This document discusses crowd funding as a potential way to fund scientific research projects. It provides examples of crowd funding platforms like Kickstarter, Indiegogo, Petridish, and SciFund Challenge that are dedicated to funding creative or science projects. The document outlines how crowd funding works, keys to a successful campaign such as making an engaging video and realistic funding goals, and potential pitfalls like some projects being more appealing than others. It argues that crowd funding could make many small research projects possible that might otherwise not receive funding and increase public engagement with science.