Rob Wallace is an evolutionary biologist and economic geographer. He has published on the evolution and spread of pathogens, including influenza, in a variety of publications.

I noticed Rob's project pop up a few weeks ago and was intrigued by the scientific publishing angle of his campaign. He is making something important with the help of his community and the wider RocketHub crowd. So I reached out to speak to Rob about the unique nature of his scientific project.

Using bird flu's genetic sequences I helped produce one of the first maps for the virus's spread. We were also able to identify a specific Chinese province from which several strains of the virus likely emerged. However, no matter how much I looked at the viral sequences I could learn nothing of the reasons why bird flu emerged there. As my loyalties lie more in answering questions than anything else, I moved to studying agriculture's economic geography.

What did I learn? I found it is no coincidence that to a one the wide variety of new influenza strains now circulating have emerged out of livestock and poultry. Stockbreeding is increasingly dominated worldwide by an agribusiness model which has reorganized the sector in its entirety. My book will argue the new influenzas have emerged hand-in-hoof with the new agriculture.

So in a way, we're to blame for these new strains. How has your experience been as a crowdfunding pioneer in the world of science, education, and the environment in Minnesota and beyond - how are your supporters responding?

Despite its reputation as a cash cow, even science today is under considerable funding pressure. And that has had a fundamental effect on the kinds of scientific research conducted. Much of it today--not all of it, mind you--but much of it is built on an industrial model of production, the factory lab as it were, even in a university setting. There's good work being produced, but the system selects for a particularly safe kind of science. My project is decidedly 'dangerous' as I directly take on an industry which, along with acting as a source of pathogens, acts as a major source of scientific funding. 

That's forced me into more of an artist's life. Fundraising on the go. Not an easy model, indeed, a whole different ballgame. But the freedom is exhilarating. I get to say exactly what I mean, conduct intellectually fulfilling research, and, I hope, position myself to help change the world for the better. And isn't that why anyone would enter science in the first place?

I've been pleasantly surprised at the response. I'm not sure I'll reach my goal this first time around but what I raise will be critical to completing my book. It certainly helps that RocketHub permits its Creatives to keep most of what they raise even if the goal isn't reached. It helps too that I can accept contributions from just about everywhere. Influenza is a global problem and people from around the world want to see it addressed.

We're proud to have your cutting edge project. You've built a lot of support pretty quickly. Any advice for Creatives looking to crowdfund a similar project?

A unique project is critical, yes. An appealing video is important, yes. Creative rewards are helpful, too, yes. But the key I think is in the networking. You really have to organize your own support across multiple platforms: social networking sites, professional listservs, and personal emails. It would seem shameless except people from all sorts of walks of life want to contribute to interesting projects.Scientific colleagues have contributed, but also everyday people. It's that kind of breadth which reminds me why I took on this project in the first place.

Spot on advice - the network is one of the most important pillars of successful crowdfunding. Support Rob and his innovatively important project here.

-Vlad