Why I decided to crowdfund my research by Ethan O. Perlstein.
From the post:
For the last five years, I ran a lab in Princeton University as an independent researcher through a $1 million grant. That money ran out in September. Now my option is to apply for government grants where I have a slim chance of success. And, if unsuccessful, I have to stop research.
Over 80% of grant applications to funding agencies in the United States fail. The government is planning to make further cuts to the science budget. More disturbing is the fact that now scientists receive their first big grant at the age of 42, nearly a decade after surviving graduate school, postdoctoral fellowships and temporary faculty appointments.
That’s why I decided to experiment with the way experiments are funded. I am trying to crowdfund a basic research project. Kickstarter brought the concept of crowdfunding to my attention years ago. However, it was only in the last year that I learned about the SciFund Challenge, a “by scientists, for scientists” initiative to finance small-scale ($200 – $2,000) projects, mostly in ecology and related fields, but not much in the biomedical sciences.
Ethan researched the models use by other crowdfunded projects and this post includes pointers to that research as well as other lessons he learned along the way. Including how to visualize the network of supporters for his campaign and consequently how to reach out to new supporters.
Not for the first time, I wonder if crowdfunding would work for the production of subject specific topic maps?
That is to pick some area, a defined data set with a proposed deliverable, and then promote it for funding?
I would shy away from secret government documents unless I ran across a funder who read the Pentagon Papers from cover to cover. It’s a classic, “something that everybody wants to have read and nobody wants to read.”
My problem, which you may share, is that I know what I like, not so good about what other people like. As in other people willing to contribute money.
Suggestions as to sources on what “other” people like?
Twitter trends? News programs? Movie/music reviews?
The next big question: How can topic maps increase their enjoyment of X?
I first saw news of Ethan O. Perlstein in a tweet by Duncan Hall.