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DonorsChoose #scibloggers4students: donate and set my blogging agenda.

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American


You alreadyknow that the science-inclined precincts of the blogosphere are in the midst of Science Bloggers for Students 2011, in which we and DonorsChoose ask you to contribute funds to public school classroom projects which provide books, science kits, safety equipment and reagents, field trips, and other essentials to make learning come alive for students.

You may also recall that the drive this year runs through October 22nd. And, seeing as how that's more than a week away, you maybe have making a donation on the second (or third) page of your to-do list. Or, you figure someone else will do it.

A bunch of other folks (including me!) have donated funds to get the challenge rolling -- the overall total for the drive as I compose this is $13,768 -- but there are so many more classroom projects waiting to be funded. Inertia may be a comfortable default, especially in the face of need so great that its enormity is paralyzing, but if you can spare a few bucks you will be doing something tangible to be a force for good.


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And, it's easy. Visit my giving page, check out the projects described there, enter the amount of money you want to give, and check out. It's as quick and painless as buying a book or a T-shirt online.

Plus, I'm prepared to make it worth your while.

Set my blogging agenda!

"Doing Good Science" is a relatively new blog on a relatively new blog network. In my first post here, I said a little about the sorts of topics I plan to take up on the blog, but if you're willing to step up to help DonorsChoose, I'm willing to give you more control of what I blog about -- at least for the length of a post.

Until the end of the drive (October 22nd), if you make a donation of any size to my giving page, you get to assign me a blog post topic.

Is there a particular misconduct scandal you want me to examine? A matter of scientific methodology you want me to explore? An issue where the tribe of science and the larger public see the ethical landscape differently that you want me to write about? Make a donation, forward me a copy of the email DonorsChoose sends you to confirm your donation to my giving page, tell me what you want me to write about, and I'll make it happen.

OK, you know the facts. You know what to do.