Siren Biotechnology’s Post

#icymi Lifting up our conversation with Solome Lemma from Thousand Currents, answering this question, "What's the role for international grantmakers in decolonizing philanthropy?" by redefining our ideas of "capacity," "impact," and "scale." “Colonized philanthropy shows up strongly in our ideas around capacity, around impact and scale, all of which are coded words that we often use to make decisions about who is supported, and who is not. And all of which has detrimental effects when it comes to communities who are on the frontlines who often aren’t supported because of assumptions around capacity, impact, and scale. We often ask, particularly when it comes to international philanthropy…: 'Can they scale?' And that’s because our idea of scale is limited to size, and what we at Thousand Currents do is really expand our vision of what scale is. And we think there is scale of depth, there is scale to be reached by going deep into an issue or into a community because the complex challenges that communities face, or that issues require, actually will need time to address and resolve. So there’s scale of depth and there’s also scale of influence. So it’s really just rethinking what scale is and shifting away from products and results that are often only quantifiable only by the amount of money or numbers reached, and really think about it as infrastructure." - Solome Lemma Link to recording (start at 37:15 for the specific invitation to rethink these words): https://lnkd.in/eA6nS9wG And if you haven't yet, please read this piece from Jara Dean-Coffey (she/her/hers) and John Kania: https://lnkd.in/eQX5WqJP w/Collective Change Lab, Equitable Evaluation Initiative, Philanthropy New York

I've been on Patreon for a decade funding science, conservation, and weird little projects. Here's my reflection on what it means to be a scientist (possibly the first scientist) on Patreon. "The weird little projects. the small bit of seed funding to test ideas. The extra few thousand dollars that can be used to try something risky. Those little things can lead to big things. They all feed into a grander vision that: It is your ocean. You should have access to the tools to study it. "By just about any metric, the return on investment from Patreon exceeds, by an order of magnitude, just about an other funding I’ve received in the last decade. For most of us, we don’t need to move mountains, we just need the space to stop and breathe and create. Support from Patreon gave me that space." Small drops make mighty oceans: 10 years as a scientist on Patreon https://lnkd.in/d7HbRswD

Empowering our youth starts with giving. Let's come together and make a difference this #GivingTuesday. Link in Bio #yeg #yegcommunity #yegdt #yegdowntown #yegphilanthropy #yegcharity #unhousedyeg #ihuman #harmreduction #yegarts #yegartscene #yegnonprofit

🎙️ Exciting News! Had the pleasure of being featured on an episode w/Jeff Holden of the #NonProfitPodcastNetwork, where we delved into some fascinating topics that will resonate for fans of🌻#gardeneducation,🍕#healthypizza,💜#nonprofitleadership: 1. Innovative Strategies in Education: We explored groundbreaking methods for improving educational outcomes, particularly focusing on the integration of technology + modern teaching practices (shout out to The Charlie Cart Project). 2. Sustainability in Agriculture: I shared insights on sustainable farming practices + how these can be effectively implemented in various communities, drawing from my experiences with Yolo Farm To Fork (+ support of Claudia Carter, MS/the California Wheat Commission). 3. Community Engagement: We discussed the importance of community involvement in educational initiatives + how partnerships with local organizations can drive meaningful change (special shout out to Zoe Edwards + Raley's). 4. Future of Learning: I gave my perspective on the evolving landscape of education (a la #chezpanisse) + what the future holds for both educators/students in a rapidly changing world. Catch the full episode here: https://bit.ly/3y2raAi I’d love to hear your thoughts and continue the conversation!

An interesting read to start my week - Science Philanthropy Alliance's 2023 Indicators Report... Confirming one of the reasons the National Oceanography Centre became an independent charity in 2019: "Philanthropy is synergistic with other funding sources and can make flexible, high-risk, and long-term bets on ideas too unproven or interdisciplinary for other funding streams." ⭐ Philanthropy can be braver than other funding - and in an urgent climate crisis, bravery and innovation are vital! And confirming a huge issue, and opportunity, facing ocean research: "Philanthropy can transform less funded fields such as ocean and marine sciences, which account for less than 2% of science R&D spending at universities across all sources." ⭐ This is a US statistic, but we know that less than 1% of global philanthropy goes towards the ocean and SDG 14 is the least funded of all SDG goals! In context with ClimateWorks Foundation's 2023 Funding Trends report, this shows a need that isn't being met:  "In 2022, the amount of philanthropic funding for climate change mitigation remained essentially unchanged from the previous year — a slowdown from the consistent growth we saw in 2019, 2020, and 2021." ⭐ Philanthropy can provide the scientific evidence needed for climate and ocean action, but we aren't seeing the growth that is needed! This is why we work so hard to develop impactful philanthropic partnerships and fund ocean research! #oceanscience #oneocean #noc #oceanaction #oceanresearch #sciencephilanthropy #partnerships #researchanddevelopment #climateaction https://lnkd.in/eRQET6SE

www.isibugs.org - There is an urgent need to inspire the public to care about nature - in a REAL way - while also studying and collecting data on all of it we can before at least some of it is gone for good. Our nonprofit seeks to build the world’s largest biodome and venue for biodiversity immersion experience and biotech. The organization is sequencing the #genomes of all insect species on Earth and bioprospecting insects for drug discovery and other value creation activities. We are currently seeking #partnerships with like-minded organizations and #Philanthropists to fund the facility construction. Exposing people to in-person experiences with extensive biodiversity (thousands of species at one venue!) will go a long way to convincing the public to care more about biodiversity, and be compelled to act on that care. #Nature #environment #environmental #science #biotech #inspiration #entertainment #film #nonprofit #nonprofits #genomics #consulting #ESG #landclearing #massextinction #drugdiscovery #careers #food #land #water #nonprofits #philanthropy #philanthropist #philanthropists #nonprofit #startup

