Interview: The outsiders

Most of them have no formal scientific training. Often scorned by professionals, they endure a constant battle to find funding. Yet amateur scientists continue to make a significant contribution in just about every field. Caroline Williams asked three of the most successful about their work: Forrest Mims III, who has taught NASA a thing or two about ozone monitoring, Jerry MacDonald, discoverer of some of the most important Palaeozoic fossils ever found, and Pierre Morvan, a world expert on ground beetles. They all share a passion for exploration, an unusual route to academia – and the need for a day job.…