The Science Foundation

@sciencefoundation.bsky.social is delighted to announce our first seven What Ifs projects that we will fund entirely from your donations!

Our projects span from predatory-prey learning under heat to archaea to deep earth life; check them out!

science-foundation.org/what-ifs-202...

We have a matching donation though the end of the year so all donations towards our first What Ifs program will be doubled--ie, your $100 will support $200 of curiosity-driven science!

Happy New Year from @sciencefoundation.bsky.social!

Applications for SciFdn’s 2025 What Ifs are now closed. Thank you everyone who submitted! The curiosity and breadth of applications floored our team

We received 66 applications! We're screening now & are convening panels for Jan. Stay tuned for opportunities to observe & participate!

- SciFdn team

Thank you to our 22 applicants so far to our first What Ifs... program!

Our team has decided to extend the application deadline to Dec 15th, so please consider applying and/or spreading the word! Details linked here: science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/

80's logo!

Cosmos Watch Party! Black Friday (11/28) 6pm PST!

45 years ago Carl Sagan opened - “The cosmos is all that is, all that was, or all that will ever be"

Come watch w/ @sciencefoundation.bsky.social! We’ll stream together & chat with scientists!

Bring snacks, get cozy; RSVP forms.gle/MEmjAvFp4nK8...

Applications are now open! forms.gle/jWgWc5eZJncK...

Are you science faculty or a science teacher? We’re seeking reviewers for our review process in Dec or Jan: science-foundation.org/what-ifs-202...

@sciencefoundation.bsky.social is proud to announce our first program!

What if… you had 10K in a gift fund at your institution for curiosity-driven science?

Apply to “What Ifs…?”
science-foundation.org/what-ifs-2025/
Applications open 11/10, close 12/1

What are your favorite microorganisms? Share!

#iheartscience

David - Chlamydomonas

“Because I built much of my career on it, and it’s how I met my wife.”

Ford - Purple Sulfur Bacteria

“Because they perform photosynthesis, but do not use water as an electron donor and do not produce oxygen”

@signalvsnoise.bsky.social - Cyanobacterium

“Because they went and did something ambitious and built an atmosphere!”

Maren - Rhizobia!

"Rhizobial bacteria colonize plant roots and turn themselves into tiny fertilizer factories in nodules that feed their host plants! If you enjoy peas, beans, chickpeas, peanuts, lentils or forage-fed animal products, thank a nodule today!"

🧵 For International Microorganism Day, we thought the best way to get to know our team was by our favorite microorganisms!

www.instagram.com/p/DOuoUETDJaG/

Will the public support basic science? A new non-profit aims to find out The Science Foundation seeks donations to fund ten $10,000 ‘what if’ seed grants.

“We need to give young scientists hope that people continue to believe in the value of science,” says @sciencefoundation.bsky.social’s founders Maren Friesen and @signalvsnoise.bsky.social.

My latest story for @nature.com.

Science Is Its Own Reward Why The Science Foundation will fund Basic Science

Good morning! New SciFdn article dropped, 'Science Is It's Own Reward'

scifdn.substack.com/p/science-is...

(Why the Science Foundation has chosen to support basic science)

@sciencefoundation.bsky.social is starting w/ small grants! We believe they make a difference in early projects; and for student/postdocs, they can enable exploring spaces between disciplines.

We may expand to larger grants later, but will always run a small grants program. Because it's worth it.

The Unreasonable Effectiveness of Small Grants A collection of life-changing stories.

Another article we've loved starting SciFund -
David Lang's Unreasonable Effectiveness of Small Grants; stories of foundational work made possible by small grants.

(davidlang.substack.com/p/the-unreas...)

can't live with the cuts to basic science funding; they're an assault on my sense of the future.

building @sciencefoundation.bsky.social - nonprofit to fund basic science. small grants, fast review, LFG <3

If you'd like to help us launch this new enterprise, reach out! (& science-foundation.org/donate/)!

Over in SciFdn, we're building around bias for action; around fast review cycles; around trust in scientists & scientists-as-decision-makers. We're flexible about review model & scale; and are building towards our pilot (soon!)

"We would benefit from a system in which scientists could receive grants from institutional operators who incentivize use-focused research, and from shorter review-cycles and faster regulatory time-lines."

The Tower of Science by Hiya Jain

🧵 While starting the SciFdn, we're inspired by @stuartbuck.bsky.social 's Good Science Project.

We esp. like a recent guest post (by Hiya Jain),
goodscience.substack.com/p/the-tower-...

"Today we could benefit from the same bias to action." ...

Introducing The Science Foundation Join us in building a new model for funding basic research

Introducing the Science Foundation: Join us in building a new model for funding basic research!

scifdn.substack.com/p/introducin...

#iheartscience

The Science Foundation is a new nonprofit aiming to support basic science, to make funding more efficient and transparent, and engage everyone in the funding process.

Follow us, more soon!