How do science and technology relate with human needs?

Answer 1

Science does not necessarily directly relate with human needs. That's where technology comes in. Technology is the application of science (or other methods/knowledge).

Which subjects are investigated using the scientific method depends on the person(s) who are using these methods, those who are funding it (if it needs funding), the applicable laws, among other things. However, despite these connections, the scientific method is removed from many of the human connections. Scientists are taught to be quantitative as opposed to qualitative; to repeat tests/experiments over and over beyond common sense; to be unbiased observers; among other things. The fact that most people are unable/unwilling to be scientists testifies to the degree with which the scientific method is withdrawn from normal human needs/methods.

Technology, being the application, takes from what science learned and applies it. For example, a scientist may spend years performing stress tests on various materials. An inventor or an engineer may read over the published data from the scientist and use that knowledge to build a better building.

One way to put it would be to say that the 3 things, human needs, technology, and science are separated from each other in a line, human needs being on the far right, science being on the far left, and technology being a bridge between the two.