SciFlies is the latest Web site for collecting public donations for research, taking the grassroots funding model found in the arts and media and applying it to science. With Sciflies and similar sites, researchers pitch their ideas to the public at large, who then can contribute to their favorite projects.
The SciFlies idea is similar to Kickstarter, a site where artists and entrepreneurs post their ideas and seek contributions. Like Kickstarter, researchers post their research proposals with text, images, and video. Donors then contribute funds, usually in small amounts, until the target amount is reached.
Two other sites post researcher ideas and seek public donors. EurekaFund accepts funding proposals, which are then reviewed by a review panel for scientific merit, and if approved, are posted for public contributions. FundScience also seeks public contributions for research projects, after a peer-review process, but also can offer access to the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center as well as dollars.
Hat tip: ScienceInsider
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