There are two exciting pieces of news about the DonorsChoose.org ScienceBlogs Challenge. First of all, Seed has offered to match all donations by ScienceBlogs readers for the second year in a row. Last year, Seed matched donations up to $10,000, but this year they're willing to match up to $15,000. So, start donating. We're currently 15% of our way to our goal of $1000.
Secondly, I have an offer for evolgen readers who donate to the evolgen challenge. When you donate, save your confirmation email so that you can win one of the still unannounced prizes from Seed. In the meantime, if you send me a confirmation email noting that you donated to the evolgen challenge, you'll be entered in a drawing to win the evolgen Grand Prize of Supporting Science Education Challenge Memorial Championship -- I know, it's a catchy title. What's the prize? For that, you'll need read on.
The evolgen Grand Prize of Supporting Science Education Challenge Memorial Championship
Anyone who donates to the evolgen DonorsChoose.org challenge and forwards their confirmation email to evolgen[at]yahoo[dot]com will be entered into the evolgen Grand Prize of Supporting Science Education Challenge Memorial Championship (hereafter referred to as the "Grand Prize"). There is a limit of one entry per email address. At the end of the challenge, all entrants will be entered into a lottery. The winner will be chosen by a random drawing. The amount donated will be independent of the probability of winning -- all donors will be considered equally regardless of the amount of money contributed. The winning donor will be notified by email, and he/she will confirm acceptance of the prize via email.
The Grand Prize
The winner of the Grand Prize will be involved in naming a new a gene that will be characterized within the next year or so (not an actual length of time). This involvement will include communication regarding the gene's evolutionary history, its hypothesized function, and any other unique characteristics of the gene. The Grand Prize winner will be permitted to suggest a name for the new gene, and, if that name is deemed appropriate, the Grand Prize winner's suggested name will be used to name the new gene. The researchers involved in publishing the research describing the new gene reserve the right to deny the use of the suggested name if it is deemed inappropriate for scientific publication. The Grand Prize winner will be allowed to suggest another name if the initial suggestion is deemed inappropriate.
In Conclusion
So, everyone, get donating, and you may get to name a gene!