2 ms·
> Today's 'big science' grant funding model is so far removed from the average citizen or constituent, that by the time they see or feel the impact, it's hardly
by ori_b 11y ago
> Today's 'big science' grant funding model is so far removed from the average citizen or constituent, that by the time they see or feel the impact, it's hardly recognizable anymore. Because it's behind paywalls, or is too technical, or locked in IP, or anti-collaboration.
Fundamental research often has no direct impact on the public. If it does, it's often 10 or 20 years down the line. Fundamentally research is, by it's nature, removed from the impact it has. Nobody knows what the final results will be.
This isn't conducive to crowdfunding.
- dluan 11y agoHere are three projects funded by normal human beings. I'd love to hear your thoughts on impact. http://experiment.com/snails http://experiment.com/snails http://experiment.com/dicty http://experiment.com/dicty http://experiment.com/vanek http://experiment.com/vanek
- Fomite 11y agoI mention this above, but my first thought on "impact" is that they're really neat experiments, but it's very much in the domain of "enough preliminary data to keep a grad student busy for a bit and justify a pilot grant submission". A great stepping stone, but... I'll be honest, I looked at crowdfunding when I was working on my dissertation. It was more work than an industry grant (especially when you include wooing the public) for a fraction of the money.