The "Amateur" Scientists

One thing that I find very fascinating about the Victorian era of science is how accessible it was to the layman. As opposed to today, where the practice of true science is reserved for those who have endured years of schooling and hold many degrees from prominent institutions, in the 19th century, anyone with a passion and some spare time could be a "scientist" and produce important and significant work. This obviously only extends so far; the lowest classes who worked 18-hour days could not afford to spend their time digging fossils at the shore. However, much of the important work of the time came from what we would consider “amateur” scientists, and the line dividing the hobbyist from the professional was much less distinct than it is today.

In class, Professor Durant lectured on geology as one example of the accessibility of science during the 19th century. Nowhere was this clearer than in the Museum of Natural History, where we saw actual fossils exhumed by Mary Anning, the quintessential “amateur” scientist. Hearing about her accomplishments and contributions to paleontology is nothing compared to actually seeing the enormous fossils she discovered in Lyme Regis. It is amazing to think that this young woman, who dug fossils to support herself and her family, was actually partially responsible for the discovery of extinction!

A plesiosaur fossil exhumed by Mary Anning in Lyme Regis. Oh, and Mike.

Another “Cinderella story” of sorts is the tale of Alfred Russel Wallace. With only a limited secondary school education, Wallace eventually produced one of the most important contributions to the growing field of evolutionary science. He was not trained as a scientist at all, and yet his work in such remote places as the South Pacific, South America, and Africa led to his discovery of the natural selection process in evolution. While his legacy has been overshadowed by the wealthier and properly educated Charles Darwin, Wallace is a prime example of the openness of scientific study during the Victorian Era.

Some of Wallace's butterfly collection