a big day

Tomorrow we launch the first round of crowdfunded research campaigns as part of a collaboration between Deakin University and Pozible called ResearchMyWorld. I’m extremely nervous about the turn to crowdfunding, but I’m pitching a modest project with an achievable goal and two aims that I believe in. The timing of the project comes during an intense period of cutbacks to research funding and changes to the funding support for students in Higher Education in Australia. It’s important to be clear that crowdfunding research is not an alternative to federal funded research, but a tactical intermediary. We are all stumbling around in the dark with this one, wondering if we have found the light switch or the electrical outlet and only time will tell.