Key takeaways: Crypto breaks through traditional borders in research and offers a helping hand to professors in dire need of funding and innovative solutions. Decentralized Science, is a revolutionary concept that democratize the scientific process where unconventional ideas can blossom.
Traditionally, scientific research has been the domain of large institutions such as universities and corporations. In many ways, traditional central institutions of knowledge have a monopoly on research and knowledge. Research is largely conducted and kept within the academic space and important reports and articles are hidden behind paid walls of academic journals.
Anyone involved in health research knows how difficult it may be to find funding for a research project about rare diseases and mental health conditions. Interdisciplinary research that often requires a long-term study is also hard to finance. The academic space can be brutally tedious and boring. Research is suffering from a sad case of stiffness and bureaucratic structures, formal guidelines, and time-consuming proposal processes. Professors feel stuck in a swamp of paperwork.
Here’s the solution!
Decentralized Science, or DeSci for short, is a revolutionary concept that aims to democratize the scientific process.
Think of DeSci as a form of crowdfunding and sharing research data in a secure, collaborative and accessible way, with or without the use of traditional research institutions.
One of the key benefits of DeSci is that it allows for a more democratic distribution of funding. Rather than relying on a small group of centralized institutions to provide funding, DeSci uses a token-based system where anyone can contribute and invest in scientific projects. This not only provides researchers with more funding options, but also allows for a more diverse group of people to contribute to scientific research.
Another benefit of DeSci is that it enables researchers to share data and collaborate on projects in a more efficient manner. Using blockchain technology, researchers can easily and securely share data with other members of the network, without the need for intermediaries. This allows for faster, more efficient data sharing and collaboration, ultimately leading to better and more impactful research.
For the reader who wants to dive deeper in DeSci, Molecule Protocol is an innovative solution worth taking a look at.
More reliable research with Desci
Cherry-picking results, hypothesizing results after the results are found, and adjusting the analysis after the results as well as outright fraudulent practices in research are a major problem. DeSci may be a solution as the research data that is stored on a blockchain is immutable. This is achieved using smart contracts, which automate the process of recording and verifying research data on the blockchain.
In a world where centralized institutions have long held a monopoly on knowledge, DeSci offers a new paradigm for conducting and sharing research that is more open, transparent, and inclusive. Sharing knowledge is beneficial for society and DeSci research is not hidden behind a paid wall of a fancy journal.
Decentralized Science has the potential to make the research setting happier and more community friendly. Stiff competition between research institutions can be turned into a collaborative environment.
Trust in big-pharma is not peaking after the covid-19 vaccine saga, and a token-based solution along with blockchain technology can even increase trust in big pharma as its a tamper-proof way of conducting research. Whatever! Who cares about the trust of big pharma?
Most of all, a public infrastructure for funding will lead to important findings that do not (always) follow the infamous money trail.