By revolutionalizing traditional systems, blockchain has already dominated industries including finance (DeFi), gaming (GameFi), and more by introducing decentralization, transparency, and efficiency. Decentralized Science DeSci disrupts science by leveraging blockchain technology to address inefficiencies in the current traditional system.
Decentralized Science (DeSci) is an interesting use case and the next frontier in crypto. It utilizes blockchain technology to transform traditional research with transparency, collaboration, and accessibility.
This article gives an overview of Decentralized Science, why it matters, and some of the top projects in this sector.
Decentralized Science: Next Frontier in Crypto
Decentralized Science or DeSci is a decentralized alternative to the current scientific system and is built on the open science movement. DeSci aims to create a global and open ecosystem for funding, creating, reviewing, crediting, storing, and disseminating scientific knowledge in a decentralized and distributed manner with the help of blockchain technology.
The Benefits of Decentralization in Science Include
- Opens up opportunities for diverse funding sources from DAO, various donations, crowdfunding, and more.
- Bring transparency to the scientific research process.
- Make research works resistant to censorship
- Maintains integrity as there is no control by central authorities.
Traditional Science vs Decentralized Science: Challenges and Solutions
Science is a public good and serves as the foundation for technological advancement in various areas such as health and medicine, understanding of the universe, sustainable energy, and overall development improving quality of life. Let us look into different approaches to traditional science and decentralized science.
Transparency
Blockchain technology works based on transparency and trust. The immutable nature of the ledger allows data to be stored in a secure way ensuring the integrity of scientific records. Traditional science relies on a centralized party to store and validate research records which is prone to risk of damage and integrity.
Accessibility
In traditional finance, scientists found it difficult to access other research works. Desci allows open access that is available for everyone eliminating extra subscription costs.
Fund Distribution
Traditional funding is controlled by centralized individuals or institutions with complicated paperwork and a slow process. DeSci manages funding decisions and distributions in a transparent way backed by DAOs. It opens new possibilities and sources for projects and scientists.
A transaction carried out on a blockchain offers greater security and transparency. Learn about blockchain transactions and how it ensures secure funding for projects.
Collaboration
DeSci removes the geographical barrier and institutional boundaries in collaborating and contributing to Scientific research works. In traditional Science, funding organizations and home institutions limit your collaborations.
Use Cases of Decentralized Science DeSci
Publishing
Science publishing is often challenging because publishers mostly depend on free labor from scientists and reviewers to create research findings but charge a high amount to publish. Traditional publishing systems are profit-oriented rather than for the public good utilizing scientific knowledge. Introducing open open-access platform allows the free sharing of research works.
Reproducibility and Replicability
For a trustworthy research reproducibility and replicability are crucial. However, the traditional system lacks transparency in these processes. Web3 has the potential to address the issue of ensuring integrity by creating immutable records of scientific findings.
Funding
Science funding today depends on a manual application process reviewed by a small group of individuals which is slow, and inconsistent and the probability of getting funded for all projects is less. Integrating web3 in funding can reward deserving works, fair distribution, and extra incentives for researchers. Instead of centralized decision-making, web3 relies on DAO to make decisions on funding and distribution.
Data Storage
Storing research-related data, and accessing and sharing them requires a technology promising unconditional security. Web3 solutions like IPFS, filecoin, and Arweave offer open science providing decentralized, free access to public data.
Top 5 Projects in Decentralized Science
Decentralized Science is a brand-new sector in the crypto world with a lot of potential for growth. There are over 90 different DeSci projects developed in a short time span. Here is the list of the top 5 projects implementing DeSci:
- Vita DAO is a community where scientists, investors, and longevity enthusiasts can collaborate to accelerate progress in aging research.
- Antidot DAO is for curing cancer through crypto.
- GenomeFi is a platform for the development of bio-industry and humanity through individual genomic data.
- Lab DAO is an online life science research collective that provides and uses open tools and infrastructure for computational life science research.
- Molecule is a platform used to accelerate innovation in the pharmaceutical industry.
Conclusion
Decentralized Science is an emerging field in crypto with the potential to change scientific practices. The decentralization will democratize knowledge access, bring transparency, and accelerate innovation. It empowers scientific researchers, enables collaborations and contributions, and fair reward distribution hence creating a transparent and efficient ecosystem for innovation and discovery.
