Science & Technology ISSUES (A2)
(CEFR A2 Level)
(CEFR A2 Level)
OVERVIEW
What it is
Science and technology affect everyone, but not in the same way. Large technology systems often reflect unfair parts of society. This includes gender differences in research, environmental damage in rural areas, and digital bias against minority groups. Other important topics are using animals in medical tests, past government "eugenics" policies, and unequal access to healthcare. The following stories and examples show how these real problems affect people and ethical choices.
David's story: David worked for years in a laboratory testing new medicine on animals. Over time, he saw hundreds of animals suffer a lot of pain. They stayed in small cages for tests that often did not work for humans. This made David very sad and stressed. He realised that better test methods without animals were ignored. So, David left his job. He publicly supported ethical research rules and modern computer models instead. His story shows how animal testing raises big ethical questions about animal welfare in science today.
Maya's story: Maya is a software developer from an ethnic minority group. She applied for a job at a big technology company. The company used an artificial intelligence (AI) program to check job applications. The system learned from old data about past managers, who were mostly men from majority groups. Because of this, the AI tool gave Maya's application a lower score. Maya's story shows how bias in modern technology can cause racial and gender discrimination in hiring.
Gender inequality in modern research: Japan has the lowest percentage of female STEM researchers among developed countries. Cultural ideas, media images, and family pressure often push young women away from science careers. Also, long working hours, little help for mothers who work, and unfair treatment at work make it hard for women to become leaders.
Environmental injustice in energy production: Rural communities face bigger risks than large cities. The 2011 Fukushima disaster showed that countryside areas take on long-term health, environmental, and financial risks from nuclear power plants. These plants mostly send electricity to far-away cities like Tokyo. Because these large power plants are usually placed in poorer areas with fewer people, local residents take most of the safety risks while city people get most of the benefits.
Digital tools and new forms of discrimination: Advanced AI systems and digital tracking tools focus on foreign workers and minority groups like the Burakumin more often. Also, as public and private services move online quickly, Japan might leave behind elderly people, disabled people, and immigrants who do not have fast internet, electronic devices, or language support.
Animal experimentation and bioethics: Millions of animals are used across the world every year in medical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics research. Critics say that keeping animals in small cages and causing them pain is cruel. Modern alternatives are now available and work well. These include human cell models made in labs and computer simulations.
Past bioethical failures and state policies: Under the Eugenic Protection Law, which existed until 1996, the Japanese government forced thousands of disabled people to undergo operations so they could not have children. Victims are still fighting in court today for fair money payments. In the past, researchers also used incorrect scientific ideas about bloodlines to claim indigenous Ainu people and other groups were inferior. This created social prejudice that lasts for a long time.
Medical technology and health inequality: Expensive modern treatments and medical tools are usually in big city hospitals. This makes advanced healthcare harder to get for people living on small islands and in rural areas. Medical research often studies common health problems, so rare diseases do not get funding. Also, medical tests do not include enough elderly people or foreign residents, so new medicines are not always made for everyone's needs.