Post by compsulyx on Nov 18, 2014 0:30:27 GMT -8
JMG,
I totally agree with you. Amateurs discoveries are more important in numbers than scientists ones. Science needs amateurs, of course !!!...:-)
But some amateurs are not very smart and not discrete at all....like bees on honey, if you know what I mean...
Many serious amateurs make a very good job after surveys, with reports, etc...and officials, time to time, knows them as they have a good reputation.
The "non scientists" have to do this to show their experience to officials when they ask for new permits, etc...if you just ask to collect butterflies into a reserve, and there's nothing behind, of course you will come once, or not at all....However, if you have a nice background and experiences in other countries (reports of your works, etc...), and if you make a formal report with your results, etc...like a scientist should do....then you become more constructive and officials have another look on you.
I had a talk recently on this topic with a friend who is member of an association who study the endemic palm trees. He said that their association now have a bad reputation because some of the members, have been arrested into a reserve while they were collecting seeds (they sell them, export to collectors who are able to buy one seed for $5000 or more...); now the association works/program have been suspended by officials on all territory...a shame....just due to stupid persons who just think about themselves and money...
It's a lot of time and work to complete permits files, then complete some reports, send material, etc....but this is really useful to show that amateurs can do a real good job !...
TS
I totally agree with you. Amateurs discoveries are more important in numbers than scientists ones. Science needs amateurs, of course !!!...:-)
But some amateurs are not very smart and not discrete at all....like bees on honey, if you know what I mean...
Many serious amateurs make a very good job after surveys, with reports, etc...and officials, time to time, knows them as they have a good reputation.
The "non scientists" have to do this to show their experience to officials when they ask for new permits, etc...if you just ask to collect butterflies into a reserve, and there's nothing behind, of course you will come once, or not at all....However, if you have a nice background and experiences in other countries (reports of your works, etc...), and if you make a formal report with your results, etc...like a scientist should do....then you become more constructive and officials have another look on you.
I had a talk recently on this topic with a friend who is member of an association who study the endemic palm trees. He said that their association now have a bad reputation because some of the members, have been arrested into a reserve while they were collecting seeds (they sell them, export to collectors who are able to buy one seed for $5000 or more...); now the association works/program have been suspended by officials on all territory...a shame....just due to stupid persons who just think about themselves and money...
It's a lot of time and work to complete permits files, then complete some reports, send material, etc....but this is really useful to show that amateurs can do a real good job !...
TS