This is an invited keynote speech to the BioMedVic UROP students at MCEC Friday 17th July 2015 Program: http://biomedvic.org.au/symposium/conf-day-2015/

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UPHEAVALS IN SCIENTIFIC
THOUGHT
Dr Melanie Thomson
Deakin Medical School
m.thomson@deakin.edu.au
@Dr_Mel_Thomson (Twitter)
Blog: www.drmelthomson.wordpress.com

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My Undergrad years: A Kuhnian revelation
Pic: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2012/aug/19/thomas-kuhn-structure-scientific-revolutions#img-1
Old model of ‘how science works’ =
incremental iterative change in
scientific knowledge
‘Standing on the shoulders of
Giants’
Kuhn: ‘Paradigm Shifts’ when a
established model system is
replaced rapidly with a new ‘gold
standard’
(Med biotech: CRISPR for GMOs)
Kuhn Philosophy in a Nutshell:
Paradigm shifts are often
conducted by ‘outsiders’ that are
not indoctrinated in the model
system

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Research Crowd Funding in Oz: The beginning
• Deakin-Pozible.com
partnership
• Pozible founder
Rick Chen, me &
Dr Michelle Harvey
Prof Deb Verhoeven
Chair in Media and
Communication
Faculty of Arts & Education
School of Communication &
Creative Arts
deb.verhoeven@deakin.edu.au
@bestqualitycrab on Twitter

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Pozible-ly, rewarding for donors?
Rewards turned out to be an
important part of the process

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Crowd funding: Teaches you to ‘pitch’ and
deal with the horror of the ‘Valley of Death’

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A real life Crowd : Community Engagement
Cons: Can get
hostility from
punters

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‘No more Poo Taboo’ #Cdiff campaign
• #nopootaboo
• #undiesforcdiff
Outtakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmTQh3IM_1k

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A real life Crowd : Community Engagement
Organiser: Fiona Topolcsanyi

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OUR MAGGOTS AND BUG IN
CANBERRA!

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Crowd Funding: Not for the faint of heart!
Cost
• Pricey on Time!! (10-20 hrs on top of Academic job!)
• $$ return per hour….approximates to less than minimum wage
• Seen as ‘zany’ = non credible by science establishment??

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Both of my CF ‘Mentees’ from this article are now in
‘industry jobs’ in Med Biotech in Australia.

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Crowd Funding: Not for the faint of heart!
Cost
• Pricey on Time!! (10-20 hrs on top of Academic job!)
• $$ return per hour….less than minimum wage
• Seen as ‘zany’ = non credible by science establishment??
Benefit
• Raised profile in local and national communities
• ‘Ripple Effect’ still in action…several further donations
• Obtain network of random ‘cheerleaders’
for your science

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‘Ripple Effect’ of community engagement
• Approx $5,000 extra
donations (so far!)
• Plus $37,000 Grants

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The Process and Potential $$ Gains
Deakin Process:
• Internal committee to assess ‘NOIS’ applications
• Training workshops
• Run campaigns in batches
• Social Media support
HOW MUCH CAN YOU ACHIEVE?
• $1,000-$1,500 – Easy, get this in first week Family & friends
• $5,000 – Moderate, should be achievable in 30-45 days
• $10,000 – $15,000 – Hard work, need good strategy
• $20,000 - Very Hard work, need larger existing audience to tap
• $50,000 -100,000+ TELL THEM ‘You’re Dreaming’!!!

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Why are you NOT on social media to ‘sell’
your research and to network??

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Academic work force – Adapt or Die?

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Twitter: Online Research Community

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@theotherdrsmith

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‘Real Life’ Community engagement
Invited Smart Geelong Op Ed Column in Geelong Advertiser Nov 2014

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Twitter Advocacy can be powerful!

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Do I have time to develop an online profile?
• Give yourself a time limit to learn new App
technology….DISCARD those that do not suit you
• Big Three are Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
• Set up ‘professional’ Facebook and Twitter Accounts
and set on to replicate posts on the other
• Consider starting a blog to help you get into the
‘habit’ of writing
• Crowd funding is good for raising profile and gaining
seed funds and kudos, but labour intensive
• Social Media can be used to further professional
networks, esp. at EMCR and PhD student levels
• Social Media is good for Advocacy
• Make sure you do ‘Real Life’ engagement too!

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPONSORS: 129 + 180 + 161 individuals @pozible.com +
Jane den Hollander
Lee Astheimer
Deb Verhoeven
Michelle Harvey
Joyce Seitzinger
Colin Warren
Stuart Palmer
Rebecca Plant
Ryan Raybould
Kris Pechotsch
Pozible
Rick Chen
Matt Benetti
Gillian Turner
Catherine Donaldson
James Hutson
Kim Foale
Michelle Banks

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http://www.slideshare.net/debver/crowdfunding-university-research
http://www.slideshare.net/debver/report-evauatinresearch-myworld
http://www.slideshare.net/debver/checklists-crowdfunding-research
http://www.pozible.com/research
Lancet Crowd funding paper:
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736%2814%2961661-
5/fulltext?rss%3Dyes
Science Busking Interview: http://au.pcmag.com/pc-mag-
australia/29589/news/science-busking-for-research-funds-crowdfunding-in
My Blog: www.drmelthomson.wordpress.com
1st Campaign www.pozible.com/mightymaggots
2nd Campaign www.pozible.com/hips4hipsters
3rd Campaign: www.pozible.com/nopootaboo
Twitter for Public health paper: http://www.phrp.com.au/issues/july-2015-
volume-25-issue-3/australias-followed-twitter-accounts-health-medicine/
‘Research my World’ Crowd Funding Links

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Crowd Funding Tips for University Admin
• Requires support from the highest level (VC/DVCR)
• Requires support of financial officers in Research Office
and at local Departmental level
• Consideration for admin burden of tax receipts ->
Philanthropy office?
• Practicalities:
• WHICH PLATFORM? External or Internal?
• Official You Tube account
• Pay Pal account needed
• Multi Media/Comms support?
• ‘Coalition of the willing’ team of Social Media Mentors