That's Rocket Science: Science Bloggers Unite To Raise Money For Schools

by Carol Scott · 2010-10-22 13:30:00 UTC
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They usually write about sharks, flesh-eating plants and hagfish, but the ocean science bloggers at Southern Fried Science are up to something a little different this month: competing against other scientists to see who can raise the most money for schools.

In a show of scientific support of teachers and schools, science bloggers are working with DonorsChoose.org to raise donations for science projects and equipment.

The donor campaign is a friendly competition between biologists, chemists, physicists and oceanographers, as scientists in different branches compete to be on top of the leaderboard. It's also, sadly, a necessity for the teachers who post their class projects on DonorsChoose.org, asking donors they've never met to provide supplies, books and basic materials for their classrooms. 

Change.org Education writer Sara Bernard wrote last week about the plight of teachers in California, where some teachers spend as much as $1,500 a year of their own salaries on classroom supplies. (The NBC reality show "School Pride" featured a Compton school last week where a science teacher was storing his classroom's chemicals in water bottles.) For the 2009-2010 school year, America's teachers spent $1.33 billion dollars out of pocket on supplies.

Over at earth science blog Highly Allochthonous, blog readers donated money to help South Carolina elementary school students become weather detectives, buying the class a thermometer, wind vane, rain gauge, weather maps, and weather related books. Bloggers biochembelle and Dr. Becca are raising money for a hands-on biology lesson. Maitri Erwin is working to buy geology textbooks, a mineral testing kit and fossil kits for teachers all over the country.

The contest runs until November 9. Check out these blogs and donate to the teachers' projects. You can also follow the hashtag #SB4S on Twitter. Is there a science blog you're reading that is participating in the project? Leave the URL in the comments so Change.org members can click and donate!   

Photo credit: NASA Blueshift

Carol Scott is the Education Editor for Change.org.
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