SAJC GENERAL PAPER 2024
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Photo Credit: Dall-E, OpenAI
Contents
Section Pages
A Notes from the Lectures 2-3
B Diving into Inquiry Statements 4-6
C Case Study Analysis (Template) 7-11
D Resources 12-21
E Key Terms 22-23
How to use this package:
1. Own your learning – dive into the resources to shape your own understanding of the
topic.
2. Bring an analytical mind – the activities are a mix of information and evaluation.
3. Discuss with a friend – opinions are best sharpened in dialogue.
Section A: Notes from the Lectures
� What is Science & Technology?
� Watch the lecture and fill in the table below:
� SCIENCE � TECHNOLOGY
Science is… Technology is…
� What are some characteris�cs or ideas that you associate with S&T? Iden�fy the unique
characteris�cs of either as well as the common ones!
CHARACTERISTICS OF SCIENCE CHARACTERISTICS OF TECHNOLOGY
COMMON CHARACTERISTICS
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�Consider the Implica�ons!
The lecture highlights a few tensions and concerns with modern scien�fic and technological
developments. In the table below you’ll find two of the tensions.
For each of the tensions consider what might happen if the tensions were not well managed.
Try to consider the implications through different the lenses of SPECTRAL and GCI!
Science & technology are advancing too Advancements have created a digital divide /
rapidly for our general understanding. digital gap between people.
Social Implica�ons: Social Implica�ons:
� Note: Now that you’ve tried this out once, try to do this for other tensions or conflicts highlighted in other lectures!
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Section B: Diving into Inquiry Statements
�Inquiry Statement 1: The regula�on of S&T development is jus�fiable and necessary.
1. What is the implicit assump�on made about S&T development in the statement above?
2. From the case studies provided in the lecture, what was one example that supports this inquiry statement? How does it support the statement?
3. From the case studies provided, what was one example that undermines this inquiry statement? How does it undermine the statement?
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� Inquiry Statement 2: S&T protects and safeguards socie�es, more than it threatens them.
1. What is the implicit assump�on made about S&T development in the statement above?
2. From the case studies provided in the lecture, what was one example that supports this inquiry statement? How does it support the statement?
3. From the case studies provided, what was one example that undermines this inquiry statement? How does it undermine the statement?
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�Inquiry Statement 3: S&T can solve all our modern-day crises.
1. What is the implicit assump�on made about S&T development in the statement above?
2. From the case studies provided in the lecture, what was one example that supports this inquiry statement? How does it support the statement?
3. From the case studies provided, what was one example that undermines this inquiry statement? How does it undermine the statement?
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Section C: Case Study Analysis
�Diving into a Case Study – Instruc�ons
• The lectures highlight numerous case studies to help us beter understand the key issues
and tensions surrounding Science, Technology and Ethics.
• To beter make use of the informa�on in the lecture, you are recommended to select and
do a deep dive into a few of the case studies highlighted.
• To beter help you choose a case study to work on, a summary of the different case
studies as well as their relevant video (with �me-stamps) has been provided. A link to
online resources for each of the case studies has been provided below.
• Once you have selected your case study, use the worksheet on the next few pages as a
guide to organise your thoughts and consolidate your thinking.
Here is the list of Case Studies that were covered in the lectures:
Lectures 1A & 1B
Assisted Reproduc�ve Gene Edi�ng Normalisa�on of Unethical
Technologies Enhancements Experimenta�on
Disaster Preven�on & Surveillance &
Aid Security
Lectures 2A & 2B
Science & Poli�cs Inequality in S&T S&T in Geopoli�cs S&T in Singapore
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�Diving into a Case Study – Worksheet
Overview of Case Study: _____________________________________________________________
1. Briefly summarise the context and background of the case study.
2. What are the main issues or challenges presented in the case study?
(Note: You can, and should, present the answer to this as a Paper 1 question you intend to answer through diving into the case study.)
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Stakeholders:
3. Complete the table below with informa�on about the different stakeholders/ perspec�ves in the case study, the impact of the issue
on them or their interest in the issue, as well as the influence (power) they have on future developments of the issue.
