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Vendredi, 03 Décembre 2010 13:00

Science Funding for the Little Guys

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Illustration: Ulises Farinas

Illustration: Ulises Farinas

The institutions that foot the bill for scientific research tend to be best at writing big checks for big projects. Now a bunch of nonprofits are trying to fund the little guys, asking for small donations to small projects. A focus on transparency—researchers must update donors

with progress reports—could help get the public invested in science with their hearts as well as their wallets. Here’s a look at the new funds. <![CDATA[ #fund_cont { float:left; margin-right:30px; width:188px; padding:6px; } #fund_cont.last { margin-right:0px; } #fund_cont h2 { font-size:1.5em; font-weight:bold; color:#77C295; } #content #fund_cont p { margin:0px; } ]]>

FundScience

How it works: Microdonations to individual projects or organizations, with a time limit on the fund-raising. Projects that don’t hit their targets have their funds redistributed.
What makes it different: FundScience takes donations from individuals and organizations alike.
Sample project: Researchers at the Center for Genomic Sciences are looking to study a nasty strain of antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus bacteria—the most common cause of bacterial meningitis.
Amount raised: $2,500
Still to raise: $22,500

EurekaFund

How it works: Microdonations to individual projects until funding goals are met.
What makes it different: A focus on research that could benefit people living in poor communities or the developing world. A scientific advisory board reviews all grant proposals.
Sample project: A testing facility for inexpensive solar panels, to be built on the UC Berkeley campus.
Amount raised: $25,351
Still to raise: $47,229

SciFlies

How it works: Microdonations with a financing deadline. If a project doesn’t meet its funding target, donors can choose to transfer their contributions to other research.
What makes it different: As part of its effort to make science accessible to all, SciFlies pairs researchers with professional science writers to make their proposals easier to understand.
Sample project: A network of robotic sensors for Tampa Bay to measure chemical changes in the water caused by flushed-away pharmaceuticals.
Amount raised: $0
Still to raise: $12,000


Authors: Erin Biba

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