Experiment Foundation
We work with foundations, companies, and government agencies to fund more science via platform patronage and challenge grants.
For questions, email support@experiment.foundation
Projects
47
An expedition to uncover hidden biodiversity across South America and Antarctica
This expedition will explore the Amazon, Patagonia, and Antarctica by sailing and conducting water-based...
Macrofungi of the California archipelago
The eight islands of the California Archipelago are a well-studied biodiversity hotspot — but we know almost...
Documenting unique plant and insect species within Siskiyou County's biodiverse landscape
The biodiversity in Siskiyou County is inadequately documented because of prior inaccessibility. We seek...
Quantifying leaf beetle communities in the Diablo Range, CA
Natural History Museums (NHM) are critical to biodiversity research, and increasingly in evolution, genetics...
Specialist bees of the Californian deserts: Are they still here?
Specialist bees collect pollen from a narrow set of plants. Southern California’s deserts once hosted diverse...
Tick Walks: Population and seasonal dynamics of California ticks
Join us as we develop a community partnership with Bay Area community biology labs to collect and test ticks...
Uncovering hidden insect diversity associated with a likely undescribed gall-forming midge
Does a likely undescribed species of gall-forming midge (pers. comm. Ray Gagné) on Eriodictyon plants (Yerba...
How do polar bears stay healthy on the world's worst diet?
Polar bears survive almost entirely on seal fat. Yet unlike humans who eat high-fat diets, polar bears never...
Hippos as sentinels: Detecting pollution and pathogens
In western Uganda, hippos move between land and the Kazinga Channel, making them ideal sentinels of ecosystem...
A biogeochemical profile of the seafloor
There is a huge gap in knowledge of deep seafloor habitats. Current methods of studying the deep seafloor...
Moths from a flame: Surveying moth ecological succession as a factor of plant succession post-fire
I am studying the relationship between moths and plants in prescribed burned and unburned meadows at the...
Bacterial Biodiversity Within The Ballona Wetlands
The Ballona Wetlands are the largest wetlands in Los Angeles. Within the last 80 years urbanization has...
Documenting Fungi in California's Dense Oak Woodland.
Mushrooms are plentiful at Santa Rita, a 1,700 acre ranch in the heart of the coastal Adelaida Mountain...
Biodiversity of Serpents in Northern California
I frequently come across live and roadkill snakes in Northern California while roadcruising (herping). Vouchering...
Fungal diversity of Grass Lake, California's largest montane peatland
Grass Lake Research Natural Area, home to California’s largest peat-forming fen, is a rare montane ecosystem...
100%
funded
$3,700
goal
0
lab notes
Under the cormorant's wing: Sequencing California's missing fly
The seaweed fly Fucellia thinobia swarms visitors as they arrive at Alcatraz and the Farallon Islands. This...
Epiphytic cryptogam communities on San Bruno Mountain
San Bruno Mountain in the San Francisco Bay Area has sharp microclimate contrasts from summer fog. These...
Feeling Salty: What Insects Thrive in the San Francisco Bay Area's Former Salt Ponds?
The San Francisco Bay Area's salt ponds represent a vital part of California's history and biodiversity...
The evolutionary history of Banana Slugs (Gastropoda: Ariolimax): Native California slugs with a story to tell
The evolutionary relationships of California Banana slugs (genus Ariolimax) are unknown and unpublished...
Optimizing eDNA sampling: Which filters best capture marine biodiversity?
Recent trials in the Galapagos demonstrate that environmental DNA (eDNA) is a powerful biodiversity monitoring...
How can ultrasonic wearables be most useful for humans?
Like bats and dolphins, some blind humans are able to echolocate — using acoustic reflections to sense...
Mapping midlife minds: A study of women’s cognitive and mental health
Many women experience brain fog, memory lapses, anxiety, and mood swings during peri/menopause – yet we...
Discovering the fungal diversity of the Jepson Prairie Preserve
Biodiversity surveys often overlook fungi despite their importance. California’s Fungal Diversity Survey...
What leads to eruption? A test case at South Sister volcano.
We can't predict eruptions but we can forecast probabilities with enough information. South Sister volcano...
Communities perception and monitoring of ocean acidification in the Douala-Edea national park (Cameroon)
This project will help us to evaluate the vulnerability of clam fishing to ocean acidification (OA) in the...
