By David Tuller, DrPH
As I figured, the crowdfunding slowed down dramatically last week after the initial rush, but in the last few days has experienced a bit of a lift. I’ve now topped $42,300 and have reached 44% of the goal. That’s pretty amazing!
Many of the 420 donations are in the $10 to $20 range, but I’ve received one for $2500–the largest so far. I’ve also gotten two $2000 donations and a few for $1000 to $1500. The UK remains ahead in numbers of donors with 171, followed by the US with 76, Norway with 43, Australia with 35, Sweden with 18, Canada with 17 and the Netherlands with 14.
Professor Michael Sharpe hasn’t provided the same publicity for my effort that he did last year, when he whined about the crowdfunding while tweeting out Jennie Spotila’s endorsement of it—which of course included a link. Jennie has just posted an endorsement of this month’s effort. (Thanks, Jennie!!) Unfortunately, I don’t expect Professor Sharpe will oblige my desire that he again engage in promotional strategies on my behalf.
In a way, Reuters journalist Kate Kelland has served something of a similar function this time around. The attention sparked by her propaganda piece last month about the travails of Professor Sharpe and his colleagues in the CBT/GET ideological brigades certainly helped generate enthusiasm for the launch of the crowdfunding. I’m sure that’s part of the reason it popped off to such a quick start. If I should run into Kate here or there or at some Science Media Centre propaganda briefing, I’ll be sure to thank her for the boost!
Remember, this money goes to Berkeley’s Center for Global Public Health to support my academic position. My work on this project is my primary job responsibility as a senior fellow in public health and journalism at the Center, which is part of the School of Public Health.
Here’s the Berkeley crowdfunding link: