Science and Society Essay Example
Science and Society Essay Example

Science and Society Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (968 words)
  • Published: December 21, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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The course has proposed the idea that science is a social process and asks for agreement. This proposal aligns with the definition of social process as the formation of groups of people and the development and organization of societies, particularly referring to civilizations.

The integration of science in the evolving society is discussed in the definition provided by WordNet online dictionary (1). The paper examines different views on how science has become a component of this process and how it adjusts to sociocultural changes through formulating laws and applications, as well as taking into consideration observations. Meanwhile, innovators concentrate on creating new technology to attain practical objectives.

According to Cynthia Cockburn, changes in society have historically occurred when the relationship between technology and human formations has transformed. The adoption of new technology leads to a power balance through economic rela

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tionships, ultimately driving social change. In her 1983 article "Caught in the Wheels," Cockburn emphasizes the increasing intersection of feminism and technology (Donald Mackenzie (Editor), Judy Wajcman (Editor), 1999, p.126).

It becomes clear that science, society, and technology are interconnected. This is particularly evident in modern society, which has undergone significant changes. However, fewer girls than boys study science subjects in school. This is because of an education system that encourages girls to focus on arts and humanities, perpetuating the false idea that science is more suited to boys.

As per Rossiter (1980, p. 393), most women choose courses associated with cooking, sewing, and household abilities. This preference for conventional gender roles has led to a lack of self-assurance among young females who aspire to pursue science subjects in a male-dominated setting. Additionally, it's crucial to acknowledge that managing famil

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responsibilities while pursuing a career also plays a role.

Despite this opposition, the UK's birth rate has dropped to record levels, with the average number of children per woman reported by BBC News to be only 1.64.

(2) reports that women are now waiting until they are around 27 years old to begin having children, which can be attributed to the growing number of women who prioritize their careers. This trend reflects a major societal shift. Although science has traditionally been dominated by men, the feminist movement has been ongoing for centuries and began gaining traction in the 19th century. The first Women's Rights Convention took place in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848, and since then there has been a significant increase in female representation in science (Graph 1).

In her publication named "Women's Work in Science" from 1880-1910, Rossiter examines how the scientific work structure evolved, opening up fresh chances for women. She ultimately concludes that the inclusion of women in science will bring a unique aspect to our understanding of the professionalization and progress of scientific employment. The content is presented in a paragraph format enclosed within

and

tags.

According to Rossiter (1980), the 20th century saw the establishment of a pattern where female Nobel Prize laureates were increasingly recognized. As evidence, it can be noted that all 35 prizes awarded to women as of 2007 were given within this period (3).

(Source: “Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopaedia”) Schaffer wrote an article in 1989 entitled "Glass Works: Newton's Prisms and the Uses of Experiment". The article delves into the significant role that scientific instruments played in the experimental process. It emphasizes how these instruments were altered

to meet scientists' requirements and were deployed to gain authority in applying concepts. Newton used optical prisms during his experimentation which drew a considerable amount of criticism. This was due to inadequate details regarding the methodology involved. Later on, Newton became more particular with technical work, design, and improvements of prisms. He realized that to gain authority from opponents, he needed to make his optical prisms more accurate and sophisticated by reconstructing his experiments.

According to Schaffer (1989, p. 78), the origin of Newton's own tools is a significant factor. This is understandable as his experiments seemed unimportant and unreliable prior to the use of more sophisticated instruments, which allowed for concrete and clear evidence to be presented, as opposed to presumptive theories. Newton gained authority within his field by dismissing any scientists or critics who obtained different data from his experiments, assuming that they used defective tools.

Science has undergone multiple advancements due to changes in scientific knowledge and experimentation, with the latter being crucial for research and development. Over time, the tools and techniques used in experimentation have greatly improved, reflecting an ongoing effort to better serve science. Despite its transformative role in society, science owes much of its progress to technological advances adopted by society itself. This paper emphasizes how societal changes impact scientific progress and reveals the resulting effects on science.

Advancements in technology and information in the 21st century have given rise to a society driven by social and cultural developments, commonly referred to as the knowledge society. This has resulted in an evolution of scientific research, with improved instruments, communication methods, and transformation of research systems/groups. As a result, knowledge is

now regarded as a cultural process. (Source: 1)

A collection of websites focused on social processes, health, and news:

  1. thefreedictionary.com/social+process
  2. news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2570503.tm
  3. www.

The following references are cited in this text:
- "The Social Shaping Of Technology" edited by Donald MacKenzie and Judy Wajcman, originally published in 1985 and second edition published in June 1999.
- Margaret W. Rossiter's article, "Women's Work" in Science, 1880-1910, which was published in Isis journal, Volume 71, Issue 3.The text within the states: "In September of 1980, pages 381-398 were published by S."Within the text, there is a citation mentioning the book "Glass works: Newton's prisms and the uses of experiment" by Schaffer, which is included in the edited collection by Gooding, Pinch, and Schaffer.

The Uses of Experiment: studies in the natural sciences. This book was published by Cambridge University Press in 1989.

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