you seem somewhat unaware of the realities of how science is done. What is 'citizen science'? how is different from normal science? ""I want to buy $250 worth

you seem somewhat unaware of the realities of how science is done. What is 'citizen science'? how is different from normal science? ""I want to buy $250 worth of resistors, capacitors, chips, wire, and breadboards to make a new kind of fitbit prototype"" Did you read the article? I'm sure new fitbit prototypes are great and all but..it in no way is blue skies or fundamental research (which is what the article argues we need more of). "What's an average person who wants to get into science supposed to do, besides be independently wealthy?" do what most people in science do...get a bachelor's degreee and a phd and then enter academia or industry, publish papers, read papers ,attend conferences, teach and mentor students. I don't think there are many scientists who self fund themselves. "Sadly, my experience trying to get even a few hours' use of any sort of university equipment, whether supervised, paid, through night classes, or otherwise, has been met with absolute stonewalls. If you don't pay full tuition, you can fuck right off." What type of hardware are you trying to get access to? what are your goals? Is it to produce new scientific knowledge? then you would probably be best served by going to grad school.. edit: however, one does not have to attend grad school to do useful research in exceptional circumstances. see chris olah at google deep brain. edit: one does not even have to be all that young. look at yitang zhang