upon the other. However, this combination diminishes the effects of traditions and the worth of technology in medical treatment. Instead of uniting options, it is better to enhance differences and underline the importance of each approach separately. The challenges of combining these approaches vary from differences in religious beliefs to financial problems. All these controversies between science and culture are necessary for medical treatment because they offer options for people and underline the uniqueness of populations and technological progress.

In general, science and traditions are two integral elements of human life. People strive to make their unique contributions to technology and invent the devices that facilitate human activities. At the same time, they never neglect respect for traditions and cultural diversity. Therefore, high-tech and traditional medicine approaches are commonly discussed and promoted today to identify more positive impacts and reduce negative associations and challenges.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers. (2016). Top 5 advances in medical technology . ASME. Web.

Anh, N. H., Kim, S. J., Long, N. P., Min, J. E., Yoon, Y. C., Lee, E. G., Kim, M., Kim, T. J., Yang, Y. Y., Son, E. Y., Yoon, S. J., Diem, N. C., Kim, H. M., & Kwon, S. W. (2020). Ginger on human health: A comprehensive systematic review of 109 randomized controlled trials. Nutrients, 12 (1). Web.

Musil, S. (2020). 25 technologies that have changed the world . Cnet. Web.

Olenski, S. (2018). The benefits and challenges of being an online – Only brand. Forbes . Web.

Thompson, C. (2016). 21 technology tipping points we will reach by 2030 . Insider. Web.

Trefil, J., & Hazen, R. M. (2016). The sciences: An integrated approach (8th ed.). Wiley.

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• Science and Technology Essay

Essay on Science and Technology

Science and technology is the ultimate need of an hour that changes the overall perspective of the human towards life. Over the centuries, there have been new inventions in the field of science and technology that help in modernizing. Right from connecting with people to using digital products, everything involves science and technology. In other words, it has made life easy and simple. Moreover, humans now have to live a simple life. There is modern equipment explored by tech experts to find something new for the future.

Science and technology have now expanded their wings to medical, education, manufacturing and other areas. Moreover, they are not limited to cities, but also rural areas for educational purposes. Every day new technologies keep coming, making life easier and more comfortable.

Brief about Science

Throughout history, science has come a long way. The evolution of the person is the contribution to science. Science helped humans to find vaccines, potions, medicines and scientific aids. Over the centuries, humans have faced many diseases and illnesses taking many lives. With the help of science, medicines are invented to bring down the effect or element of these illnesses.

Brief of Technology

The mobile, desktop or laptop which you are using for reading this essay, mobile you use for connectivity or communication or the smart technology which we use in our daily life, are a part of technology. From the machinery used in the factory to the robots created all fall under tech invention. In simpler words, technology has made life more comfortable.

Advancement in science and technology has changed the modern culture and the way we live our daily life.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Science and Technology

Science and technology have changed this world. From TV to planes, cars to mobile, the list keeps on going how these two inventions have changed the world we see through. For instance, the virtual talks we do use our mobile, which was not possible earlier. Similarly, there are electrical devices that have made life easier.

Furthermore, the transportation process we use has also seen the contribution of science and technology. We can reach our destination quickly to any part of the world.

Science and technology are not limited to this earth. It has now reached mars. NASA and ISRO have used science and technology to reach mars. Both organizations have witnessed success in sending astronauts and technologies to explore life in the mars.

Other Benefits

Life is much simpler with science and technology

Interaction is more comfortable and faster

Human is more sophisticated

Disadvantages

With the progress in science and technology, we humans have become lazier. This is affecting the human mind and health. Moreover, several semi-automatic rifles are created using the latest technology, which takes maximum life. There is no doubt that the third world war will be fought with missiles created using technology.

Man has misused the tech and used it for destructive purposes.

 Man uses them to do illegal stuff.

Technology such as a smartphone, etc. hurts children.

Terrorists use modern technology for damaging work.

