The study of science, technology, and society (STS) has, over the past decade, become established in Great Britain, Canada, and the United States as the fastest growing area of teaching and research in institutes of higher education. While it is reasonable to describe STS as an important socio-educational movement, it is thematically erroneous to think of it as a "discipline" of study. Therefore, the unity and diversity of STS is considered by discussing the nature of the field as well as by pointing out trends and problems within STS, and its importance to education and society. Included in the discussion of trends and problems are summaries of five STS interdependent research themes (humanistic, relativistic, reflexive, de-simplifying, and normative tendencies) and a list of three major impediments affecting the field. (JN)