ABSTRACT
University academics are under pressure to bring in research funding. Within Australian universities, established academics dominate the traditional sources of funding. For some academics, crowdfunding provides a new source of funds. It allows them to mobilise an audience outside of academia to support their work within academia. Drawing on 15 interviews with Australian academic crowdfunders, this chapter describes research crowdfunding within the continuum of work and personal self-care. Crowdfunding won’t work for most academics, but for some (especially those traditionally locked out of research funding) it provides a form of funding centred around generosity, appreciation, and reciprocity between funders and researchers.
