Challenge Grants
betaPursue a scientific research question for the crowd with a prize for the project with the most backers.
A new initiative to stir the pot for research ideas.
Help make more science happen
Answer The Challenge
Anyone can create an experiment in response to a grant. Projects must be submitted before the launch deadline to be eligible. Winners will be chosen when all of the eligible campaigns end.
Peer-Reviewed Proposals
Each project will be approved by a panel of science and topic experts, and all review comments are transparent and open to the public.
Crowd Leverage
Three’s a party, but three hundred is a crowd. By backing a project, you’ll receive updates, results, and data from project creators. This is science by the people, for the people.
Requests for Experiments
View upcoming grants and create a project for a chance to win an additional grant.
Want to create your own sponsored research grant?
Submit Your Grant IdeaPast Challenges
These challenge grants have ended and the winning projects have been awarded.
| Grant | Projects | Pledged | Backers | Prize | Launched |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cartography and Mapping | 13 projects | $9,291 | 118 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Mental Health | 15 projects | $24,512 | 194 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Poverty and Development | 7 projects | $6,573 | 76 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Trash, Sustainability, and the Environment | 8 projects | $9,133 | 79 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Political Science | 6 projects | $1,859 | 27 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Public Health | 18 projects | $15,834 | 242 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Evolution | 8 projects | $9,366 | 120 | $500 | January 2017 |
| Cities & Transportation | 13 projects | $11,120 | 218 | $500 | December 2016 |
| Benthic Ecology | 6 projects | $2,278 | 53 | $500 | December 2016 |
| Exercise Research | 7 projects | $9,275 | 148 | $500 | November 2016 |
| Adolescence | 13 projects | $17,710 | 241 | $500 | November 2016 |
| Bees | 13 projects | $16,997 | 236 | $500 | November 2016 |
| Groundwater and Caves | 12 projects | $24,905 | 413 | $500 | November 2016 |
| Zoos | 13 projects | $45,658 | 1075 | $1,000 | November 2016 |
| Ornithology | 27 projects | $66,890 | 807 | $500 | October 2016 |
| Freshwater Science | 10 projects | $13,814 | 304 | $500 | October 2016 |
| Archaeology | 11 projects | $22,184 | 326 | $1,000 | October 2016 |
| Fungi | 8 projects | $17,259 | 261 | $500 | October 2016 |
| Arachnids | 9 projects | $26,141 | 475 | $500 | October 2016 |
| Botany | 9 projects | $8,786 | 111 | $500 | September 2016 |
| Herpetology | 11 projects | $23,819 | 334 | $1,000 | September 2016 |
| Wildlife Diseases | 12 projects | $31,078 | 438 | $1,000 | September 2016 |
| Coral Reefs | 13 projects | $37,483 | 398 | $1,000 | August 2016 |
| Weather and Atmospheric Science | 6 projects | $8,117 | 143 | $1,000 | August 2016 |
| iGEM Synthetic Biology | 14 projects | $26,802 | 938 | $1,000 | July 2016 |
| Seabirds | 16 projects | $48,656 | 867 | $1,000 | July 2016 |
| Sharks, Skates, and Rays | 16 projects | $23,550 | 371 | $1,000 | June 2016 |
| Sleep | 10 projects | $14,082 | 225 | $1,000 | May 2016 |
| Cats | 21 projects | $53,075 | 760 | $1,000 | May 2016 |
| Paleontology Challenge | 12 projects | $42,916 | 658 | $1,000 | April 2016 |
| Fish Challenge | 11 projects | $18,078 | 521 | $1,500 | April 2016 |
| Animal Superpower Challenge | 20 projects | $40,944 | 1399 | $1,500 | March 2016 |
| Zika Virus | 13 projects | $52,430 | 765 | $10,000 | March 2016 |
| Insects Challenge | 15 projects | $35,759 | 653 | $2,000 | March 2016 |
| Liberal Arts College | 18 projects | $33,733 | 964 | $2,000 | March 2016 |
| Marine Mammals | 14 projects | $45,861 | 1006 | $2,000 | February 2016 |
| Total | 448 | $887,199 | 15,964 | $40,000 |