www.lesswrong.com/posts/f42BHX7rMw2dyFJfT/helpless-individuals?recombeeRecommId=...
1 correction found
You can't volunteer; it's a job for specialists.
This is too absolute. Many scientific projects do let volunteers contribute directly through citizen-science and participatory-science programs.
Full reasoning
The statement is incorrect as a blanket factual claim because volunteers can and do participate in scientific research.
Official U.S. government sources explicitly describe volunteer roles in science:
- USAGov says government agencies and other organizations can help people find "a volunteer opportunity in citizen science" and describes citizen science as a way to "contribute to real science through recreational activities and research."
- NOAA defines citizen science as projects "in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions" and lists many concrete volunteer research tasks, including collecting and analyzing data, interpreting results, and helping make discoveries.
So while some research tasks require specialized training, it is false to say categorically that "You can't volunteer" in science because it is only "a job for specialists." There are many established scientific programs designed specifically for volunteer participation.
2 sources
- How to find a citizen science opportunity | USAGov
Government agencies and other organizations can help you find a volunteer opportunity in citizen science... you can learn about and contribute to real science through recreational activities and research.
- Citizen Science - partner with scientists to answer real-world questions | Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Citizen science is a term that describes projects in which volunteers partner with scientists to answer real-world questions. These volunteers can work with scientists to identify research questions, collect and analyze data, interpret results, make new discoveries...