By
Grace
May 10, 2022
4 Min Read
Decentralized science, or DeSci, is an emerging trend that seeks to utilize blockchain and other distributed ledger technologies to address some of the most pressing issues the scientific community faces today. As a broad concept, decentralized science (DeSci) encompasses various technologies and approaches aimed at democratizing and improving scientific research. Unlike traditional science, which often struggles with opaque funding, limited data sharing, and publishing barriers, DeSci leverages blockchain technology to create a more open, transparent, and collaborative research environment.
DeSci aims to transform research funding, enhance data transparency, and facilitate open collaboration by using tools such as tokens, DAOs, and NFTs to overcome the limitations of traditional science.
Science has always been one of humanity’s most important tools for improving people’s lives. Countless scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs throughout human history have allowed us to expand our understanding of the universe, drastically extend the human lifespan, increase our production capabilities and bolster our creative impulses. To put it simply, our advances in science have had a profound impact on virtually every aspect of our lives. Yet, the traditional scientific field is currently facing a number of challenges hampering the ability of researchers and scientists to produce meaningful results.
One major issue is the limited access to scientific knowledge, which stems largely from the overreliance on publishers. In order for a research paper to be taken seriously in academia, it needs to be published in a scientific journal. This not only limits the availability of information but also creates a paywall for the reader, as journals typically employ subscription models. In addition, some publishers charge hefty fees for publishing papers, which places a heavy financial burden on researchers. Restricted access to research and data is a direct result of centralized control by publishers and institutions, further limiting the dissemination of scientific knowledge.
The limited information access hinders the scientific community in a number of ways. It limits collaboration between researchers, which is one of the core tenets of the scientific method. It also fuels misconceptions about the scientific method which sows mistrust in science among the general public. Additionally, established researchers are often favored in the current funding system, making it difficult for new voices to secure support.
Finding funding for scientific research constitutes another major problem. More specifically, the current system leaves scientists scrambling to meet fairly rigid criteria in the hope of securing grants. Established processes in funding, publication, and peer review can create significant barriers to innovation. Traditional funding models, often managed by centralized funding bodies and government agencies, are bureaucratic and can restrict access to research funding. These systems tend to favor established researchers and specific agendas, making it difficult for emerging scientists to secure support for their innovative ideas. As a result, the allocation and management of research funding can stifle creativity and limit the scope of what projects are funded, prompting scientists to flock to certain types of research and leaving other important, but less flashy, fields neglected.
These barriers can slow scientific progress and limit the advancement of knowledge. The current research landscape is shaped by these challenges, making it harder for the scientific community to adapt, collaborate, and push the boundaries of discovery.
The advent of blockchain and its rapid evolution has inspired a new movement aimed at tackling those issues – decentralized science. Decentralized technologies and decentralized systems are transforming scientific research by democratizing access, improving collaboration, and enhancing transparency in funding and discovery. DeSci is leveraging blockchain technology to improve transparency and efficiency across the scientific community. By utilizing these tools, DeSci aims to address challenges such as funding inefficiencies, data sharing barriers, and systemic inertia. The movement introduces innovative solutions to longstanding problems in research, providing novel methods for collaboration and funding. Especially when so many of blockchain’s properties and features seem tailor-made for addressing the issues discussed above, DeSci is poised to improve scientific practices through decentralization and transparency. Here are some of the ways in which the implementation of blockchain technology can bolster the scientific process.
One of the core missions of blockchain technology is to eliminate the need for intermediaries and centralized oversight. This makes it the perfect tool to aid the ongoing quest for free access to academic papers and other scientific knowledge. Blockchain networks could power decentralized repositories for information, providing public access to a wealth of scientific research. Blockchain enables secure data sharing and improves access to research data across disciplines, while also helping to verify research results and maintain data integrity. By ensuring data integrity through blockchain's immutability, decentralized storage solutions offer an alternative to traditional data management, supporting the preservation of scientific records on blockchain. Furthermore, blockchain facilitates global collaboration by enabling open access to data, aligning with the principles of open science. At the same time, thanks to their immutability and cryptographically-secured consensus mechanisms, distributed ledgers could be used to guarantee the veracity of research papers, which would inspire greater confidence in science.
