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science, technology and the economy - Coggle Diagram

- - - - earliest economic activity
        
        as society became more complex so did the economy
- - - - new knowledge
        
        new technologies
    - - the steam engine
        
        transforms thermal (heat) energy into mechanical (kinetic) energy
        
        Thomas Newcomen
        
        first managed to produce steam engines with a useful purpose - they operated pumps which were used to remove water from mines
        
        James Watt
        
        improved steam engines such that they could drive a variety of industrial machines
        
        would not have been possible without parallel technological developments in the iron industry
        
        steamships made sea navigation faster and much more reliable
        
        made it more feasible to import raw materials in bulk from the colonies and transform them into manufactured items which consumers were more than willing to buy
        
        Suez Canal had a huge and immediate impact on world trade
    - - hand driven machine that would rapidly spin cotton thread
      - key to industrialization of textile manufacturing
    - - factory owners bought labour to generate profits
        
        beginning of modern capitalism
        
        dominant economic model
    - - gradual drive towards globalisation of economies
    - - facilitated bulk transport of goods over long distances
  - - - still the case in many less developed countries
- - - - giving research grants to scientists
      - founding research institutes
      - rewarding distinguished scientists with awards and official posts
      - paralleled by industry support
    - - the greater role of the professional scientist in industrial development, research and innovation had and still has huge implications for the economy
        
        advances in transport technology and computer science have rapidly accelerated the globalisation of the industry
  - - - intellectual freedom
      - the independent pursue of research
      - the possibility of learning and advancement in their career
      - the thrill of discovery
  - - - yet in most countries, male engineers and computer science graduates far outnumber their female colleagues
        
        also, in the US and Europe, there are far more male than female university professors
    - - females largely viewed unsuitable for most work outside home
        
        mainly expected to take care of home and family
      - male dominance at decision making levels
        
        journal editorial boards/grant-reviewing boards/academic selection committees etc.
        
        women are rarely visible at these levels, fixing the subconscious idea that science belongs to men
      - gender stereotyping (especially in the media)
        
        scientists have almost invariably been shown as being male
      - lack of exposure given to female role models
      - practical difficulties of combining a career with raising a family may make women less likely to choose academic careers
        
        (teaching rather than research -> more regular hours)
        
        it is difficult to keep up with advances in science and technology while away from the workplace for long
    - - addressing gender stereotypes in textbooks, curricula, and media
      - inviting both male and female scientists to schools to speak to children about careers in science and technology
      - giving exposure and credit to inspirational female role models
      - ensuring impartiality (equal treatment/fairness) and accountability(responsibility in application processes for grants and job applications
      - having in place adequate family friendly policies
  - - - this required more investment in research and development, innovation, and creativity
        
        science and technology became even more central to economic growth
  - - - robotized production lines have reduced the number of machine operators required. -> enabling mass production and lower unit production costs
    - - by the 1990's, Western countries were investing in Eastern Europe, India, China, and other emerging economies
        
        rapid economic growth in the emerging economies is paralleled by high unemployment rates in many developed countries
  - - - yet we continue to undervalue and over-exploit natural resources for profit leading to large scale environmental degradation that is affecting present and future generations
        
        it is still being argued that economic theory needs to shift its focus from maximising profits to investors to sustainable development (sustainable development) and again, science and technology have a crucial role in bringing about economic growth that benefits society while conserving our environment