In brief, what this project (called “The Open Source Science Project”) does is to allow researchers to maintain public profiles, upload/manage their publication data, and to propose research projects seeking investment (in the form of microgrants and/or microloans) from individuals throughout the broader online community. What makes The OSSP unique, IMHO, is that research proposals are literally peer-reviewed (by other registered researchers), and decisions regarding funding are made by a large number of small-investors as opposed to a single grant agency which should, in theory, skew the IP incentives underlying investment in research (especially basic research) in the direction of increased openness.

Furthermore, researchers whose work receives funding from the OSSP community of investors, will maintain research logs that will be accessible to their investors (while the study is being conducted), and to the community of OSSP researchers (once a study has been completed) – which should help build relationships between investors and researchers, as well as provide research students with a ‘living’ document that could provide future faculty advisors or employers with a more comprehensive idea regarding how a student approaches a research question, and confronts those challenges which arise when conducting a research project.

Thus far, what I have focused on in developing The OSSP has been creating a more user-friendly interface through which research information and data can be organized/accessed; and a more open platform through which to encourage members of the non-research community to play a more active role in addressing the questions and challenges that effect us all.

If you have a chance, I’d welcome your feedback regarding this platform:

http://www.theopensourcescienceproject.com