What would you change in the world? I invite you to take a minute to consider that. Envision what that place would look like and how that would improve the experience that we all share. There you have it, your vision for leaving the world better than you found it. It will be far from perfect but the beauty of having that vision is that it empowers you to understand the direction you want to walk and which footprint you leave behind. One step at a time, fulfilling your purpose. For me, that future is abundant with biodiversity and all types of species thriving, new types of animals to emerge and a harmonious (and profitable) collaboration with nature. Today, I hope to inspire you to help me achieve the first step towards that future. In a remote area of Costa Rica, Refugio Tinti | Wildlife Sanctuary settled to discover a profitable way to turn the disasters of deforestation around and protect biodiversity. I believe they did... In short. Refugio Tinti transforms palm oil monocultures into ecologically sound and profitable food forests. Currently, they have a theoretical model that will use 135 different species and various harvest crops and (on paper) prove to be more profitable than monocultures. Image the change in biodiversity, soil health, and the lives of local farmers. Together with Sprints & Sneakers | Growth Marketing Agency we have launched their first Crowdfunding campaign to raise $10,000 and enable Alexander Tinti to validate this model. How you can help to realise the first step towards this future? 1. Go to https://lnkd.in/ebZyidcq and donate what you can spare ($4 min) 2. Tag people underneath this post who could be interested 3. Share this post on your page to reach even more people If you are interested in learning more, make sure to check https://lnkd.in/ejnVFKQS Thank you Julian New, Philip van Rijk, Sigi van 't Schip for sharing your vision on this project! #foodforests #regenerative #agriculture #refugiotinti

Great to see that one of my best-selling books “The Diversity of Life on Earth: from Heritage to Extinction” is spreading around the world! When I published this book a few years back, I wanted a significant part of the returns to be used for charitable causes. I literally donated hundreds of hard copies to mostly schools, but also universities, public libraries, and strategic decision makers including politicians and influential entrepreneurs. Doing a pulse check from time to time I’m amazed of how far this initiative has gone with the book being physically available in over 20 countries! For instance, a latest addition is that it can be borrowed from the shelves of Standford University Library in the US: https://lnkd.in/gJzrQV9g It is also available from various public libraries in Osaka, Paris, Frankfort, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Sau Polo, Singapore, Helsinki, and many others! Apparently, it’s even on the library shelf in unexpected places such as in Samoa or Tanzania (not quite sure how it got there!). I’ve always been a fierce defender of biodiversity conservation as I believe its value is highly understated. For the introduction of my book, I was fortunate to interview the late prominent figure in this field Prof Edward. O. Wilson and his words summarize it all: “we should preserve every scrap of biodiversity as priceless while we learn to use it and come to understand what it means to humanity - extinction is forever" What gives me a glimpse of hope is that biodiversity is starting to become part of the discussions within financial and disclosures frameworks which would eventually lead to more stringent regulations especially regarding corporate accountability. The book is also available for sale on Amazon and various other platforms. https://lnkd.in/ge35Wgn #biodiversity #conservation #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment

Today we launched our "Limelight Rainforest 5K - Race to Identify" Kickstarter campaign! https://lnkd.in/dgma6eVQ Our goal is to register and catalogue 5000 insect taxa in four months, collecting photographic, acoustic, physiological and genetic data. These data will be published in public databases for use by policy makers, conservationists, scientists, and by anyone with a cool question about insects! We hope you will support the work of our taxonomists in the rainforests of the Amazon basin. Supporters will receive a monthly newsletter, biodiversity reports, and swag. Cataloging 5000 taxa of insects is a bold goal that will have a major impact. For comparison, there are less than 7000 known species of mammals known to science. Let's spread awareness of the importance of insect biodiversity. Insects are an unbelievably diverse group that humanity not only depends on for survival, but paradoxically are also our greatest competitors for food. Further, insects interact with every aspect of the terrestrial world, providing insights across taxa. But most importantly for conservation, insects respond rapidly to changes in local environments, making them rapid indicators of the effectiveness of actions made to improve biodiversity - if we want to save our forests, we need to know our insects! 

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel to a reservation in Montana to assist with two community meetings revolving around cannabis. There were youth and elders and everything in between. They came from different backgrounds, Harvard graduates, teachers, financial advisors, business professionals , parents, students, tribal leaders, cattle ranchers. For most, it was one of the first open conversations they had ever had about the plant. My two favorite moments: 1.) Some elders were hesitant initially, but after seeing how excited the youth was and how hopeful they were, they saw it as something that could help their community as a whole. That hope shifted their fear. 2.) Cannabis is a catalyst that helps us to remember our connection with the earth itself. Through assimilation we forgot just how connected we once were, and how important it is to reconnect. In real time you could see the spark ignite, you could physically see the light in their eyes, as the conversation started with cannabis but quickly moved to regenerative food agriculture, orchards, community gardens, horticulture therapy. That thought progression happened naturally in conversation between members in an open forum. It’s like all I did was plant that initial seed and then it blossomed in real time right before my eyes. It was exciting and felt hopeful. We all need hope, it’s a crazy world out there. To be able to take everything I’ve learned and everything the plant has shown me through cultivating her over the last 17 years, and to share it with communities in a way that it sparks hope and reconnection is an absolute blessing. Not everyone listens to the plant, but more people should. I’m honored to get to help spread education and awareness. I’ve known how powerful this plant is, and not only it’s psychoactive effects but it’s energy and mission as a whole for quite some time, but to help be a voice for its potential in communities that don’t have as much access as I do is such an honor 🌱 I was asked a couple days ago “what is your why?” …THAT is my why 💚 #plantintelligence #education #advocacy #montana #regenerate #plantprotector #womenincannabis #cannabisindustry #cannabisculture