According to the National Coalition for Independent Scholars, the “NCIS welcomes people who are pursuing knowledge in or across any fields whose credentials demonstrate an active involvement in independent scholarship in any field, as evidenced by advanced degrees or presentations/publications. Further qualification is that the scholar not be employed on a full-time basis by an academic institution or other organization in the field to which their independent scholarly activity pertains. Graduate students intent on pursuing independent scholarship, adjunct faculty, and others tangentially associated with academic institutions who do not receive financial support for their scholarly activities are eligible.” Independent scholars are frequently active in consulting, or have their own research and/or training company. Several of us obtain funding for our research, which we may conduct in partnership with affiliated colleagues or not. We can solve the same problems as our affiliated colleagues, and sometimes more: given that we are not affiliated, we are not committed with third parties’ agendas, which frequently stand in the way of academic freedom. We tend to be better suited for the role of a “go-between” when the problem to be solved involves negotiating approaches, project format and expected results between the academic institutions proper and non-academic communities. For that reason, we make very good “knowledge brokers”.