Science refers to a body of knowledge about the physical world acquired through systematic enquiry and considerable mental efforts. The process involves observation, experimentation, critical analysis, testing of facts, reasoning and making of general laws concerning issues.

 

Technology is defined as the process whereby through human ingenuity and creativity, scientific knowledge is applied to create tools and machines to control the environment and to solve problems that confront man.

Or

·    Technology is the process of utilizing scientific knowledge to satisfy human needs through ingenuity and creativity.

Or

Technology can be defined as the various ways by which scientific knowledge is utilized through discoveries and inventions to satisfy human needs

 

DISTINCTION BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

·    Scientific activities always precede technology

·    Science is the beginning of any technological activity

·    The discoveries of science are put to practical use by technology

·    Technologists use the principles of science to design and manufacture machines and other tools.

·    Science attempts to explain how and why things happen. Technology is concerned with making things happen.

 

BENEFITS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

·         Helps in the improvements of agricultural production

·         Enhances efficient communication and faster dissemination of information

·         Facilitate improvement in education delivery

·         Improvement in sanitation

·         Facilitates improvement in trade, banking and commerce

·         Makes it possible for reliable weather forecasting

·         Enhances faster ad efficient system of transportation

·         Improvement in medicine and health delivery.

·         Provision of efficient machinery for exploiting natural resources.

 

ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE

·     Enhances production

·     Development of storage facilities

·     Improvements in seed varieties

·     Development of Agro-chemicals to increase growth and yields in both plants and animals

·     Development of irrigation projects

·     Improved system of fishing

 

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

·         Production of weapons of mass destruction

·         Environmental pollution

·         Displacement of labour or unemployment

·         Technological disasters

·         Accidents

·         Introduction of social vices

 

EFFORTS BEING MADE TO PROMOTE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

·    Establishment of science educational institutions

·    Establishment of science resource or research centres (e.g. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), The Atomic Energy, Cocoa Research Institute etc.)

·    Science as a compulsory subject in schools

·    Public education and workshops

·    Governmental and international assistance

·    Introduction of Science and Maths quiz competition

 

FACTORS PREVENTING THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/ FACTORS WORKING AGAINST THE APPLICATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN GHANA

·     Inadequate funds or financial constraint

·     Low level of literacy

·     Inadequate science equipment

·     Cultural beliefs

·     Lack of motivation

·     Nature of the educational system

 

WHY GOVERNMENT PLACES EMPHASIS ON INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

·     It promotes the delivery of education

·     It creates employment

·     It promotes health care delivery

·     It helps to promote research

·     It enhances the efficiency at the work place

·     It helps to promote trade, commerce and banking

·     It helps to bridge the gap between nations through globalization

·     It helps to do reliable weather forecasting

·     It enhances communications

·     It helps to enhance security systems e.g CCTV

·     It helps to improve domestic life by providing basic tools for use at home.