From Pixels to Protection: Assessing the Utilization of AI in Underwater Video Analysis for Marine Protected Areas
This project, partially funded by Sea Grant California, uses Baited Remote Underwater Video to study fish...
Real-time underwater fish identification and biomonitoring via machine learning-based compression of video to text
Underwater monitoring of marine life has traditionally followed a "set it and retrieve it” approach due...
Whales as oceanographers: Developing multi-sensor tags for improved understanding and management of critical habitats
Limited oceanographic data prevent accurate prediction of whale foraging hotspots. To address this, we will...
Engineering of a suction cup stethoscope for non-invasive monitoring of physiological sounds in baleen whales
Baleen whales are large-bodied predators that, despite their critical role in marine ecosystems, our understanding...
Combining eDNA & Biologging Technologies to Capture Deep-Sea Predatory Interactions Between Whales & Prey
We aim to combine eDNA sampling and biologging to study predator-prey interactions in the deep sea in real...
103%
funded
$10,000
goal
0
lab notes
Empowering coastal youth for enhanced coastal and mangrove monitoring amidst massive sargassum landings.
The Caribe Mexicano MPA, home to 50% of the western hemisphere's largest barrier reef, has faced massive...
Empowering high school students in genome sequencing and bioinformatics
This project transforms HS science education by integrating real-time DNA barcoding and bioinformatics into...
Exploring African biodiversity with an open-source educational program in Plant Synthetic Biology
Much of Africa's plants have not been studied. As a non-profit, SynBio4ALL aims to study plant biodiversity...
Humpback whale monitoring in the Dominican Republic
Humpback whales are important marine mammals that help maintain ocean food webs and ecological processes...
Ghost sharks in the Dominican Republic? Efforts to reduce phantom diversity of elasmobranchs in Samaná
Shark species in the DR are classified as VU, EN, and CR on the National Red List. Also, a near-zero presence...
Can A Low-Cost Camera & Loitering Guard Better Monitor Marine Protected Areas?
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are difficult to enforce due to their remoteness and often invisible borders...
Automated Monitoring for the Resilience of Marine Ecosystems in the Dominican Republic (MARE-RD)
Caribbean marine biodiversity is under critical threat from climate change and human pressures, losing...
Copper gene-switch for controllable gene expression in plants
Chemical-induced promoters or "Gene Switches" allow expressing a gene of interest in a controllable manner...
Drone-based Monitoring to Enhance Whale Shark Conservation in Bahía de La Paz Refuge Area in Baja California Sur, México
Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) face growing threats from human activities, particularly in ecotourism hotspots...
100%
funded
$9,843
goal
3
lab notes
Unlocking the Nutritional and Commercial Treasure of Tridimeris (Annonaceae) Fruits: A Pathway to Conservation
Tridimeris, genus endemic to Mexico, are critically endangered. Its large, mango-flavored fruits offer a...
100%
funded
$5,500
goal
2
lab notes
Zap-pore: DIY Electroporation for Global Biotech Accessibility and for plant genetic engineering
Zap-pore is a low-cost (10$), open-source DIY tool for electroporation, using everyday tools and common...
Hormonal Regulation and Bacterial Nodulation Efficiency in Tissue Cultured Plants
Plant models offer an overlooked yet powerful framework for teaching biotechnology and STEM skills. This...
Study of oceanographic and meteorological variables in MPA through remote sensing.
Climate change and events that modify the global temperature and precipitation dynamics such as “El Niño...
Developing Carnivorous Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) as a Model Organism for Education and Research
Sarracenia, a genus of North American, carnivorous pitcher plants, have garnered significant interest...
Does Varying the Amount of Oxygen in an Environment Where Bioluminescent Algae Exists Vary the Amount of Light?
Our goal is to create the foundation for a sustainable source of light. We found species of bio-luminescent...
Developing an Affordable Plant Research Platform using the Farmbot (automated farming robot)
Phlox is highly susceptible to powdery mildew, impacting plant health and increasing fungicide use. While...
How is a unique Colombian blue carbon project involving and impacting coastal communities?
Carbon-rich mangroves are being deforested globally, but a rare project has 'successfully' conserved and...
