Web3 in :60 - DeSci
In our first monthly edition of Web3 in :60, we'll talk DeSci. What it is, why should you care, how Web3 can help the issues science currently faces & what's next?
👋 Welcome to Web3 in :60! We’re here to distill Web3 topics in easy-to-read (and understand) formats to spread knowledge, awareness and adoption of Web3 concepts and tools for technical and less-technical audiences.
🔬 What is DeSci?
Decentralized Science, or DeSci, is a Web3 movement that aims to:
enhance modern science by improving the research funding process
facilitate unrestricted sharing of knowledge and information
remove bias by shifting ownership and value away from industry intermediaries
“DeSci is a movement to improve science using Web3 tech and tools. Think of being able to use all of the magic of hash-linking, blockchains and smart contracts to create systems and structures that can improve how we do science across fields and around the globe.”
-Juan Benet, Founder and CEO at Protocol Labs
🎤 DeSci in :60
Philipp Koellinger, chairman of the DeSci Foundation and co-founder of DeSci Labs, explains DeSci and why it matters to us in 60 seconds. Koellinger is also a professor in social science genetics at the Department of Economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Here is his take on DeSci in :60:
💡 Why it matters
Science is an essential public good, yet it’s not accessible to everyone. Funding is a huge pain point for scientists and ultimately slows down scientific progress, reduces the amount of science being done and biases which projects scientists choose. Also, large amounts of scientific knowledge are not accessible due to ownership and control being held by big publishers, private databases and intermediaries.
🔑 Key facts
The current model for scientific funding is in shambles — tying scientists’ funding to the impact of their published work — therefore impeding progress on innovative and important ideas.
Scientists are having to spend too much time writing grant proposals.
There is a great deal of bias in science due to centralized ownership and control.
Scientific data, like test results, for example, are not generally accessible to the public because the data is often locked up in private databases or behind paywalls.
🆘 How can Web3 help?
Web3 tools offer a solution for many of the issues science currently faces. Some examples:
Scientists can use NFTs as a tool to fund research or even turn their scientific papers into NFTs.
Scientists can use smart contracts for peer review and avoid middlemen who charge exorbitant amounts of money for the same.
Scientists or designated communities can truly own scientific data through DAOs instead of governments or intermediaries.
"Much in the same way that open source transformed the way that we build and release software, this kind of innovation, compute over data with reproducible results, reproducible datasets, and reproducible compute, will change the way that we build research and release experiments and findings."
-David Aronchick, head of R&D at Protocol Labs
🚀 What teams in the PL network are doing about it
DeSci Labs is working to enable a radically transparent ledger of scientific record that is secure, permanent, interoperable and resistant to cross-national censorship.
DeSci Foundation is dedicated to exploring the potential of applying new technologies, incentives, processes, and funding models to the scientific ecosystem.
Cambridge Cryptographic is using crypto-economics to bridge the gap between scientific research and commercial viability.
phas3 is an industry expert in DeSci, data and AI.
Bacalhau Project supports DeSci projects of all sizes, including a partnership with LabDAO to foster open, reproducible data processing for the broader DeSci community. Subscribe to the Bacalhau Substack for regular updates. And if you want to get started with funding DeSci grants, Gitcoin has a page of projects to explore.
Molecule is a decentralized biotech protocol, building a Web3 marketplace for research-related IP. Its platform and scalable framework for biotech DAOs connect academics and biotech companies with quick and easy funding, while enabling patient, researcher, and investor communities to directly govern and own research-related IP.
❓ How does this apply to me?
The Decentralized Science Community is working to create a world where science is accessible, open to all, and control is not held by big publishers, pharma giants and industry intermediaries. Instead, patients and their families can directly fund scientists developing the next breakthrough drug or treatment that they need, putting control back into the hands of the citizens.
Photo by: Vlad Tchompalov - unsplash.com
The DeSci movement is important and relevant to everyone in some way, shape or form – it’s not just for the tech or Web3 community. Help spread the word about the importance of DeSci and share with your friends, family and network.
📆 DeSci events
There are lots of great DeSci events happening all over the world throughout the year. The site DeSci.Global compiles a thorough calendar of events in the space.
🤿 Diving deeper
Want to take a closer look at DeSci and dive deeper into the tech, projects and initiatives? We’ve curated a library of resources for you below.
Decentralized Science Explainer on Ethereum.org featuring a speech by Juan Benet at EthCC
Breakthroughs in Computing Series: Hear from experts in the field on ways computing has changed humanity and uncover discoveries that will lead to major developments and trends in science and technology.
DeSci Boston main room talks: Hear from Web3 developers, DeSci leaders and funders in the DeSci ecosystem
A Guide to DeSci, written by Sarah Hamburg, co-founder of phas3
UltraRare - The Podcast by Jocelynn Pearl