Science and Technology in India

India is not behind when it comes to science and technology. Over the centuries, the country has witnessed reliable technology updates giving its people a better life. The Indian economy is widely boosted with science and technology in the field of astronomy, astrophysics, space exploration, nuclear power and more. India is becoming more innovative and progressive to improve the economic condition of the nation.

The implementation of technology in the research work promotes a better life ahead. Similarly, medical science in India is progressing rapidly, making life healthy and careful. Indian scientists are using the latest technology to introduce new medical products for people and offer them at the lowest price.

The Bottom Line

The main aim of writing this essay on science and technology is to showcase how humans have evolved over the years. Since we are advancing, the science and technology industry is also advancing at a faster pace. Although there are challenges, the road ahead is exciting. From interaction to transportation and healthcare in every sector, we will witness profitable growth in science and technology.

FAQs on Science and Technology Essay

1. How technology changed humans?

Technology has certainly changed the way we live our lives. Not a single piece of technology has failed and is continuously progressing. Be it the small industry or large, technology is a boom to your society. Technology can encompass ancient technologies like calculators, calendars, batteries and others. In future, the technology worlds include Blockchain technologies, smart cities, more advanced intelligent devices, quantum computers, quantum encryption, and others. Humans are updated with technology. This is a good sign for the coming generation.

2. What are the top technologies?

In the last few years, there has been a massive update in technology. From individuals to companies, everywhere, the use of technology is required. Some of the top technologies we are witnessing are

 Data Science

 Internet of Things

 Blockchain

 Robotic Process Automation (RPA)

 Virtual Reality

 Edge Computing

Intelligent apps

Artificial Intelligence

Each of these technologies is in the use of daily life and even in making products. However, to use this technology, there is a requirement of skilled professionals and they need proper training to use them.

3. Is the topic Science and Technology an appropriate topic for students?

Yes, Science and Technology are one of the most important topics every student should know in their schooling. The world is growing rapidly at an increasing rate where one should be equipped with minimum knowledge about these concepts. Science and technology have become a part of everyone’s life today. Therefore understanding them is definitely important.

4. Does writing essays improve English?

Yes, of course it does. Writing is absolutely fundamental to language learning. As with anything, however, it is important to learn when and what you write. If you do it all the time, your writing might sound forced. If you only do it when you don't have anything better to do, you might find yourself procrastinating, and not do it at all. It's also a lot more effective to compose essays when you are in that mindset of an essay. So, to answer your question, yes.

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• School Education /

Essay on Science and Technology for Students: 100, 200, 350 Words

• Updated on  
• Sep 20, 2023

Writing an essay on science and technology requires you to keep yourself updated with the recent developments in this field. Science is a field which has no limits. It is the most potent of all the fields and when combined with technology, then even the sky doesn’t remain a limit. Science is everywhere from the minute microscopic organisms to the gigantic celestial bodies. It’s the very essence of our existence. Let’s learn about Science and Technology in an essay format.

Also Read – Essay on Corruption

Essay on Science and Technology in 100 Words

Everything we do, every breath we take, every move we make, every interaction with any object, and even the thoughts we have, and the dreams we see, all involve science. Similarly, as the world is progressing, technology is getting intertwined with even the basic aspects of our lives. Be it education, sports, entertainment, talking to our loved ones, etc. Everything is inclusive of Technology nowadays. It is safe to say that Science and Technology go hand-in-hand. They are mutually inclusive of each other. Although from a broader perspective, Technology is a branch of Science, but still, each of these fields cannot be sustained without the other.

Essay on Science and Technology in 200 Words

Science and Technology are important aspects of life from the very beginning of the day to the end of it. We wake up in the morning because of the sound of our alarm clocks and go to bed at night after switching off our lights. Most importantly, it helps us save time is one of the results of advancements in science and technology. Each day new Technologies are being developed that are making human life easier and much more convenient.Advantages of Science and Technology

If we were to name the advantages of science and technology, then we would fall short of words because they are numerous. These range from the very little things to the very big ones.

