The growth of science and technology has been in the mode of decreasing doubling time almost continuously until just about this decade. It showed signs of developing a formalism, mystique, and dogma which could in no conceivable way be good for it or its practitioners. The growth had explosive character (in a reaction sense) which obviously would be stifled at some point. That point appeared simultaneously with an apparent disenchantment with the results of our high technology society.
This distaste for the side effects of technology enhanced some other uninformed beliefs. For instance, scientists and engineers were often thought of as polluters, destroyers, and despoilers who tampered with nature not only in physical processes, but also in life processes. They were also often considered to be cold, uncultured, and preoccupied with facts.
There is ready and appropriate rebuttal, of course. The construction of buildings, dams, tunnels, ports, levees, water treatment...
