What is decentralized science? – Crypto Briefing

Decentralized science (DeSci) is an emerging movement that aims to revolutionize scientific research by leveraging blockchain technology and Web3 principles. At its core, DeSci seeks to address long-standing problems in traditional scientific practices around funding, publishing, and collaboration.

The traditional scientific ecosystem faces several key challenges. Limited access to research funding, coupled with lengthy grant application processes that favour established researchers, has discouraged scientists.

Peter Higgs, the British physicist who proposed the Higgs boson (sometimes also called the Higgs particle), said in 2013 that he believed no university would hire him today, given the current climate around academic systems, simply because he would not be considered “productive” enough. Higgs died in early April this year, leaving behind a legacy for particle physics.

It is this same drive for productivity in academia that precedes another problem with scientific publishing: costly paywalls. Access to scientific journals is subject to a large number of paywalls, which relegates research to a closed circuit of privatized knowledge. Although there are projects such as Sci-Hub that support open access rights to information, most of the main scientific research platforms are subject to paywalls or are accessible only to those with institutional affiliations.

The “publish or perish” adage also applies to another problem with scientific publishing: there is a lack of incentives for researchers to openly share data or reproduce the work of other scientists, simply because such work is not rewarded by the current system.

Intellectual property disputes between researchers and the universities that support their work also hamper innovation. Instead of spending more time doing their work, scientific researchers have also had to deal with these disputes.

With the application of blockchain technologies, these conflicts could be resolved and the productivity drive among academic institutions, while largely driven by profits, could be met with greater efficiency gains.

DeSci proposes solutions to these problems through decentralized technologies:

Democratized financing: Blockchain-based crowdfunding and tokenization of research projects could provide more diverse funding sources. Platforms like VitaDAO allow anyone, not just large institutions, to support early-stage longevity research.

Open Access Publishing: Decentralized platforms aim to make research freely accessible while incentivizing peer review. ResearchHub, backed by the founder of Coinbase, rewards scientific contributors with cryptocurrency tokens.

Enhanced Collaboration: DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations) allow global teams to coordinate research efforts. AthenaDAO focuses on women’s health research, which has historically been underfunded.

IP Management: Non-fungible tokens (nfts) representing intellectual property of research could give scientists more control over the commercialization of their work. Molecule Protocol facilitates IP-nft frameworks for biotech projects.

Sharing data: Decentralized storage solutions enable secure and transparent sharing of research data. GenomesDAO aims to create a user-owned genomic database to advance medical research.

While DeSci is promising, it faces hurdles to widespread adoption. Traditional academic institutions and publishers may resist changes to established systems, and regulatory challenges around tokenization of scientific assets also need to be addressed.

However, proponents argue that DeSci could lead to more equitable, efficient and innovative scientific progress. By realigning incentives and lowering barriers to participation, it could accelerate advances in critical fields such as longevity research and climate change solutions.

Key projects driving the DeSci movement

Several pioneering projects are at the forefront of the DeSci movement, each addressing specific challenges of the scientific ecosystem:

VitaDAO: Focused on longevity research, VitaDAO has raised over $4 million to fund early-stage projects aimed at extending healthy human lifespan. Backed by Pfizer and former Coinbase CTO Balaji Srinivasan, it exemplifies how DAOs can democratize access to emerging therapies, challenging the monopoly of traditional biopharmaceutical companies.

Research Center: Founded by Coinbase’s Brian Armstrong, ResearchHub aims to become the go-to platform for scientific discussions. It uses a native token, ResearchCoin (RSC), to incentivize contributions such as paper uploads, comments, and peer review. This model seeks to accelerate scientific advances by rewarding active participation in the research community.

Molecular protocol: This platform connects biomedical research projects with potential funders using blockchain technology. Molecule introduces the concept of IP-nfts (intellectual property non-fungible tokens), which represent the intellectual property of research. This innovation allows for a more fluid trade of intellectual property rights and could help projects overcome the “valley of death” in early-stage funding.

Athena DAO: To address the severe underfunding of women’s health research, AthenaDAO focuses on conditions such as ovarian aging, menopause, and endometriosis. By leveraging a decentralized community, it aims to change the landscape of women’s health research and improve understanding of women-specific health issues.

GenomasDAO: This project is building a user-owned genomic database, allowing users to securely store their DNA data and optionally share it with researchers. By giving users control over their genetic information, GenomesDAO aims to accelerate genomic research while maintaining individual privacy and data ownership rights.

Bio.xyz: Bio.xyz acts as a project accelerator for DeSci, helping to launch and fund several biotech-focused DAOs. It provides a launchpad for token auctions, allowing both DAO participants and external investors to support innovative scientific initiatives.

These projects demonstrate the diverse applications of blockchain technology in scientific research, from funding mechanisms to collaboration tools and data management. As they continue to gain traction, they could significantly transform the way scientific research is conducted and funded on a global scale.

Challenges and future prospects for DeSci

While DeSci presents exciting possibilities, it also faces significant challenges that will determine its future development:

Regulatory obstacles: The tokenization of scientific assets and the use of cryptocurrencies for funding raise complex regulatory issues. Authorities may scrutinize DeSci projects to ensure compliance with securities laws, which could slow its adoption. The existence of clear regulatory frameworks that specifically address DeSci will be crucial for its growth.

Resistance of established institutions: Traditional academic institutions and publishers may resist the disruption that DeSci represents. Entrenched systems of peer review, tenure, and impact factors are deeply embedded in scientific culture. Overcoming this inertia will require demonstrating clear benefits and gradually changing academic incentives.

Technical barriers: Many scientists may not be familiar with blockchain technology and decentralized systems. User-friendly interfaces and educational initiatives will be necessary to reduce the barriers to entry for researchers interested in DeSci platforms.

Privacy and data security: While blockchain technology can improve data security, managing sensitive scientific data on decentralized networks poses challenges. Ensuring compliance with data protection regulations, such as the GDPR, while maintaining the benefits of open science will be a delicate balance.

QA: As DeSci lowers barriers to publication, maintaining rigorous standards of scientific quality is crucial. New peer review and reputation management mechanisms in decentralized systems will need to adapt and transform, but also learn from tradition.

Despite these challenges, the future prospects for DeSci remain promising. As the movement matures, we may see increased collaboration between traditional institutions and DeSci projects, leading to hybrid models that combine the best of both worlds.

There may also be some growth in the acceptance of alternative metrics for scientific impact, potentially based on blockchain-verified contributions and real-world applications of research.

New scientific fields could also emerge more quickly, driven by the unique capabilities of decentralized systems, such as large-scale citizen science projects or ai-assisted research coordination.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, decentralized science, if implemented at scale, would likely result in a more equitable sphere of participation in scientific research, given the way the tools could enable researchers from underrepresented regions to access funding and collaborate globally.

DeSci’s success will ultimately depend on its ability to deliver tangible benefits to the scientific community and society at large. If it can demonstrate increased efficiency, equity, and innovation in research, DeSci could become a transformative force in the scientific landscape and usher in a new era of open, collaborative, and decentralized scientific discovery.