Science and Technology are the fields that have enabled man to look beyond our own planet and hence, discover new planets and much more. And the most recent of the Project of India, The successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the south pole of the moon proves that the potential of Science and Technology cannot be fathomed via any means. The potential it holds is immense. 

In conclusion, we can confidently say that Science and Technology have led us to achieve an absolutely amazing life. However, it is extremely important to make use of the same in a judicious way so as to ensure its sustenance. 

Also Read – Essay on Noise Pollution

Essay on Science and Technology in 350 Words

Science and Technology include everything, from the smallest of the microbes to the most complex of the mechanisms. Our world cannot exist without Science and Technology. It is hard to imagine our lives without science and technology now. 

Impact of Science & Technology 

The impact of science and technology is so massive that it incorporates almost each and every field of science and even others. The cures to various diseases are being made due to the advancement in Science and Technology only. Also, technology has enhanced the production of crops and other agricultural practices also rely on Science and Technology for their own advancement. All of the luxuries that we have on a day-to-day basis in our lives are because of Science and Technology. Subsequently, the fields of Science and Technology have also assisted in the development of other fields as well such as, Mathematics , Astrophysics , Nuclear Energy , etc. Hence, we can say that we live in the era of Science and Technology. 

Safety Measures

Although the field of Science and Technology has provided the world with innumerable advancements and benefits that are carrying the world forward, there are a lot of aspects of the same that have a negative impact too. The negative impact of these is primarily on nature and wildlife and hence, indirectly and directly on humans as well.

The large factories that are associated with manufacturing or other developmental processes release large amounts of waste which may or may not be toxic in nature. This waste gets deposited in nature and water bodies and causes pollution. The animals marine or terrestrial living in their respective ecosystems may even ingest plastic or other toxic waste and that leads to their death. There are a lot of other negative aspects of the same.

Hence, it becomes our responsibility to use Science and Technology judiciously and prevent the degradation of nature and wildlife so as to sustain our planet, along with all its ecosystems, which will eventually ensure our existence in a healthy ecosystem leading to healthy and long life.

Science is something that is limitless. It is the most potent of all the fields and when combined with technology, then even the sky doesn’t remain a limit. Science is everywhere from the minute microscopic organisms to the most gigantic ones. It’s the very essence of our existence.

Science and Technology are important aspects of life. All of the luxuries that we have on a day-to-day basis in our lives are because of Science and Technology. Most importantly, it helps us save time is one of the results of advancements in science and technology. It is hard to imagine our lives without science and technology now. 

In any nation, science and technology holds a crucial part in its development in all aspect. The progress of the nation is dependent upon science and technology. It holds the to economic growth, changing the quality of life, and transformation of the society.

We hope this blog of ours on Essay on Science and Technology has helped you gain a deeper knowledge of the same. For more such informative and educational essays please visit our site:- Leverage Edu Essay Writing .

Deepansh Gautam

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introduction

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. Technology is a tool that can be used to solve real-world problems. The field of Science, Technology, and Society (STS) “seeks to promote cross-disciplinary integration, civic engagement, and critical thinking” of concepts in the worlds of science and technology ( Harvard University, n.d.). As an aspect of everyday life, technology is continuously evolving to ensure that humanity can be productive, efficient, and follow the path of globalization . STS is a concept that encompasses countless fields of study. “Scientists, engineers, and medical professionals swim (as they must) in the details of their technical work: experiments, inventions, treatments and cures. “promotes cross-disciplinary integration, civic engagement, and critical thinking” It’s an intense and necessary focus” ( Stanford University , n.d.). On the opposite side of the spectrum is STS, which “draws attention to the water: the social, political, legal, economic, and cultural environment that shapes research and invention, supports or inhibits it — and is in turn shaped by evolving science and technology” ( Stanford University , n.d.). Technology is a crucial part of life that is constantly developing to fit the changing needs of society and aiding humanity in simplifying the demands of everyday life.

