APPENDIX II : Independent Research Workers – Who are they?
Independent Research Workers (IRW) are those who seek to develop their research and expertise when not employed to do so. They form a mixed group which includes: • ex-professionals; these highly qualified and trained professional researchers often continue their research as ‘amateur’ researchers whilst in other employment, under-employment, unemployment or retirement. Some ex-professionals are not reliant upon earned income for subsistence; they include some married persons. • non-academic specialists who have knowledge equal to or exceeding that of academics. Many of these researchers are only able to bring their life’s work to completion in retirement. For example, Ms Eva Crackles recently published her Flora of the East Riding based on some 40 years of research in her retirement despite severe disabilities caused by illness and age. I personally know others who have registered for a higher degree after retirement as an impetus towards leaving a coherent record of their specialist kn
