KEY ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IN OUR

MODERN LIFESTYLE

KEY ISSUES/CONTROVERSIES IN S&T

• Modern Lifestyle

• Communications

• Food

PART 1: Content Recap

Exploring Recurrent Issues in S&T

KEY ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES OF

MODERN TECHNOLOGY

CONTROVERSY 1: Are we over-reliant on technology?

• As a society, we live in a technologically advanced era. Technology has become an indispensable part of our daily lives, to the extent that some people claim that we cannot live without it. However, others claim that this reliance on technology is necessary, and that it is not excessive at all.

• Let’s look at a by-product of over-reliance addiction.

Technology Addiction

• One major consequence of this phenomenon is that the line between work and our private lives is much more blurred, now that email and phones provide a 24 hour link between employers and staff.

• Experts believe that the decision-making process of the average person can be adversely affected.

• However, others believe that the bombardment of various communications can enhance the brain’s ability to process information.

Debate 1

• Technology Addiction:

China vs Singapore

CONTROVERSY 2: Genetic Engineering

• Using In Vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques, an embryo can be made by the fertilisation of an egg with a sperm outside of the female’s body.

• The resulting embryonic cells can be tested by removing one and screening the DNA complement to ascertain the presence of specific genes. This procedure is already being employed in labs.

• It can help to identify potentially debilitating illnesses or inherited disorders, and also for determining the sex of a baby to allow parents carrying a sex-linked disorder gene to procreate without passing on a genetic disorder to their children.

Debate 2

Parent choice:

• Do parents benefit substantially from the ability to choose to "screen" their children?

• Should they have the "right" to choose?

Debate 3

Designer babies:

• Can "genetic screening" avoid falling into the feared trap of people creating "designer babies"?

• Can it be separated from the commonly negative fears of social "eugenics"?

Debate 4

Child's quality of life:

• Would genetic screening allow born humans to achieve more fulfilling and happier lives?

CONTROVERSY 3: The Pro-life versus Pro-choice Debate

• Euthanasia

• Abortion

• Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Key Issues/Controversie

s of S&T in

Communication

CONTROVERSY 1: Media as a Political Tool

• Nowadays, we watch programmes which encourage audiences to engage in voting activities, such that audiences are required to harness the necessary tools of media technology.

• The media, in the form of the Internet, can be employed by terrorists to set about fulfilling their political agendas.

• This was carried out by the Jihadists in their creation of animations, a form of multimedia software programmes favoured by the younger generation.

• Messages sent out in this way can reach the masses easily and act to influence the subconscious minds effectively and with great impact. Who says terrorists are conservatives?

CONTROVERSY 2: The Digital Divide Worldwide

Case Studies:

1. Canada

2. Europe

3. USA

4. China

5. Asia Pacific

Debate 5

Has the global spread of the internet

aided democratisation, increased freedom and reduced human rights

abuses?

KEY ISSUES AND CONTROVERSIES OF

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

IN OUR

FOOD

CONTROVERSY 1: Genetically Modified Food

• GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, is a term that can apply to plants, animal, or microorganisms that have undergone genetic modification.

• The predominant areas of analysis in the debate of GMOs include the application of genetically modified crops as a food source.

Debate 6

Consumer safety:

• Are GM foods safe/healthy for consumers?

Debate 7

GM Food to fight Poverty:

• Do GM crops help the poor and third-world?

Debate 8

Food shortages:

• Are GM crops an important part of responding to global food shortages.

PART 2:

Applying Content Knowledge and Issues

learnt to

Past Year Questions

NOVEMBER 2008

• ‘The more science advances, the more religion will decline.’ To what extent do you agree?

• ‘Air travel should be discouraged, not promoted.’ To what extent do you agree?

• How far is it possible to ensure that all producers of food and goods are fairly rewarded?

Past Year Questions on S&T

Cambridge Marker’s Report

NOVEMBER 2007

• Is it possible to protect the environment when many countries require increasing amounts of energy to progress?

• Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can afford them?

Past Year Questions on S&T

Cambridge Marker’s Report

NOVEMBER 2006

• Does modern technology always improve the quality of people's lives?

Past Year Questions on S&T

Cambridge Marker’s Report

PART 3:

BIG PICTURE

Food for Thought:

• How has S&T shaped our modern lifestyle today?

• What problems are associated with how wired we are today?

• Is S&T overtaking our lives?

• Has S&T incapacitated us?

Science

and

Technology

Video

Science

and

Technology

Impact on our LifestyleDilemmas/Conflicts of

Modern Life

EthicsBenefits/Conveniences

Big Picture

Questions?