Research Challenges
Pursue 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.
Make more science happen
Answer The Challenge
Anyone can create a project in response to a challenge. 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 reviewed and approved by a panel of science and topic experts. All review comments are transparent and open to the public.
Crowd Leverage
Three is a party, but three hundred is a crowd. By backing a project, backers will receive lab note updates and scientific results from project researchers. This is science by the people, for the people.
Requests for Experiments
View upcoming grants and submit a project.
Want to create your own sponsored research grant?
Submit Your Grant IdeaPast Challenges
These challenge grants have ended and the grant prizes awarded.
| Grant | Projects | Launched |
|---|---|---|
| Wildlife Health and Disease Challenge Grant | 15 projects | June 2019 |
| iGEM 2019 Challenge | 8 projects | April 2019 |
| BBPI Paleontology Grant Challenge | 4 projects | March 2019 |
| Association of Zoos and Aquariums Grant Challenge | 7 projects | February 2019 |
| Entomological Society of America Grant Challenge | 6 projects | February 2019 |
| 2018 iGEM Research Challenge | 5 projects | October 2018 |
| Wildlife Disease Association Challenge Grant | 17 projects | August 2018 |
| Horse Nation Equine Research Challenge | 8 projects | May 2018 |
| Cartography and Mapping | 13 projects | January 2017 |
| Mental Health | 15 projects | January 2017 |
| Trash, Sustainability, and the Environment | 8 projects | January 2017 |
| Poverty and Development | 7 projects | January 2017 |
| Political Science | 6 projects | January 2017 |
| Public Health | 18 projects | January 2017 |
| Evolution | 8 projects | January 2017 |
| Cities & Transportation | 13 projects | December 2016 |
| Benthic Ecology | 6 projects | December 2016 |
| Exercise Research | 7 projects | November 2016 |
| Adolescence | 13 projects | November 2016 |
| Bees | 13 projects | November 2016 |
| Groundwater and Caves | 12 projects | November 2016 |
| Zoos | 13 projects | November 2016 |
| Ornithology | 27 projects | October 2016 |
| Freshwater Science | 10 projects | October 2016 |
| Archaeology | 11 projects | October 2016 |
| Fungi | 8 projects | October 2016 |
| Arachnids | 9 projects | October 2016 |
| Botany | 9 projects | September 2016 |
| Herpetology | 11 projects | September 2016 |
| Wildlife Diseases | 12 projects | September 2016 |
| Coral Reefs | 13 projects | August 2016 |
| Weather and Atmospheric Science | 6 projects | August 2016 |
| iGEM Synthetic Biology | 14 projects | July 2016 |
| Seabirds | 16 projects | July 2016 |
| Sharks, Skates, and Rays | 16 projects | June 2016 |
| Sleep | 10 projects | May 2016 |
| Cats | 21 projects | May 2016 |
| Paleontology Challenge | 12 projects | April 2016 |
| Fish Challenge | 11 projects | April 2016 |
| Animal Superpower Challenge | 20 projects | March 2016 |
| Zika Virus | 13 projects | March 2016 |
| Insects Challenge | 15 projects | March 2016 |
| Liberal Arts College | 18 projects | March 2016 |
| Marine Mammals | 14 projects | February 2016 |