Research Opportunities Unfortunately Nonexistant for Many

We here at FundScience feel that there is often a lack of transparency within the scientific research community and would love to be able to remedy this problem by getting the public more involved.  To that end, we are starting a pilot program to fund research projects.

I feel that getting the public interested in scientific research is a two-way street – not only do we need for the scientists to feel more accountable to the public for their work, but the public needs to become more interested in these issues that touch almost every aspect of our lives.  By writing about many important issues that are currently being researched by the scientific community, I hope to be able to inspire you to become more curious about the world that surrounds you and more involved in the research processes that propel humankind forward.

An article was brought to my attention the other day that truly drives home the point of why an organization like FundScience is such a necessary commodity to have.  This article, titled “The Matthew Effect”, appeared on SeedMagazine.com and really emphasizes the current importance of finding a better way to fund and investigate scientific research methods.  In the article, author John Wilbanks writes,

The average age on first receipt of the most common “starter” grants at the NIH is now almost 42. This means younger researchers without the strength of a fame-based community are cut out of the funding process, and their ideas, separate from an older researcher’s sphere of influence, don’t get pursued. This causes a founder effect in modern science, where the prestigious few dictate the direction of research. It’s not only unfair—it’s also actively dangerous to science’s progress. (http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_matthew_effect)

He also goes on to explain why it is crucial to be able to move past a scientist’s “credentials” and to be able to see their work for how it can truly benefit the scientific community and mankind at large in order to better determine who should get funding for research proposals.

42?  The thought that you may have to wait until middle age to receive a grant from a major research funding institute, such as the NIH, should be a very scary one for any researcher or scientist.  The thought that many great and possibly life-changing research proposals are not being given the attention that they deserve because they are being written by those who don’t have the weight of a more experienced or cited researcher behind them should be equally scary to any person who is touched by scientific research in any way, namely everyone.

This is my invitation to you to get involved with scientific research at a grassroots level, and truly have an effect on how research is funded and reported.  I hope that you will keep reading and get ideas on what inspires you and find a way to get involved with science, especially through the opportunities afforded you by FundScience.

If at any point, you have a topic that you would absolutely love to hear about, I invite you to leave your comments or feedback and I will be more than happy to oblige to the best of my ability.  Happy discovering!