Impact of issue on the Stakeholder /
Stakeholder / Perspec�ve Power over issue
Stakeholder’s Interest in the issue
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Decisions
4. In the table below highlight the possible decisions and ac�ons that can be taken in the case study, as well as the key arguments for
and against them. (Where possible, provide clear evidence or examples to support the arguments raised)
Decision / Ac�on Arguments for Arguments against
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Your Opinion
5. A�er diving into the case-study, what is your opinion on the best course of ac�on or decision in the case study? Briefly explain your
opinion with clear support provided. You are encouraged to make use of the whitespace below to organise and present your
thoughts in your own way. �Tip: Consider using your essay planning framework for this exercise!
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Section D: Resources
Assisted Reproduc�ve Technology
Title: Promising assisted reproduc�ve technologies come with ethical, legal
and social challenges – a developmental biologist and a bioethicist discuss IVF,
abor�on and the mice with two dads. Click here!
Published: 13 July 2023, The Conversa�on
By: Keith Latham & Mary Faith Marshall
Title: Commentary: Deeper discussion needed over ethical issues in use of big
data and AI for IVF treatment
Click here!
Published: 27 February, 2023, Today Online
By: Alexis Heng Boon Chin
Title: If Singapore allows social egg freezing, here are some issues that should
be addressed
Click here!
Published: 1 September, 2021, Today Online
By: Alexis Heng Boon Chin
Title: Eggs from men, sperm from women: how stem cell science may change
how we reproduce
Click here!
Published: 14 December, 2023, The Conversa�on
By: Julian Koplin and Neera Bha�a
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can
afford them?
2. Can limita�ons on scien�fic research be jus�fied nowadays?
3. The more science advances, the more religion will decline.' To what extent do you
agree?
Further Reading
1. Singapore will need to confront ethical and moral dilemmas with ar�ficial womb
technology (Alexis Heng, 13 December 2023 for BioEdge)
2. Single women cry foul as China doubles down on egg freezing ban, accusing
authori�es of gender bias and forcing women into marriage (Phoebe Zhang, 28
February 2021 for South China Morning Post)
3. The search for the principle of jus�ce for infer�le couples: characteriza�on of the
Brazilian popula�on and bioethical discussion (Drauzio Oppenheimer, Francisca Rego
& Rui Nunes, 4 September 2023 in BMC Medical Ethics)
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Gene Edi�ng
Title: Balancing poten�al benefits and ethical considera�ons of gene edi�ng
Published: 24 June 2023, The Lancet Click here!
By: Shampa Ghosh, Soumya Ghosh, Manchala Raghunath, Rakesh Bhaskar,
and Jitendra Kumar Sinha
Title: Experts weigh medical advances in gene-edi�ng with ethical dilemmas
Click here!
Published: 6 March 2023, NPR
By: Rob Stein
Title: Just Because We Can Create Gene�cally Modified Babies Doesn’t
Mean We Should
Click here!
Published: 17 Dec 2018, Heritage
By: Ryan T. Anderson
Title: Soma�c genome edi�ng therapies are becoming a reality – but debate
over ethics, equitable access and governance con�nue
Click here!
Published: 10 March 2023, The Conversa�on
By: Olga C. Pandos
Title: Human gene edi�ng: who decides the rules?
Published: 15 January, 2020, The Conversa�on Click here!
By: Sheetai Soni
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. Should research into expensive medical treatments be allowed when only a few can
afford them?
2. Should there be any limits placed on medical research?
3. How far should medical resources be used to extend life expectancy?
4. To what extent can regula�on of scien�fic or technological developments be
jus�fied?
Further Reading
1. Ethicists: We need more flexible tools for evalua�ng gene-edited food (Christopher J.
Preston and Trine Antonsen, 26 May 2020, for The Conversa�on)
2. Who trusts gene-edited foods? New study gauges public acceptance (28 June 2022,
Iowa State University)
3. � Gene edi�ng: should you be worried? (2022, The Economist)
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Normalisa�on of Enhancements
Title: Moral enhancement explained: Can science make us beter people?
Click here!
Published: 28 April 2021, Big Think
By: Scoty Hendricks
Title: Ethics Issues Raised by Human Enhancement
Click here!
Published: OpenMind BBVA
By: Andy Miah
Title: Brain-computer interfaces could allow soldiers to control weapons
with their thoughts and turn off their fear – but the ethics of
neurotechnology lags behind the science Click here!
Published: 2 December 2022, The Conversa�on
By: Nancy S. Jecker, Andrew Ko
Title: Posthuman Spor�ng Bodies
Published: 4 November 2023, EPW Engage Click here!
By: Pramod K. Nayar
Title: Playing to lose: transhumanism, autonomy, and liberal democracy
[long read]
Click here!
Published: 9 January 2021, Oxford University Press
By: Susan B. Levin
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. To what extent is human enhancement desirable?
2. Should access to enhancement technologies be regulated?
3. Can limita�ons on scien�fic research be jus�fied nowadays?
4. The more science advances, the more religion will decline.' To what extent do you
agree?
Further Reading
1. The religious divide on views of technologies that would ‘enhance’ human beings
(Michael Lipka, 29 July 2016, for Pew Research Center)
2. Thinking Biblically About Transhumanist Technologies (Patricia Engler, 11 January
2023, Answers in Genesis)
3. � The scien�fic and ethical elements of Human Enhancement (2016, Pew Research
Center)
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Unethical Experimenta�on & Their Findings
Title: Is it ethical to use data from Nazi medical experiments?
Click here!
Published: 10 June 2015, The Conversa�on
By: Lynn Gillam
Title: Studying medicine, Nazism, and the Holocaust crucial to strengthening
medical educa�on and ethics, says new work
Click here!
Published: 8 November, 2023, Medical Xpress
By: Lancet
Title: Nazi doctors weren’t just ‘a few bad apples’, shows report – and
simplis�c stories won’t help guard against future medical abuses
Click here!
Published: 28 November 2023, The Conversa�on
By: Aristotle Kallis
Title: Unethical experiments’ painful contribu�ons to today’s medicine
Published: 21 January 2019, CNN Click here!
By: Nina Avramova
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. Should we be concerned with the ethics of medical research when doing so will limit
its effec�veness?
2. Should every country have the right to carry out unlimited scien�fic research?
3. Can limita�ons on scien�fic research be jus�fied nowadays?
4. Examine the view that the scien�st is only concerned with knowledge, not morality.
Further Reading
1. Human experiments – the good, the bad, and the ugly (Anthony Wrigley, 8 June
2015, for The Conversa�on)
2. Is it right to use Nazi research if it can save lives? (Frank Swain, 24 July 2019, BBC
Future)
3. These medical experiments were horrible, unethical — and useful (Eric Boodman, 13
November 2015, STAT)
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Disaster Preven�on & Aid
Title: Leveraging Big Data and Machine Learning to Monitor Global Food
Security in Real-Time
Click here!
Published: 13 December 2023, WFP
By: World Food Programme, USA
Title: Predic�ng food crisis outbreaks using natural language processing of
news streams
Click here!
Published: 3 March 2023, World Bank Blogs
By: Samuel Paul Fraiberger
Title: Harnessing drones for humanitarian aid and disaster response:
Challenges and opportuni�es
Click here!
Published: 13 December 2023, Innova�on News Network
By: -
Title: Drones: a cost-effec�ve solu�on to boost Nepal’s immuniza�on efforts
in hard-to-reach areas
Click here!
Published: 4 October 2021, Unicef
By: -
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. ‘Science is the only answer to global hunger.’ Discuss.
2. Examine the view that the scien�st is only concerned with knowledge, not morality.
3. How far is technology the solu�on to food waste?
4. Does advancement in modern science truly bring progress for the world?
5. Scien�sts should focus on research that benefits the greatest number of people.
Discuss.
Further Reading
1. Citymesh deploys Nokia turnkey 5G-connected drone pla�orm for emergency
services (Joe O’Halloran, 19 May 2023, for Computer Weekly)
2. Leveraging the power of drones to reach the last mile (Unicef)
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Surveillance & Security
Title: Chinese schools are using chips in uniforms to monitor students
Click here!
Published: 27 December 2018, South China Morning Post
By: Xinmei Shen
Title: Electronic monitoring bracelets are only crime deterrence tools, they
can’t ‘fix’ offenders
Click here!