According to Oberdan (2010), science and technology share identical goals. “At first glance, they seem to provide a deep and thorough going division between the two but, as the discussion progresses, it will become clear that there are, indeed, areas of overlap, too” (Oberdan, 25). Philosophers believe that for a claim to be considered knowledge, it must first be justified, like a hypothesis, and true.  Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, Galileo Galilei , was incredibly familiar with the obstacles involved with proving something to be a fact or a theory within the scientific world. Galileo was condemned by the Roman Catholic church for his beliefs that contradicted existing church doctrine (Coyne, 2013). Galileo’s discoveries, although denounced by the church were incredibly innovative and progressive for their time, and are still seen as the basis for modern astronomy today. Nearly 300 years later, Galileo was eventually forgiven by the church, and to this day he is seen as one of the most well known and influential astronomers of all time. Many new innovations and ideas often receive push back before becoming revolutionary and universal practices.

INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY

Flash forward to modern time where we can see that innovation is happening even more around us. Look no further than what could be considered the culmination of modern technological innovation: the mobile phone. Cell phone technology has developed exponentially since the invention of the first mobile phone in 1973 ( Seward , 2013). Although there was a period for roughly 20 years in which cell phones were seen as unnecessary and somewhat impractical, as society’s needs changed and developed in the late 1990s, there was a large spike in consumer purchases of mobile phones. Now, cell phones are an entity that can be seen virtually anywhere, which is in large part due to their practicality. Cell phones, specifically smartphones such as Apple’s iPhone , have changed the way society uses technology. Smartphone technology has eliminated the need for people to have a separate cell phone, MP3 player, GPS, mobile video gaming systems, and more. Consumers may fail to realize how many aspects of modern technological advancement are involved in the use of their mobile phones. Cell phones use wifi to browse the internet, use google, access social media, and more. Although these technologies are beneficial, they also allow consumers locations to be traced and phone conversations to be recorded. Modern cell phone technologies collect data on consumers, and many people are unsure how this information is being used. Additionally, mobile phones come equipped with virus protection which brings the field of cybersecurity into smartphone usage. The technological advances that have been made in the market for mobile phones have been targeted towards the changing needs of consumers and society. As proven by the rise in cell phones, with advancements in the field of STS comes new unforeseen obstacles and ethical dilemmas.

​Technology is changing the way we live in this world. Innovations in the scientific world are becoming increasingly more advanced to help conserve earth’s resources and aid in the reduction of pollutants . Transportation is a field that has changed greatly in recent years due to modernization in science and technology, as well as an increased awareness of environmental concerns. The transportation industry continues to be a large producer of pollution

due to emissions from cars, trains, and other modes of transportation. As a result, cars have changed a great deal in recent years. A frontrunner in creating environmentally friendly luxury cars is Tesla, lead by CEO Elon Musk. Although nearly every brand of car has an electric option that either runs completely gas free, or uses significantly less fuel than standard cars, Tesla has taken this one step further and created a zero emissions vehicle. However, some believe that Tesla has taken their innovations in the transportation market a bit too far, specifically with their release of driverless cars.

“The recent reset of expectations on driverless cars is a leading indicator for other types of AI-enabled systems as well,” says David A. Mindell,  professor of aeronautics and astronautics, and the Dibner Professor of the History of Engineering and Manufacturing at MIT. “These technologies hold great promise, but it takes time to understand the optimal combination of people and machines. And the timing of adoption is crucial for understanding the impact on workers” ( Dizikes , 2019).

As the earth becomes more and more polluted, consumers are seeking to find new ways to cut down on their negative impacts on the earth. Eco-friendly cars are a simple yet effective way in which consumers can cut back on their pollution within their everyday lives.

