Those of us who are in academia are aware of the diminishing funding opportunities offered. This is especially true if you’re studying a topic that is on the fringe of what is considered “popular” research. I know I’ve been having a lot more luck finding funding when I switched my dissertation topic from virtual worlds research to digital platforms.

In the past, I’ve jokingly said that I was half-tempted to Kickstart my dissertation. I never went through with it, and honestly don’t know if I could. However, a colleague of mine, Nicholas Mizer from Texas A&M, is currently attempting the experiment. He’s studying table-top role-playing communities, and he’s trying to fund his fieldwork. He’s already received pledges for over half of his goal with 7 days to go.

Whatever the result, it’ll be interesting to see what the experiment has to teach us about the politics of academic funding. Check it out!