Georgia Tech recently started a new university-based crowdfunding site for science and engineering research. Georgia Tech Starter allows members of the public to donate to student and faculty projects and play an active role in the scientific process.

Georgia Tech Starter follows crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. It also comes after several other sites devoted to funding scientific research. But Georgia Tech research scientist Allison Mercer, who began the process of starting the crowdfunding site, says Georgia Tech Starter is different. She says the site is nonprofit and requires subject matter experts to review projects before they’re placed online.

“Our site is more geared toward the execution of the project and a little bit less so on funds to turn a profit.”

Mercer also says donors of the site can support scientific research that might not be funded otherwise.

“There’s been about a ten- to fifteen-year trend of decreases in federal research funding. In addition, the market is much more competitive for traditional funding sources.”

Currently, goals for the six projects on the site range from about $3,300 to $30,000.