THE INTERSECTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The way in which energy is generated has changed greatly to benefit consumers and the environment. Energy production has followed a rather linear path over time, and is a prime example of how new innovations stem from old technologies. In the early 1800s, the steam engine acted as the main form of creating energy. It wasn’t until the mid-late 1800s that the combustion engine was invented. This invention was beneficial because it was more efficient than its predecessor, and became a form of energy that was streamlined to be used in countless applications. As time has progressed, this linear path of innovation has continued. As new energy creating technologies have emerged, machinery that was once seen as efficient and effective have been phased out. Today, largely due to the increased demand for clean energy sources, the linear path has split and consumers are faced with numerous options for clean, environmentally friendly energy sources. Over time, scientists and engineers have come to realize that these forms of energy pollute and damage the earth. Solar power, a modern form of clean energy, was once seen as an expensive and impractical way of turning the sun’s energy into usable energy. Now, it is common to see newly built homes with solar panels already built in. Since technology develops to fit the needs of society, scientists have worked to improve solar panels to make them cheaper and easier to access. A total of 173,000 terawatts (trillions of watts) of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously, which is more than 10,000 times of the world’s total energy use ( Chandler , 2011). This information may seem staggering, but is crucial in understanding the importance, as well as the large influence that modern forms of energy can have on society.

Technology has become a crucial part of our society. Without technological advancements, so much of our everyday lives would be drastically different. As technology develops, it strives to fulfill the changing needs of society. Technology progresses as society evolves. That being said, progress comes at a price. This price is different for each person, and varies based on how much people value technological and scientific advancements in their own lives. Thomas Parke Hughes’s Networks of Power “compared how electric power systems developed in America, England, and Germany, showing that they required not only electrical but social ‘engineering’ to create the necessary legal frameworks, financing, standards, political support, and organizational designs” ( Stanford University ). In other words, the scientific invention and production of a new technology does not ensure its success. Technology’s success is highly dependent on society’s acceptance or rejection of a product, as well as whether or not any path dependence is involved. Changing technologies benefit consumers in countless aspects of their lives including in the workforce, in communications, in the use of natural resources, and so much more. These innovations across numerous different markets aid society by making it easier to complete certain tasks. Innovation will never end; rather, it will continue to develop at increasing rates as science and technological fields becomes more and more cutting edge.

Chapter Questions

• True or False: Improvements in science and technology always benefit society
• Multiple Choice : Technology is: A.   The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry B.  Tools and machines that may be used to solve real-world problems C.   Something that does not change D.   Both A and B
• Short Answer: Discuss ways in which technological progression over time is related and how this relationship has led to the creation of new innovation.

Chandler, D. (2011). Shining brightly: Vast amounts of solar energy radiate to the Earth constantly, but tapping that energy cost-effectively remains a challenge.  MIT News. http://news.mit.edu/2011/energy-scale-part3-1026 

Coyne, SJ, G. V. (2013). Science meets biblical exegesis in the Galileo affair.  Zygon® ,  48 (1), 221-229. https://doi-org.libproxy.clemson.edu/10.1111/j.1467-9744.2012.01324.x 

Dizikes, P., & MIT News Office. (2019). MIT report examines how to make technology work for society. http://news.mit.edu/2019/work-future-report-technology-jobs-society-0904

Florez, D., García-Duque, C. E., & Osorio, J. C. (2019). Is technology (still) applied science? Technology in Society.  Technology in Society, 59.   doi: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101193

Groce, J. E., Farrelly, M. A., Jorgensen, B. S., & Cook, C. N. (2019). Using social‐network research to improve outcomes in natural resource management. Conservation biology , 33 (1), 53-65. https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/cobi.13127

Harvard University. (n.d.) What is STS? .  http://sts.hks.harvard.edu/about/whatissts.html .

Union of Concerned Scientists. (2018). How Do Battery Electric Cars Work?   https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-vehicles/electric-vehicles/how-do-battery-electric-cars-work .

Oberdan, T. (2010). Science, Technology, and the Texture of Our Lives. Tavenner Publishing Company.

Seward, Z. M. (2013). The First Mobile Phone Call Was Made 40 Years Ago Today . The Atlantic.   https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2013/04/the-first- mobile-phone-call-was-made-40-years-ago-today/274611/ .

