Amateur Science in Our Modern Age

Amateurs have always played a significant role in scientific discovery, particularly in astronomy and the natural sciences. In the last century, we’ve seen an increasing trend toward professionalization of all aspects of society; IEET Fellow David Brin, however, forecasts a counter-trend toward an Age of Amateurs.

The sheer number and complexity of our challenges, says Brin, will demand a wider proliferation of skills than just one-per-person. We may be returning to a greater emphasis on amateurs, even in areas like national defense and self-reliance. The scope of SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, will be enhanced by thousands of amateur dishes scanning the skies, sharing their results through the Internet.

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