The Glory of Citizen Science
Tech Commentary
Two days after Christmas in 1831, a soft-featured gentleman set sail from Plymouth, England, aboard a modest brig-sloop. The ship was embarking on a two-year voyage of exploration, and the 22-year-old former divinity student had been invited to serve as the expedition’s naturalist. Though he had taken only a few courses in what was then called natural philosophy, he’d been recommended for the post by a prominent botanist. Better yet, his wealthy father was able to pay his way on the voyage, which meant the expedition could forgo a salary. In short, the young gentleman was a true amateur: one drawn to a field by love despite lacking much formal training and with little hope of earning a living in the profession.
United-states
America
Thomas-kuhn
Charles-darwin
Thomas-bopp
John-james-audubon
Benjamin-franklin
Caroline-herschel
Audubon-society
National-audubon-society
Cornell-university
North-america