Olson, Mike. “Let’s Crowdfund Science.” Wired Dec. 2013: 56. Print.
With the help of the internet, now researchers have more options for funding their projects than ever before. Launched in 2010, the website RocketHub was founded by Brian Meece, Jed Cohen, and Vladimir Vukicevic and serves that exact purpose. It adapts Kickstarter’s existing model to apply to scientific endeavors and hosts funding campaigns for research around the planet. As a perk for contributing, donors usually receive small rewards relating to the project.
This is a positive example of how global environmentalism can benefit from technological advancements. Many of the site’s projects pertain to conservation of animal and plant species. Because the web is so widespread, this site makes it possible to aid environmental efforts all over the world from home. Wired mentions ventures like the “Whale Call Project” which aims to create an app for organizing ocean conservationists. With the added bonus of incentives (for this one, it’s a whale call album for donating $7), people are even more likely to get involved.
