Contributions from Citizen Science

What, exactly, is a "Citizen Scientist"? Are scientists denied citizenship for some reason? Are scientists classified as citizens only when they are contributing their expertise gratis? Is on a "Citizen Scientist" only when practicing outside one's specialty?

Apparently, it is an attempt to expand the word scientist to include anyone who watches bird and discussses it with other people who watch birds. Very tenuous in my opinion, first it assumes ecological biology is somehow a science, and then it assumes that the participants are undertaking/practicing their efforts using a scientific methodology to achive some scientitific ends (testing a theory is actually the only experimental "field" work). So, by extension, I guess it also assumes there is some fully deomonstrated theory that they can test by watching these birds. I was playing World of Warcraft the other day with many other participants, we were observing how people interact, could we be a citizen "scientists" doing sociological research?

I was playing World of Warcraft the other day with many other participants, we were observing how people interact, could we be a citizen "scientists" doing sociological research?
Definitely, you should be able to get a grant and probably a degree for you work.
Del

Do you think I would get a raise for a PhD in sociology?

These blogs are becoming more and more bizarre every day. Can someone please explain how this relates to Lab Equipment - I promise to be nice to everyone in all future threads if someone can explain this.

Easy- your assistants are part of your laboratory equipment. However, do not list them on any official documents, or someone will figure out how to attach a property tax to them...