Student contribution/Citizen science? I'm a student who, due to circumstances beyond my control, is having to take a gap year.
I want this gap year to be productive, however! And would love to engage in citizen science projects/activities. However, given where I live, the citizen science projects and open-lab type spaces are non-existent.

Could I perhaps:


  Read a bunch of research papers on a common topic and synthesise a review paper? Do journals publish review papers written by non-academics/amateurs?
  I certainly enjoy reading review papers: What sorts of criteria are review papers assessed on for publishing? (I assume that the style and format and referencing follow their preference/convention is a necessity for publishing. But what else?)


In doing so, I'd learn about a topic, how to write a review paper and perhaps being published could be an advantage when I look for research internships in the future?

Does anyone have any other potential endeavours to suggest?
I've already shadowed &amp; volunteered in hospitals &amp; performed a few lab experiments. I'm currently looking for something that I could do to genuinely contribute to science and use this gap year as a learning experience.

Thank you!
jxs
A link to Academia is your best bet.

Stay in touch with people doing research in the field of your interest in a formal setting.
If you come up with a notable work you may end up co-publishing it with them.

Open source is a great alternative

There are many, many notable pieces of code developed (and credited to) individuals no tied to major organizations to be found i.e. on GitHub. This is a good way to quickly put your results thru "peer review", albeit informally, get credit for your work and -why not- good PR.