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ORELA General Science: Practice & Study Guide62 chapters | 577 lessons
The Interrelationships Between STEM & Society
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Instructor:
Christie Spadafora
Christie has a B.S. and an M.S. in Biology. She teaches life and chemical science courses at college, high school, and middle school levels in MA.
As time goes on, science, technology, engineering, and math become more and more tangled in current society. This lesson will give an overview of various ways in which STEM and society have become intertwined.
What is STEM?
STEM is a decades old acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Why these four subject areas? STEM jobs are a pivotal part of the American economy and are only projected to increase as time goes on. In 21st century America, it has become increasingly more important for students to have an understanding of these four content areas in order to be successful in the business world. Let's take a quick look at how invasive these four areas are in our current society.
Science and Society
Whether or not we realize it, science is a part of our daily lives. Chemistry explains why an egg white turns from clear and colorless to opaque and white when cooked. Forensics determines guilt and innocence in criminal cases and has opened the doors to numerous forms of entertainment, including 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation'. Paternity testing - including dramatic TV shows focused on the topic, as well as 'Who's Your Daddy' mobile paternity testing vehicles - drastically changed with the discovery of DNA and can now prove whether or not any man is the father of any child in question. Blockbuster pharmaceuticals and advanced medical practices have extended the average lifespan of humans. Science drives our daily lives, even if we are no longer in science class.
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Technology and Society
Alarm clocks wake us up to make sure we are on time. Smartphones allow us to play games, send texts, check email, track health stats, and, oh yes, place phone calls. Cars with computers on board get us safely from point A to point B while we listen to music (perhaps via satellite), place a hands-free phone call, or electronically adjust the air temperature. Many jobs now require the use of a computer. And when's the last time you saw a living room without a television? If that's not enough, it seems like every day there's a new crazy gadget out there, thanks to technology. A toothbrush that tells you when you're done brushing? Check. A self-cleaning litter box for pets? You got it. A charger that charges without any wires? Done. Is it even possible for us to go a day without using a single form of technology anymore?
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Engineering and Society
Even if we are not engineers ourselves, we consistently benefit from engineering. Think, for a moment, about a Ford Model T from the early 1900s and a Tesla Model S, which first came out about 100 years later. Although, technically, both are cars and both can get their passengers from one place to another, they are incredibly different because of engineering. Each detail in modern day cars has been improved and provides better performance, safety, or pleasures, thanks to engineering. Not just vehicles, but boats, homes, and all forms of technology are other examples that have benefited from engineers.
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Mathematics and Society
Ever go out to dinner with several friends and have to figure out how much money you owe on a shared check? Perhaps you're one of many Americans who prepares her own taxes or balances his checking account. Want to give your hairdresser a special tip for giving you the best haircut you've had in a long time? Or, maybe you have to figure out how much to pay your babysitter at the end of the week based on the number of hours you needed your children watched each day. Math is a critical skill that gets us through numerous social, professional, and personal situations everyday. Without an understanding of math, we'd make critical errors that could end up as costly mistakes.
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Lesson Summary
Over the past several decades, science, technology, engineering, and math have become critical facets of the American way of life. Each of these four subjects have become so intertwined into our current society that an acronym, STEM, was created to discuss them all at the same time. It's hard to go a day, if not an hour, without science, technology, engineering, and math affecting our lives.
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Lesson
5 in chapter 1 of the course:
- The Scientific Revolution: Definition, History, Causes & Leaders 8:43
- Breakthroughs in Medicine & Chemistry: Examples & Empiricism 6:23
- Effects of the Scientific Revolution 6:45
- Principles Unifying the Branches of Science
- The Interrelationships Between STEM & Society
- Ethical and Safety Concerns for DNA Technology 5:03
- Technology Ethics in the Classroom
- Use of Animals In Experiments: Ethics & Concept 4:18
- Go to ORELA General Science: History & Nature of Science
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