Stanford University. (n.d.). What is the Study of STS? . https://sts.stanford.edu/about/what-study-sts .

Wei, R., & Lo, V.-H. (2006). Staying connected while on the move: Cell phone use and social connectedness. New Media & Society, 8 (1), 53–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444806059870

Winston, B. (2006). Media Technology and Society: A History From the Telegraph to the Internet . London: Routledge.

Images & Videos

“Tesla Model 3 Monaco” is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Building bridges between science and society for a better future. | Nadine Bongaerts | TEDxSaclay

“Tesla Model 3 Monaco”  is licensed under  CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

To the extent possible under law, Kate Billingsley has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to Science, Technology, & Society: A Student-Led Exploration , except where otherwise noted.

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Undergraduate STS Essay Prize Competition

Since 2010, the Program on Science, Technology, and Society (STS) has held a competition for Harvard undergraduates doing independent, original research on social, cultural, historical, or policy issues at the intersection of science, technology and society. Submissions should consist of either an essay written for a course, or a chapter of a senior thesis (please note: full thesis submissions will not be considered). Thematically appropriate projects in non-textual media, such as films, documentaries, and design projects, are also considered.

The competition runs during the Spring Semester, and submissions are evaluated by STS Program Fellows in the STS Program. The winner and two runner-ups receive a small cash award; several honorable mentions are also selected. The results are announced at a reception with the Fellows and all candidates.

For more information on the current and past winners of the Undergraduate STS Essay Prize, please see below. If interested in reading their winning pieces, please contact the STS Program Manager at [email protected] .

2024 Winners

Andrew Charroux (Social Studies) won the prize for “ Commonwealth v. Eldred : The Brain Disease Model of Addiction and Legal Deconstruction,” a chapter from his thesis entitled “Neuromedicalizing Addiction: The Brain Disease Model of Addiction and Bioconstitutional Order.”

Joshua Fang (Social Studies) was awarded an Honorable Mention for a chapter from his thesis, “Model Constitutions: Generative AI Value Systems and A New Social Compact.”

Maya Rosen (joint concentrator in Social Studies and History and Science) was awarded an Honorable Mention for her junior paper, “New Technologies, Old Stories: A Critical Theoretical Approach to the Algorithmic Governance of Public Benefits.”

2023 Winners

Justin Wong (joint concentrator in Neuroscience and Philosophy) won the prize for an excerpt of his thesis, “Beyond Bioethics: An Ethical Science of Autism.” The essay explores controversies about medical treatments for autism between neurodiversity activists and their opponents and focuses on activists’ assertions that individuals with autism are “different but not deficient.” It argues that these debates are not about whether scientific findings should be used for medical treatment. Rather, they can be understood by resituating knowledge in terms of the values always and already embedded in them, thereby avoiding false dichotomies and “giv[ing] us a vision of science that is open to debates about its values and starting points—a form of knowledge that is more aware of its perspectives, potential and limitations.”

Honorable mentions: Henry Austin ‘s essay on “Self-Quantification and Bioconstitutional Fragmentation in Modern America,” and Tadhg Larabee ‘s essay entitled “Engineering the Market Landscape: The Irish Railway Commission, Technological Systems, and the Globe.”

2022 Winners

Annelisa Kingsbury Lee

Annelisa Kingsbury Lee (joint concentrator in Environmental Science & Public Policy and East Asian Studies) won the prize for her essay titled “Ultrasupercritical Coal as Viral Technology: The Chinese Case,” which contrasts two visions of nation-building in the dissemination and use of ultrasupercritical coal (USC) technologies in China. Annelisa was the first Junior to win the STS Undergraduate Prize.

Honorable mentions: Connor Chung ‘s essay on “The Technological Character of Cost-Benefit Analysis,” Emma Forbes ‘ essay on “Commodifying and depoliticizing robot dogs,” and Lauren Fadiman ‘s essay on “5G Conspiracy Theories and Biopolitics in the Vernacular.”

