Amateur Scientist Sways Professional About Her Autism

Editor,.

At the first Citizen Science conference, D.M. Lindsay presented a paper on his investigation into a nervous system disorder from which he suffers and about his involvement with experts in that field.

I have come across a story with a similar theme but in which the role of the amateur went much further.

On it's weekly science program, Quirks and Quarks, CBC Radio One recently broadcast a story about a research collaboration between a neuroscientist and an autistic woman with no university education. The most remarkable part of the story was the degree to which the amateur was able to sway the professional's opinion on how her condition should be viewed. In their joint publications "They argue that autism should be recognized as a different way of being human, rather than as a disease or series of defects to be eradicated."

This is one of the best citizen science stories I have ever encountered in the mainstream media.

A summary of the story can be found by going to http://www.cbc.ca/quirks/archives/06-07/oct07.html and scrolling down to the heading "Rethinking Autism." That section also has links for downloading an audio file of the story and links to the authors' publications.

Brian Chapel
Victoria, BC

I just ran across your article of 11 August 2006 about snout butterflies and your mention of San Antonio and the invasion we had of them back in July of this year (Forrest Mims' World of Science, "A Butterfly Invasion").

Well, they are back in full force and much heavier than they were earlier this year. Can you maybe shed some light for me as to why they have returned?

Thanks!

Valarie Day

The second invasion is a byproduct of the ongoing drought-rain-drought cycle in South Texas. It's unusual to get two invasions a year, but they do happen. You can find out much more by searching on the snout butterfly at www.google.com. Also, see the links in the article. Edior.

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