...to my beautiful little muffins.
Dear darling chickens.
It is the most wonderful time of the year.
You see, in October the ScienceBloggers participate in the DonorsChoose Social Media Challenge. DonorsChoose is an organization that allows teachers to write proposals to fund classroom projects and donors to choose which projects to fund. Last year around this time I was still blogging over at blogspot and could only participate in the challenge from afar. It was absolutely a blast.
Last year I wrote this about the challenge:
You see, as a child, wee Isis loved to take things apart. She took apart her father's clock radio, the new VCR, the toaster, and finally (in an event that earned her the wrath of The Parents Isis) the microwave. Dr. Isis still loves to take things apart, to learn how they work, and to solve problems. She's certainly not in academia for the hot chicks and big paychecks. She has no tolerance for the most brilliant of students who seek only to add an experience with her as another notch in their lab coats ,but she will go to the ends of the Earth for a student who is passionate about what they are doing. How could I turn down an opportunity to help provide a child with a research experience that may inspire them to pursue a career path that Dr. Isis has loved and found fulfilling?
To put things in perspective, and to possibly help highlight why I feel so passionate about this, one of the schools on my giving page is asking for $219.12 to fund projects for elementary school students in a high poverty school. This will buy them a microscope and supplies to complete 4 experiments. $219.12 could change the way these children look at science and inspire them to pursue a career that could someday gain us several new colleagues.
I have included a link and widget on my sidebar for the challenge. Take a look at the projects I have chosen, but also take advantage of the opportunity to search through projects you might feel passionate about.
Last year I challenged my readers to click my blog and I donated a dollar amount based on the number of clicks I received. I also challenged PhysioProf to join me and he responded:
You're a motherfucking sweetheart! In recognition of that fact, Comrade PhysioProf will match your donation!Together we donated more than $400, if my memory serves me correctly. This year my blog is bigger and better than ever, so the shenanigans will also have to be even bigger than last years. Also, many of you know I have a competitive streak...I think you will all be pleased.
There will be chickens...there will be schwag... there could be nudity.
So, let me encourage you to click my widget and donate what you can. I know that many of my readers are students and trainees, but as little as $5 would make a difference. Take advantage of the "email and more" button at the bottom of this post to encourage your friends to give.
Can you afford $5 to encourage a future little muffin to pursue a career in science?
XOXOXOXO,
Isis the Scientist
Life Science
Education
Comments
Yay! My first donations are already in!
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | September 30, 2009 10:46 PM
YAY for continuing your involvement! May you have many worshippers at your sacred temple of giving!
Posted by: Academic | September 30, 2009 11:14 PM
Some of those projects are for three ring binders? These districts can't afford those? Hey American taxpayer! We need to talk holmes...
Posted by: El Picador | October 1, 2009 12:10 AM
Oye, El Picador. ¿Estás hablando solo, o has abierta tu billetera?
Posted by: Isis the Scientist | October 1, 2009 12:14 AM
Wide open, mi amiga, wide open.
Posted by: El Picador | October 1, 2009 1:43 AM
Dr. Isis, this is great! In honor of being a poor grad student, I am going to start with my 5$, because I think everyone should have the CHANCE at being a grad student! I can still remember the first time I used a microscope, it completely changed my life.
On a different note, my admissions essay for grad school was written about my love of taking my parents electronics apart as a kid. I think I put my dad over the edge when I got to the stereo... :)
Posted by: Lindsey | October 1, 2009 9:32 AM
Well I am flat-broke; just wrote a check for my last $20 for...drumroll...the "young scientists" program at my oldest son's school...yes, they ask the parents to pay but that covers four visits from a group of scientists who bring microscopes and other super-cool things to the classroom and lead the third-graders in performing simple experiments. The other day the boy came home and announced that he had a HYPOTHESIS as to why Papa John's pizza sauce wasn't as good as what I make at home. This made me all kinds of happy for several reasons...I will, however, be clicking like a maniac.
Posted by: MFA Mama | October 1, 2009 9:42 AM
Dissection is a key activity for getting kids interested in biology, physiology, and medicine. I
Posted by: Pascale | October 1, 2009 12:58 PM
... don't know why the last part of my post got cut off.
I
Posted by: Pascale | October 1, 2009 1:00 PM
I give up. At least the kids will get to explore frog guts.
Posted by: Pascale | October 1, 2009 5:30 PM
For those who are tapped out and unable to make a monetary contribution, spreading the word about Dr. Isis's challenge (via Twitter or Facebook or whatever) works too. One of your social media pals may be psyched about the drive and able to part with a few bucks.
Posted by: Dr. Free-Ride | October 1, 2009 6:32 PM
I just donated. I apparently also need to thank everyone who paid property taxes every where I went to school because most of the projects were to buy things were givens in my classrooms growing up. Microscopes and frogs to disect seem like one step up from chalk and textbooks. How can you possibly teach life science in a remotely engaging way without them?
Posted by: katydid13 | October 1, 2009 6:53 PM