Practice Ielts in Praice of Amateurs

In praise of Amateurs
Despite the specialization of scientific research, amateurs still have an

important role to play. During the scientific revolution of the 17th century,
scientists were largely men of private means who pursued their interest in natural
philosophy for their own edification. Only in the past century or two has it become
possible to make a living from investigating the workings of nature. Modern
science was, in other words, built on the work of amateurs. Today, science is an
increasingly specialized and compartmentalized subject, the domain of experts
who know more and more about less and less. Perhaps surprisingly, however,
amateurs – even those without private means – are still important.
A recent poll carried out at a meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science by astronomer Dr Richard Fienberg found that, in
addition to his field of astronomy, amateurs are actively involved in such field as
acoustics, horticulture, ornithology, meteorology, hydrology and palaeontology.
Far from being crackpots, amateur scientists are often in close touch with
professionals, some of whom rely heavily on their co-operation.
Admittedly, some fields are more open to amateurs than others. Anything
that requires expensive equipment is clearly a no-go area. And some kinds of
research can be dangerous; most amateur chemists, jokes Dr Fienberg, are either
locked up or have blown themselves to bits. But amateurs can make valuable
contributions in fields from rocketry to palaeontology and the rise of the Internet
has made it easier than before to collect data and distribute results.
Exactly which field of study has benefited most from the contributions of
amateurs is a matter of some dispute. Dr Fienberg makes a strong case for
astronomy. There is, he points out, a long tradition of collaboration between
amateur and professional sky watchers. Numerous comets, asteroids and even the
planet Uranus were discovered by amateurs. Today, in addition to comet and
asteroid spotting, amateurs continue to do valuable work observing the brightness
of variable stars and detecting novae- ‘new’ stars in the Milky Way and
supernovae in other galaxies. Amateur observers are helpful, says Dr Fienberg,
because there are so many of them (they far outnumber professionals) and because
they are distributed all over the world. This makes special kinds of observations
possible:’ if several observers around the world accurately record the time when a
star is eclipsed by an asteroid, for example, it is possible to derive useful
information about the asteroid’s shape.
Another field in which amateurs have traditionally played an important role
is palaeontology. Adrian Hunt, a palaeontologist at Mesa Technical College in
New Mexico, insists that this is the field in which amateurs have made the biggest
contribution. Despite the development of high-tech equipment, he says, the best
sensors for finding fossils are human eyes – lots of them.
Finding volunteers to look for fossils is not difficult, he says, because of the
near universal interest in anything to do with dinosaurs. As well as helping with
this research, volunteers learn about science, a process he calls ‘recreational
education’.
Rick Bonney of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology in Ithaca, New York,
contends that amateurs have contributed the most in his field. There are, he notes,
thought to be as many as 60 million birdwatchers in America alone. Given their
huge numbers and the wide geographical coverage they provide, Mr Bonney has
enlisted thousands of amateurs in a number of research projects. Over the past few
years, their observations have uncovered previously unknown trends and cycles in
bird migrations and revealed declines in the breeding populations of several
species of migratory birds, prompting a habitat conservation programme.
Despite the successes and whatever the field of study, collaboration between
amateurs and professionals is not without its difficulties. Not everyone, for
example, is happy with the term ‘amateur’. Mr Bonney has coined the term ‘citizen
scientist’ because he felt that other words, such as ‘volunteer’ sounded disparaging.
A more serious problem is the question of how professionals can best acknowledge
the contributions made by amateurs. Dr Fienberg says that some amateur
astronomers are happy to provide their observations but grumble about not being
reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses. Others feel let down when their
observations are used in scientific papers, but they are not listed as co-authors. Dr
Hunt says some amateur palaeontologists are disappointed when told that they
cannot take finds home with them.
These are legitimate concerns but none seems insurmountable. Provided
amateurs and professionals agree the terms on which they will work together
beforehand, there is no reason why co-operation between the two groups should
not flourish. Last year Dr S. Carlson, founder of the Society for Amateur Scientists
won an award worth $290,000 for his work in promoting such co-operation. He
says that one of the main benefits of the prize is the endorsement it has given to the
contributions of amateur scientists, which has done much to silence critics among
those professionals who believe science should remain their exclusive preserve.
At the moment, says Dr Carlson, the society is involved in several schemes
including an innovative rocket-design project and the setting up of a network of
observers who will search for evidence of a link between low- frequency radiation
and earthquakes. The amateurs, he says, provide enthusiasm and talent, while the
professionals provide guidance ‘so that anything they do discover will be taken
seriously’. Having laid the foundations of science, amateurs will have much to
contribute to its ever – expanding edifice.
Questions 1-8
Complete the summary below. Choose ONE /TWO WORDS from the passage for
each answer.
Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.
Summary
Prior to the 19th century, professional 1 ............... did not exist and scientific
research was largely carried out by amateurs. However, while 2 ............... today is
mostly the domain of professionals, a recent US survey highlighted the fact that
amateurs play an important role in at least seven 3 ............... and indeed many
professionals are reliant on their 4 ............... . In areas such as astronomy, amateurs
can be invaluable when making specific 5 ............... on a global basis. Similarly, in
the area of palaeontology their involvement is invaluable and helpers are easy to
recruit because of the popularity of 6 ............... . Amateur bird watchers also play
an active role and their work has led to the establishment of a 7 ............... .
Occasionally the term 'amateur' has been the source of disagreement and
alternative names have been suggested but generally speaking, as long as the
professional scientists 8 ............... the work of the non-professionals, the two
groups can work productively together.
Questions 9-13
Reading Passage 1 contains a number of opinions provided by four different

scientists.
Match each opinion (Questions 9-13) with the scientists A-D.
NB. You may use any of the scientists A-D more than once.
9. Amateur involvement can also be an instructive pastime.

10. Amateur scientists are prone to accidents.
11. Science does not belong to professional scientists alone.
12. In certain areas of my work, people are a more valuable resource than
technology.
13. It is important to give amateurs a name which reflects the value of their work.
Name of scientists
A. Dr Fienberg
B. Adrian Hunt
C. Rick Bonney
D. Dr Carlson

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In praise of Amateurs

Despite the specialization of scientific research, amateurs still have an

Write your answers in boxes 1-8 on your answer sheet.

Reading Passage 1 contains a number of opinions provided by four different

9. Amateur involvement can also be an instructive pastime.

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