What's Pozible in 2015?

Deakin's latest round of crowdfunding projects has been launched, with four new projects now seeking support.

The four projects that make up the first 2015 cycle of Research My World - the crowdfunding initiative between Deakin and Pozible - are calling for donations from as little as $2.00. Each project aims to raise between $8,400 and $15,000, through which the researchers aim to improve the world in some way, in their respective areas.

Whether it be supporting dogs in the classroom, helping to raise the recognition of taboo diseases, investigating the challenges of Australia's native mammals or generating awareness of the misuse of chimpanzees in entertainment, the researchers are all motivated to "make a difference".

The current 2015 Research My World projects are:

Read2Spot
Project Leader: Dr Tony Chalkley
This research will explore how the work of therapy dogs improves children's communication skills, motivates them to read and more generally, will aim to discover why some children and teachers describe having a dog as a classmate as “the best thing ever”.

Cobby: The Dark Side of Cute
Project Leader: Dr Donna McRae
The purpose of this project is to help Donna McRae and her team of researchers raise funds to complete the Cobby documentary that aims to raise awareness of the misuse of chimpanzees in the entertainment industry.

The Big Roo Count
Project Leader: Dr Euan Ritchie
Many species of Australia’s native mammals are now extinct, and many others are in great decline. The aim of this project is to fund Euan and his team to journey to northern Australia to find out how the kangaroos and wallabies of that region are faring, ten years down the track from the initial work done by Euan Ritchie and his team. It is rare for ecologists to have long-term information like this, and the conservation of many species depends upon it.

No More Poo Taboo
Project Leader: Dr Mel Thomson
Raising awareness of diseases is important, and it currently happens in a very crowded landscape. This project aims to raise funds to create an educational health film to raise awareness of particular “non-glamorous” diseases, which affect the gastrointestinal tract.