Forrest M. Mims III

Forrest M. Mims III is an American amateur scientist, author, and electronics enthusiast renowned for his contributions to science education and citizen science. Despite lacking formal academic training in science, Mims has authored over 60 books on topics ranging from electronics to atmospheric science, with his works selling more than 7.5 million copies worldwide. 

Born in 1944 in Houston, Texas, Mims graduated from Texas A&M University in 1966 with a major in government and minors in English and history. He served as an Air Force intelligence officer during the Vietnam War and later worked as a development engineer at the Air Force Weapons Laboratory. 

Mims gained widespread recognition through his hand-lettered electronics books, notably the Getting Started in Electronics and the Engineer's Mini-Notebook series, which were popularized by RadioShack. These publications have inspired countless individuals to explore electronics and DIY science projects.

In addition to his writing, Mims has made significant contributions to atmospheric science. He developed the Total Ozone Portable Spectrometer (TOPS) to measure ozone levels and has conducted long-term environmental monitoring at his Geronimo Creek Observatory in Texas. His innovative work earned him the Rolex Award for Enterprise in 1993. 

Mims has also been involved in science communication, serving as editor of The Citizen Scientist journal and writing columns for various publications. His dedication to science education and research, despite being self-taught, has made him a prominent figure in promoting citizen science initiatives