[Hagrid]

I want to do research, but kind of as a hobby. Once I have done a masters degree or honours (In geology, not chemistry - but i'm more interested in chem as a hobby but not as a job), how do I go about getting permission to do the kind of research that would require special equipment or substances that are restricted to established institutions, or, to get permission to research things like controlled or outright banned substances?

Also, would a non-professional researcher in this day and age stand a chance of being published if it's not revolutionary or HAS to be published (but still is a good contribution to the field, like an average paper from a post-doc.

And finally, is there any chance for a citizen chemist to approach university's to use their equipment and sort of, be in and around an environment where if something happens, people who know what they're doing will be able to help me? I know they don't like, rent out rooms or anything but if you've heard of anything...!

thanks.

[Arkcon]

You'd have to be more specific for the best information, but ...

You can order anything you want from a chemical wholesaler.  Whether they will sell it to you is up to their discretion, and they generally self impose tougher restrictions than federal regulations require, for their own liability.  For example, if you want an liter of 1 N nitric acid from Sigma-Aldrich, they may ask you to verify your identity, and ask you if you're knowledgeable about the hazards, and they'll only deliver to to a business address, one that is incorporated, and is registered as such on a local level.  If you want 50 L of fuming nitric acid, well, they may impose even more restrictions.  And you may run up against local and federal restrictions.

Notice, I picked a random hazardous chemical, that one could associate with geology and chemistry in some way.  There are totally different restrictions for, say, narcotics precursors.  All the more because you can't claim your academic background has given you much insight into potential research topics.  Here's where your being specific makes for a better question.