Crowd-Sourcing Exploration and Research, Part III

Uwingu is Taking Wing

I’ve written a couple of times about Uwingu, the crowd-sourcing exploration and research site launched by Alan Stern and a group of like-minded scientists and educators who want to see research MOVE in this country, not just stand still.  I happen to like their goals and their mission, and so I’m lending my support to their fundraising efforts.  Their initial campaign ends on Friday the 14th and they’re still a bit short of their goal.

If you haven’t read about these guys, you should (at the link above).  They’re doing something about exploring new avenues of funding worthwhile research and exploration while others stand by and wring their hands (or actively obstruct progress).  I admire the spirit of Uwingu and I hope you will, too.

I know many of the people involved and they are dedicated, smart, and passionate about what they’re doing. Those are also just the kinds of qualities that good research needs in the people who do it.  So, if you DO decide to contribute to their fund, you’ll be helping choose and fund some of the best and brightest out there.

Uwingu has already chosen a first group to fund — the SETI Institute in California. The scientists there are doing ground-breaking work in radio science, from astrobiology to the search for signals from other civilizations. It’s solid science and it speaks a lot to its importance that Uwingu chose that group to fund. And, there are many other useful and wonderful projects they can turn their attention to.

So, I’ll put it on the line here: Uwingu needs the money. They’ve raised at least 45K of the 75K they need. And, believe it or not, many of the folks who have put THEIR money on the line for this are regular, ordinary folks who want to see science move forward. They’re joined by large and small companies who share the same view.

Want to know more?  Check out the video below and then go to the Uwingu site to make a contribution and claim a perk. Science moves us forward, but we have to be willing to help it, too.