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on’t look now, but #SciFund Challenge is roaring back from summer vacation: tanned, rested, and ready!
We had a fabulous second round last May, raising over a hundred thousand dollars for research through crowdfunding and (more importantly) training 75 scientists in science outreach.
Scientists, are you kicking yourself for not being part of the last round of #SciFund? Well, let the kicking stop, because I am here to announce the opening of the third round of the #SciFund Challenge. If you are a scientist interested in connecting your research to the broader public and in raising money for your research through science crowdfunding along the way, you should be part of #SciFund 3.
Here’s how things are going to work this time around:
September 7- October 7. The registration period for applying to be part of #SciFund is open (register here). All scientists who sign up for #SciFund will go through a mild review process (details here).
October 8-November 7. All #SciFund 3 researchers go through a crash course in “modern communications for scientists” that we run. We focus specifically on how to run a science crowdfunding campaign, starting with the very basics.
November 8-December 15. #SciFund 3 crowdfunding projects go live on RocketHub, a leading crowdfunding website.
The highlights of what’s new for #SciFund 3
1. An essential part of a crowdfunding campaign is an effective short video (video is also super important for science communication period). Video production has historically been the thing with which SciFunders have struggled the most. And so, we are very excited to announce that the video production company Lost Nomad Media will be providing free video assistance to all SciFunders.
2. The two purposes of #SciFund Challenge are to train scientists in science communication and to connect the public with science. As part of that our website is in the last stages of being redesigned (thanks to the good folks at the Open Science Federation). When we finish in a few days, one of the key new features is going to be a new science blogging network, designed to connect audiences to scientists. More on this in the days to come…
What stays the same for #SciFund 3
1. The cost of being part of #SciFund stays the same: zero. We don’t charge a penny for the money that you raise through #SciFund (though our partner RocketHub will charge their standard fees).
2. Community remains the heart of #SciFund. What makes #SciFund so amazing is the growing community of scientists surrounding it who are all focused on one thing: science engagement. Being part of #SciFund isn’t like being part of any other crowdfunding enterprise. When you are part of #SciFund, you are part of a community of scientists who will help you and encourage you every step of the way.
So, there will be plenty more details coming in the days to come. But the main point is: SciFund 3 is here!
Yikes! Just found you and looks like I’ve missed out on round 3. Will there be a round 4 this year or early next?
There will indeed. If you have something pressing, and are primed and ready, email me and we can talk.
Like Anne above, I’m wondering if I can email you and find out about the next round or in general, how we can work together. There’s a great project I want people to know about.
Just found out about you guys. Seems like an awesome way to try to attract support for the Center for Amazon Community Ecology research on the ecology, sustainable harvest and marketing of an aromatic tree resin in the Amazon called copal. The Mayans wounded trees in central America to get this resin they used for incense. In the Amazon, native people have plucked off large lumps of resin from trees to caulk their canoes. My research found out that these lumps are produced by the larva of bark-boring weevils. These critters manipulate the resin that oozes out of their bore holes into protective chambers for themselves. While the resin is fresh, it’s also collected by many kinds of stingless bees to make their nests. Sometimes fly larvae feed on microbes inside the resin. When the adult weevils emerge (usually after two to three years), their abandoned chambers are taken over by ants, spiders, scorpions, milipedes, etc. We are painstakingly studying how to sustainably harvest this resource and distill it to produce fragrant essential oil that local communities can sell to perfume companies. We are a small NGO with some success in raising funds for our community-based projects, but it’s been much harder to get financial support for our research. Would really like to get involved in your next round of funding. Best wishes and thanks for what you’re doing. – Dr. Campbell Plowden, Executive Director, Center for Amazon Community Ecology
Hi — Any update on when a Round 4 might take place? I was unable to participate in Rounds 2 and 3.
Thanks!