James Portnow, Seattle-based game designer and co-creator of Extra Credits, a web series on pro-social game design.
Raised over $125,000 from over 4,000 people.
James and Extra Credits were featured at SXSW, Gamasutra, and the homepage of Reddit.
Meghan Sebold, Brooklyn-based social entrepreneur and designer.
Raised $5,000 for a sustainable clothing line that uses the textiles and talent of Ghana, West Africa.
Her fashion line, AFIA was featured in EcoSalon, TreeHugger, Refinery29, and is now available in boutiques across NYC.
Aram Bajakian, NYC-based avant-garde guitar player.
Raised $4,000 from fans and strangers to fund his album.
Lou Reed heard Aram and chose him as his new guitarist while Aram's album is now released by John Zorn's Tzadik record label.
Darko Lungulov, Serbia-based award winning international filmmaker.
Raised $9,000 from movie buffs for feature film project Here and There.
Film won "Best New York Narrative" at Tribeca Film Festival, featured in Variety, L.A. Times, New York Times, and was a top-10 indie box office theatrical release.
When Last We Flew, NYC-based Off-Broadway theatrical production team.
Raised $7,000 from theatre fans for the premiere Off-Broadway run.
Show sold-out at NYC Fringe Festival, won a GLAAD Media Award, and was featured in New York Times, Bloomberg, and American Theatre Magazine.
Regan Wann, Kentucky-based small business owner.
Raised $5,000 to expand her tea shop business.
RocketHub campaign featured in the Wall Street Journal exposing her business to millions.
Laura Boyd, NYC-based portrait and landscape photographer.
Raised $6,000 architectural photography project on location in Paris.
Photos featured in Artsicle Photography Show in the heart of Chelsea, NYC via LaunchPad.
Joshua Reuben Lewis, NYC-based singer-songwriter.
Raised $7,500 to record his first album.
Showcased at The Gibson Showroom and made A&R connections at Sony, Warner Music Group, and EMI via LaunchPad.
Paul Davis, Berlin-based fashion designer.
Raised $8,000 from fans and strangers for a new fashion line.
Clothing line featured at Berlin Fashion Week.
Caira Conner, Tennessee based NYU Master of Science.
Raised $2,000 to study Brazilian land and infrastructure development.
Featured in Americas Quarterly, completed innovative research, and submitted successful academic thesis.
In Partnership With:
Share this widget on your site or blog by copying and pasting the code above. Need a little help?
Reach out to us.
Support Status
Time Remaining
Any contribution of $10 receives: A final summary report, including color photos, of the completed research 8 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $50 receives: The above, plus a CD-R full of pictures and videos related to the research you've funded 3 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $100 receives: The above, plus a signed printed high-resolution 11 X 14in image of your research in action 4 Fuelers!
Any contribution of $250 receives: A report, a CD-R, and a clay sculpture (handcrafted by the researcher) of the backward dolphin fins - a replica of the models used in the flow tank studies
Any contribution of $1,000 receives: A report, a CD-R, and a polished steel sculture (handcrafted by Matt) of the backward dolphin fin or upturned tailflukes; a replica of the models used in the flow tank studies
Any contribution of $5,000 receives: A report, a CD-R, a polished steel sculture (handcrafted by Matt) of the backward dolphin fin or upturned tailflukes; a replica of the models used in the flow tank studies AND a personal trip by Matt to your community (CA, OK or NY) to present the findings of his research
Started by Matthew S. Leslie October 31st, 2011
What!? Dolphins with backward fins?! Inconceivable!! Matt Leslie presents his proposed project for the SciFund Challenge. He is a PhD Student at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and is studying the evolution of weird spinner dolphins.
Tweet
Why the wacky fins?
It likely has something to do with their breeding system - otherwise it wouldn't persist as a character in just the males. We are going to test to see if it is a more or less efficient design when compared to the non-wacky fins, but my hunch is that the "stuck-on-backwards" look has evolved as a way for strapping males to "display" to females for breeding rights (think of a peacock's tail) or as a way to outcompete other males for females.
How do I test which one of these is the best hypothesis? I have to do two things: first, I'll measure the hydrodynamic performance of the fins compared to normal fins; and second, I have to see what the animals are doing in the field.
The first stage tells me what an adult male is capable of: does the backward fin help males move faster than expected (possibly in order to defend more females or bully or out-maneuver other males), or does it slow them down significantly or make them less agile than expected (leading me to suspect that the fins are a handicap, and females have the final say in mating).
This line of research involves making physical models of the fins and doing experiments in a flow tank - sort of like a wind tunnel, but with water. In order to make the models, we have to get very accurate images of the fins with a medical CT scanner. Unfortunately, time on a medical CT scanners is expensive! This is where you come in! Your contribution will help me purchase the time I need to complete the scanning. From there - its a piece of cake!
The second research initiative that will help me figure out if my idea is correct is simple field observations. By observing the behaviors of these animals in their native habitat, we'll be able to document breeding events, and which sex initiates and maintains breeding contact. This will be the nail in the proverbial scientific coffin.
In order to do this, I will travel to Costa Rica and Panama to scout appropriate field sites. I have colleagues in both countries, who are ready for me to hit the water, if I can buy gas to run the boat. This is where you come in; your contribution will help me fund a few weeks of surveys to assess the feasibility of research sites in these countries. With your help, I'll figure out what's going on with these crazy dolphins with their fins "stuck on backwards".
So you know: RocketHub is not an investment or charity. It is an exchange: funds from fans for rewards from me. It's an All & More funding mechanism: if I don't reach my financial goal I get to keep what I raise. But if I do reach my goal, I get access to exciting opportunities.
Keywords: #SciFund, Dolphin, Backward, Science, Research, Dorsal Fins, Spinner Dolphin,