2021 Winners

Harvard College senior Wyatt Hurt (Environmental Science & Public Policy/Near Eastern Languages & Civilizations) won the 2021 Undergraduate STS Essay Prize for Global Eyes, Global Waters: Remote Sensing and the Politics of Transboundary Water Governance .

Connor McRobert

Connor McRobert (Environmental Sciences & Public Policy) won an Honorable Mention for Contested Imaginaries: A Co-Productionist Theory of Climate Change Litigation and the Emergence of a Novel Normative Experiment .

Honorable Mentions: The Necessity of an Unnecessary Procedure: Joseph B. DeLee’s Routine Episiotomy and the Rise of Obstetrics as a Medical Specialty by Judy Durkin (History of Science); From Disorderly Science to Risky Subjects: A Techno-Scientific History of Carceral Rehabilitation Since 1974 by Eva Rosenfeld (Art, Film, and Visual Studies/Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies).

2020 Winners

Honorable Mentions: Environmentalists Against Science?: The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition and the Recombinant DNA Threat by Leena Ambady (History and Science ’20); Deconstructing Medicalization: The Collision of Birthing Modalities in Black Maternal Health by Sandra Ojeaburu (Human Evolutionary Biology and Social Anthropology ’20).

Videos of Past Winners 

We asked our current and past winners about the relationship between STS and their winning essays. Here are their responses:

Belen Mella

Belen Mella (Social Studies ’19) was awarded the STS Undergraduate Prize for her thesis chapter, “Selling the Self: Genetic Ancestry Tests and the Commodification of Identity (Chapter III: Prosumers).”

Matt Hoisch

Matt Hoisch (Environmental Science and Public Policy ’19) was awarded an honorable mention in the STS Undergraduate Essay Prize Competition for his thesis chapter, “Imagining Carbon Neutrality and Imagining Cities.”

Julia Fine (History & Literature ’19) was awarded an honorable mention in the STS Undergraduate Essay Prize Competition for her thesis chapter, “Growing British India: The Colonial Biopolitics of the Potato.”

Blake McGhghy

Blake McGhghy (Social Studies, December ’17) won the 2018 STS Undergraduate Prize for his thesis chapter, “The ‘Refractory’ Nature of Local Community Life.”

Augusta Conway

Augusta Conway (History and Science ’18) was awarded an honorable mention in the STS Undergraduate Prize Competition for her paper, “Transcendent Encounters: John E. Mack, Aliens, and the Debate on Scientific.”

Bruno Moguel Gallegos

Bruno Moguel Gallegos (Visual and Enviornmental Studies ’18) was awarded an honorable mention in the STS Undergraduate Prize Competition for his thesis chapter, “Environmental Health Impact: Identity Development, Community Organization, and Effects of Synthetic Dyes in the Sikka Regency”

Jacob Meisel

Jacob Meisel (Social Studies ’17) won the 2017 STS Undergraduate Prize for his thesis chapter, “From Daily Weather to Decadal Climate: Boundary Intensification Between American Meteorologists and Climate Scientists.”

Leib Celnik

Leib Celnik (History and Science & History of Art and Architecture ’18) won an honorable mention for his paper “Alan Burroughs’ Invisible Light: Early X-Radiography at the Fogg Museum.”

Sophia Lugo

Sophia Lugo (History and Science ’17) won an honorable mention for her thesis chapter “Lobsterman: Kravitz, Kuffler, and the Role of the Lobster Model in Forming Twentieth Century American Neuroscience.”

Nicole Bassoff

Nicole Bassoff (History of Science ’16) won the 2016 STS Undergraduate Prize for her thesis chapter “Whose Name is it Anyway?: Medical Authority and the ‘Hansen’s Disease’ Movement.”

