Citizen scientists and members of the public have done everything from discovering species, to documenting sea temperature changes.

Just this year in Australia, an amateur astronomer named Andrew Grey, a mechanic from Darwin, helped scientists discover a whole set of new planets.

But why are people like you, donating their time, to help scientists document and discover. And is crowdfunding the scientific method really trustworthy?

Producer/Presenter: Miles P Herbert

Speakers:

Annette Scanlon: Lecturer School of Natural and Built Environments

John Turnbull: Marine Ecologist and Social Scientist, University of New South Wales

Shuanna Murray: Associate Professor, Climate Change ClusterCore Member, Climate Change Cluster