Australian Scientist Launches New Crowdfunding Platform For Young Researchers

University of New South Waves (UNSW), along with its scientist, Dr. Ben McNeil, has launched a brand new crowdfunding platform called Thinkable.org. This new website is aiming to help funding for young scientists in Australia.

ThinkableAccording to AsianScientist, Dr. McNeil stated, “Government research grand tend to favor established researchers over younger ones with a passion for discovery. Failure, risk-taking and pursuit of crazy-sounding, but potentially transformative, ideas are not support under the current system.”

He continued, “But failure, paradoxically, is the basis of success. If researchers are not testing new ideas and failing, then they’re not innovating; they’re just making incremental advances in knowledge.”

Research showed more than four out of five applicants for competitive government grants are unsuccessful. The new crowdfunding model is only designed to complement, but not to replace, this system. Dr. McNeil noted, “Every Thinkable dollar will sponsor younger scientists in the lab to pursue potentially ground-breaking ideas.”

University of New South Wales pro-vice-chancellor, Mark Hoffman, said the University is proud to be a launch partner of Thinkable.org. “With success rates for competitive grants failing to record lows, particularly for early career researchers, we need to look at innovative new ways to support research.”

The first scientists on the new platform are five UNSW Gold Star recipients who have already been awarded up to $40,000 by the university because of their projects being highly ranked by the Australian Research Council or National Health and Medical Research Council. Unfortunately they just missed out on more funding.

Researchers from Australia and around the world, who join the platform, will provide regular updates on any progress as well as short videos about their research. Dr. McNeil added, “The initiative will not only accelerate discovery, it will build greater trust and communication between scientists and the public, but democratizing science.”

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