Leah Singer

Leah Singer (Anthropology ’16) won 2nd place in the 2016 STS Undergraduate Essay Prize competition for her thesis chapter “Injury Law and the Calculation of Future Lost Income Capacity.”

Emma Woo (History of Science ’16) won 3rd place for her paper “Seeing Pregnancy: Prenatal Care and Women’s visibility in the Women’s Municipal League of Boston.”

Hilton Simmet

Hilton Simmet (Social Studies ’15) won the 2015 STS Undergraduate Prize for his thesis chapter “Blueprints & Laboratories: An Exploration of Plural Modernities in Senegal’s Ecovillages.”

Bran Shim (Statistics ’15) won 2nd place in the 2015 STS Undergraduate Essay Prize competition for his paper “Land of the Rising iPS Cells: Sociotechnical Imaginaries and Stem Cell Biology in Japan.”

Rachel Taylor

Rachel Taylor (Social Anthropology ’15) won 3rd place in the 2015 STS Undergraduate Essay Prize competition for her thesis chapter “Damning the Drifters: Posthumanist Implications of Jellyfish Subjects in Science, Art, and Aquariums.”

Lily Ostrer

Lily Ostrer (Social Studies ’14) won the 2014 STS Undergraduate Prize for her thesis chapter “Co-Producing the Science and Policy of Child Development.”

Sandra Korn

Sandra Korn (History of Science/Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies ’14) won an honorable mention for her thesis chapter “Doing what comes naturally: Women’s liberation and the radical science movement.”

Danny Wilson

Danny Wilson (History of Science ’14) won an honorable mention for his thesis chapter “This Incredible Organ’: Brain Mapping during the Decade of the Brain.”

Home — Essay Samples — Information Science and Technology — Impact of Technology — Science, Technology and Society: Development as The Survival of Mankind

Science, Technology and Society: Development as The Survival of Mankind

• Categories: Impact of Technology Information Age Modern Society

About this sample

Words: 1262 |

Published: May 17, 2022

Words: 1262 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Table of contents

 introduction, background and sts,  advantages of scientific and technological development,  disadvantages of scientific and technological development,  own conviction,  ethical aspects,  conclusion,  bibliography.

• Freitas, F.F., De Souza, S.S., Ferreira, L.R.A., Otto, R.B., Alessio, F.J., De Souza, S.N.M., Venturini, O.J. & Ando Junior, O.H. 2019. The Brazilian market of distributed biogas generation: Overview, technological development and case study. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 101:146-157.
• Galasso, A. & Luo, H. 2019. Risk-Mitigating Technologies: the Case of Radiation Diagnostic Devices. Harvard Business School, Working Paper: 19-106.
• Parahakaran, S. 2017. An Analysis of Theories Related to Experiential Learning for Practical Ethics in Science and Technology. Universal Journal of Educational Research, 5(6): 1014-1020.
• Petralia, S., Balland, P. A. & Morrison, A. 2017. Climbing the ladder of technological development. Research Paper, 46(5):956-969.
• Polaiah, D.S. 2018. Impact of Technology on Environment. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention: 53-55.
• Rehman, A., Jingdong, L., Khatoon, R. & Hussain, I. 2016. Modern Agricultural Technology Adoption its Importance, Role and Usage for the Improvement of Agriculture. American-Eurasian Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Science, 16(2):284-288.
• Reinecke, C. J. 2019. Science, Technology and Society , edited by I.J. vd Walt. Potchefstroom: NWU, Potchefstroom campus. (Reader WVNS221 & WVIS321).
• Sampath, P.G. 2015. Benefits and Costs of the Science and Technology Targets for the Post-2015 Development Agenda. Science and Technology Viewpoint Paper.
• United States of America Government. 2019. U.S. energy consumption, production, and exports reach record highs in 2018. U.S. Energy Information Administration. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=39392 Date of access: 01 Sept. 2019.

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Home / Essay Samples / Information Science and Technology / Impact of Technology / Understanding the Importance of Science, Technology and Society

Understanding the Importance of Science, Technology and Society

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