Published: 5 June 2019, The Conversa�on
By: Lacey Schaefer
Title: More connected, less secure: Addressing IoT and OT threats to the
enterprise
Click here!
Published: 14 November 2023, CIO
By: Zscaler (Brand Post)
Title: Trial to rate medical devices based on cyber security to be launched
on Oct 20
Click here!
Published: 17 October 2023, The Straits Times
By: Lee Li Ying
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. Is modern technology a benefit or threat to our safety?
2. How far has modern technology empowered individual freedom in your society?
3. Is privacy becoming a thing of the past in today’s world?
4. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your
country?
Further Reading
1. Geopoli�cal implica�ons of AI and digital surveillance adop�on (Dahlia Peterson and
Samantha Hoffman, June 2022, for Brookings Ins�tu�on)
2. What does the panop�con mean in the age of digital surveillance? (Thomas
McMullan, 23 July 2015, The Guardian)
3. The ethics and poli�cs of ar�ficial intelligence (Thomas Ferre�, 14 July 2021, LSE
Blogs)
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Science & Poli�cs
Title: �Podcast - Shielding science from poli�cs: how Joe Biden’s research
integrity drive is faring
Click here!
Published: 5 May 2023, Nature Careers Podcast
By: Adam Levy
Title: Three-quarters of Republicans priori�ze the economy over climate
change
Click here!
Published: 3 August 2023, NPR
By: Domenico Montanaro
Title: Tensions on Earth Don’t Have to Affect Outer Space Diplomacy
Published: 6 July 2023, Duke Today Click here!
By: Steve Hartsoe
Title: Science in Iran: a vic�m of poli�cal turmoil
Published: 27 May 2023, The Lancet Click here!
By: Masoud Mozafari
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your
country?
2. Is modern technology a benefit or a threat to democracy?
3. How far has modern technology empowered individual freedom in your society?
4. Consider the view that people no longer have much faith in science.
Further Reading
1. The Poli�cs of Climate (4 October 2016, by Pew Research Center)
2. Five Cases of Poli�cal Threats Against Scien�fic Integrity (Martha Kinsella and Rudy
Mehrbani, 21 October 2019, Brennan Center for Jus�ce)
3. Global scien�fic collabora�on hindered by poli�cs, says Baker Ins�tute study (Avery
Ruxer Franklin, 22 June 2020, Rice University)
4. Why Science Can't Setle Poli�cal Disputes (Taylor Dotson, 29 September 2021, The
MIT Press Reader)
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Inequality in Science & Technology
Title: Covid vaccine figures lay bare global inequality as global target missed
Click here!
Published: 21 July 2022, The Guardian
By: Philippa Kelly, Ashley Kirk and Kaamil Ahmed
Title: Water equality: figures and data that explore the global gap
Click here!
Published: 13 June 2023, Foresight
By: Davide Michielin
Title: Can Vaccines Reach the World's Poorest? 4 Reasons It's Been So Hard
Published: 18 November 2020, Global Ci�zen Click here!
By: Thin Lei Win and Tom Finn
Title: Widening Digital Gap between Developed, Developing States
Threatening to Exclude World’s Poorest from Next Industrial Revolu�on,
Speakers Tell Second Commitee Click here!
Published: 6 October 2023, UN General Assembly
By: -
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. How far is it acceptable for technology to be used only for financial benefit?
2. To what extent can regula�on of scien�fic or technological developments be
jus�fied?
3. Does advancement in modern science truly bring progress for the world?
4. Can space travel be jus�fied when there are such pressing issues in the world today?
5. Is it true that the digital age leaves no one behind?
Further Reading
1. Vaccine inequity is unethical (Keymanthri Moodley,31 January 2022, for Nature)
2. Water Inequality: The Impact on Access to Clean Water and Sanita�on (GGI Insights,
26 January 2023, Gray Group Interna�onal)
3. The Zero-Dose Child: Explained (Gavi Staff, 26 April 2021, Gavi The Vaccine Alliance)
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Science & Technology in Geopoli�cs
Title: China and the US might not be decoupling but their technologies are
bifurca�ng
Click here!
