Voices
about the appropriate role of citizens in science in order to harness
the public’s interest and energy
while still preserving the integrity
of the scientific process. As I see it,
there are definitely opportunities
for non-scientists to participate,
but their roles must be carefully
defined. Research in any domain of
science today requires specialized
training to build up knowledge and
clinical competence. To make major breakthroughs, we need people
with expertise who are engaged in
sustained research over a long period of time — in a word, scientists.
So, when and how should citizens be involved in science?
First, there will be occasions
when citizens can participate in
data analysis and provide direct input to professional scientists. There
are now successful examples of this
in astronomy and chemistry. One of
them, Galaxy Zoo, invites the public
to assist in classifying the shapes
of over sixty million galaxy images.
No knowledge of astronomy is required, and it turns out that the
human brain is more suited to this
activity than any advanced computer. More than 250,000 people
have taken part in Galaxy Zoo so
far, producing a wealth of valuable data and sending telescopes
PRIYAMVADA
NATARAJAN
HUFFINGTON
06.24.12
on Earth and in space chasing after
their discoveries.
One such case centers on Hanny van Arkel, a Dutch biology
schoolteacher who chanced upon
a strange interstellar object that
she could not match wit