Editing Amateur (section)

== Contribution of amateurs ==
Many amateurs make valuable contributions in the field of [[computer programming]] through the [[Open-source software movement|open source]] movement.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2487084/it-careers/the-rise-of-hobbyist-programmers.html|title=The rise of hobbyist programmers|last=Jackson|first=Joab|work=Computerworld|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en|archive-date=2018-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517161326/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2487084/it-careers/the-rise-of-hobbyist-programmers.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Amateur dramatics]] is the performance of [[Play (theatre)|plays]] or [[musical theater]], often to high standards, but lacking the budgets of professional [[West End theatre|West End]] or [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] performances.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/class-act-the-amateur-dramatics-societies-that-could-give-the-pros-a-run-for-their-money-8294817.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023232255/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/features/class-act-the-amateur-dramatics-societies-that-could-give-the-pros-a-run-for-their-money-8294817.html |archive-date=2015-10-23 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Class act: The amateur-dramatics societies that could give the pros a|date=2012-11-11|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Astronomy]], chemistry, history, linguistics, and the natural sciences are among the fields that have benefited from the activities of amateurs. [[Gregor Mendel]] was an amateur scientist who never held a position in his field of study. [[Radio astronomy]] was founded by [[Grote Reber]], an [[amateur radio operator]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Invisible Universe: The Story of Radio Astronomy|last=Verschuur|first=Gerrit|date=20 March 2007|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-0-387-68360-7|pages=14–}}</ref> Radio itself was greatly advanced by [[Guglielmo Marconi]], a young Italian man who started out by tinkering with a [[coherer]] and a [[spark coil]] as an amateur electrician.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/connecting-britain/guglielmo-marconi-birth/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/connecting-britain/guglielmo-marconi-birth/ |archive-date=2022-01-12 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=This week in tech|date=2017-04-28|work=The Telegraph|access-date=2018-05-16|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[Pierre de Fermat]] was a highly influential mathematician whose primary vocation was law.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Scientific Revolution: An Encyclopedia|last=Burns|first=William E.|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2001|isbn=978-0-87436-875-8|pages=101–102}}</ref>

In the 2000s and 2010s, the distinction between amateur and professional has become increasingly blurred, especially in areas such as computer programming, music and astronomy. The term [[amateur professionalism]], or pro-am, is used to describe these activities.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Leadbetter|first1=Charles|title=Amateur Revolution|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/51040/amateur-revolution|website=Fast Company|access-date=May 16, 2018|date=1 October 2004|archive-date=17 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517152736/https://www.fastcompany.com/51040/amateur-revolution|url-status=live}}</ref>