Published: 16 May 2023, Bruegel
By: Alicia Garcia-Herrero
Title: FACT SHEET: CHIPS and Science Act Will Lower Costs, Create Jobs,
Strengthen Supply Chains, and Counter China
Click here!
Published: 9 August 2022, The White House
By: -
Title: Fostering Global Collabora�on Amid Vola�le Geopoli�cs and
Technology Bans
Click here!
Published: 13 September 2023, The Diplomat
By: Sebas�an Con�n Trillo-Figueroa and Dingding Chen
Title: China rushes to swap Western tech with domes�c op�ons as U.S.
cracks down
Click here!
Published: 27 October 2023, Reuters
Edited By: Brenda Goh and Katerina Ang
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. To what extent has technology had an impact on both privacy and security in your
country?
2. To what extent can regula�on of scien�fic or technological developments be
jus�fied?
3. Examine the view that science and poli�cs should be separate from each other.
4. Our faith in technology to solve all our problems is misplaced. Discuss.
Further Reading
1. The Digital Revolu�on Has Transformed Geopoli�cs (19 July 2023, Dan Ciuriak, for
Center for Interna�onal Governance Innova�on)
2. The genera�ve world order: AI, geopoli�cs, and power (Jared Cohen and Goerge Lee,
14 December 2023, for Goldman Sachs)
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Science & Technology in Singapore
Title: Singapore to triple AI talent pool, build 'iconic' AI site as part of
updated na�onal strategy
Click here!
Published: 4 December 2023, Today Online
By: Davina Tham
Title: How Singapore is developing trustworthy AI
Click here!
Published: 9 January 2023, World Economic Forum
By: Yeong Zee Kin, Lee Wan Sie and Tan Wen Rui
Title: US and Singapore to Deepen Collabora�on on AI and Emerging
Technologies
Click here!
Published: 20 October 2023, ASEAN Briefing
By: Arendse Huld
Title: Singapore and France sign eight new agreements to further science
and technology collabora�on
Click here!
Published: 24 October 2023, The Straits TImes
Edited By: Lee Li Ying
Poten�al Ques�ons
1. To what extent has technology had a nega�ve impact on the skill levels of people?
2. In an age of rapid technological advancement, is a single career for life realis�c?
3. To what extent is ar�ficial intelligence replacing the role of humans?
4. ‘Rather than empower our lives, technology has handicapped us.’ Discuss.
5. ‘As science advances, the importance of the arts and humani�es declines.’ Is this an
accurate claim today?
Further Reading
1. Singapore’s AI strategy 2.0 explained (8 December 2023, Aaron Rag, for TechWire
Asia)
2. SMART launches research group to advance AI, automa�on, and the future of work
(23 August 2023, by Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology)
3. MOE to deploy more AI in schools a�er success of Pri 5 maths tool (Nicole Lam, 20
September 2023, Today Online)
4. Meet the Stem innovators enhancing Singapore's safety and security through science
and technology (Lin Jiasheng, 18 April 2023, The Straits Times)
5. Singapore’s futuris�c STEM center by Zaha Hadid begins construc�on (Coconuts
Singapore, 7 November 2023, on Yahoo News)
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Section E: Key Terms
Here are some key terms that you might want to find out about to help you beter understand the topics and
issues surrounding some of the case studies we encounter in this package. (Some blank rows are provided for
your if you would like to add on to the list!)
Word Meaning
SAMPLE: SAMPLE:
Bioethics The study of the ethical, social, and legal issues arising from advances in
biology and medicine.
CRISPR-Cas9
Transhumanism /
Transhuman
Designer Babies
Eugenics
Germline Engineering
Soma�c Gene Therapy
Moral Enhancement
Informed Consent
Synthe�c Biology
Bioprin�ng
Genomics
Dual-Use Research of
Concern (DURC)
Research Ethics
Commitee / Ethics
Commitee
Limits of consent
Digital Divide / Digital Gap
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Ar�ficial General
Intelligence (AGI)
Human-Computer
Interac�on (HCI)
Algorithmic Bias
Personalisa�on Algorithms
Predic�ve Analy�cs
Digital Surveillance
Crea�ve destruc�on
Digital Sovereignty
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