Blockchain opens up a whole new world of fundraising options for the scientific community. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) use blockchain technology to create transparent, community-driven funding mechanisms, enabling more democratic funding decisions and transforming scientific funding. Token sales, including the use of DeSci tokens for funding and governance in decentralized science projects, provide one such option, and some scientists have already experimented with sales of NFTs. Smart contracts play a crucial role in automating funding agreements and managing research ownership, supporting the process of funding research and advancing scientific innovation through new mechanisms. In addition, various DeFi tools and strategies like staking could also be utilized to provide continuous streams of funds for scientific projects.
Decentralized science projects, such as a notable DeSci project, leverage blockchain for research funding and governance. The molecule protocol is a blockchain-based platform that facilitates biomedical research funding, IP management, and organizational structuring through NFTs and smart contracts. Lastly, we also have DAOs, which have introduced us to a new approach to crowdfunding. Setting up DAOs focused on financing specific projects, as well as the broader field, could be the key to having a fairer allocation of funds and achieving successful development of scientific breakthroughs.
Speaking of DAOs, their utility goes well beyond mere crowdfunding. Where DAOs truly shine is in fostering vibrant communities around shared causes. By leveraging blockchain technology, DAOs and desci platforms provide the necessary infrastructure and governance mechanisms to facilitate transparent and secure scientific collaboration. These tools help create a collaborative scientific community where researchers can work together more openly and efficiently.
Beyond DAOs, blockchain technology could be utilized to encourage cooperation within the scientific community in other ways. For example, it could be used to incentivize the peer review process, with scientists receiving token rewards for reviewing academic papers. Peer reviews are essential for maintaining quality and transparency in research. Reputation systems can further incentivize trustworthy participation in peer reviews, rewarding those who contribute to the integrity of the process. Through these collaborative efforts, blockchain and DeSci platforms can accelerate scientific breakthroughs by making research more open, reliable, and innovative.
There are already a number of DeSci initiatives today that aim to incorporate blockchain technology into the science industry. Such initiatives started in 2015 but transformed into an official movement in 2021 with the rise of more science-oriented DAOs, research groups auctioning NFTs, and the formation of the term DeSci. Leading biotech DAOs, such as Molecule, have achieved significant market cap, highlighting their growing presence in the industry. These platforms support a wide range of research projects and are transforming academic research by improving funding mechanisms and transparency. The research desci approach emphasizes decentralization, open collaboration, and the support of fundamental scientific research as a core focus of DeSci projects. IP-NFTs act as proof of ownership over intellectual property or patents that live on a blockchain and help eliminate risks for investors.
Molecule stores immutable data on a blockchain, meaning that disputes related to patent ownership or invention credits are simple to resolve. Additionally, blockchain security ensures the protection of sensitive research data, safeguarding the integrity and confidentiality of critical scientific information.
Another example is VitaDAO - a funding community for longevity research and a drug development DAO that utilizes VITA tokens. Together with Molecule, VitaDAO realized the first IP-NFT transfer for funding novelty longevity therapeutics. DAOs and token-based governance structures can help prioritize valuable research that benefits the broader scientific community, rather than just projects favored by wealthy stakeholders. Successful DeSci initiatives can also benefit patients by accelerating the translation of research into medical innovations. Others like LabDAO, PsyDAO and SCINET are also contributing to the adoption of blockchain in science.
Blockchain may have the capacity to solve a lot of problems in the science community today, but the state of the technology and how it is incorporated into the sector is still a far way from full sophistication. Traditional scientific institutions often restrict access, lack transparency, and influence which research gets funded and published. DeSci seeks to improve upon these limitations and address challenges such as funding, data sharing, and sustainability. However, opening up the scientific world through blockchain also introduces risks like data breaches, making strong security measures essential to protect sensitive research data and maintain the integrity of decentralized scientific infrastructure. This increased openness could create quality issues and disruptions in quality assessment. To eliminate such risks, some level of governance may be required.
In addition, existing DeSci protocols may not have the capacity to fully understand previous scientific work. For science to progress, it’s essential to create protocols that are able to take into account historic scientific findings and stimulate progress.
By utilizing blockchain, decentralized science has the potential to create solutions and enhancements in the scientific world that could completely reshape the way research is conducted and findings distributed. However, to become truly decentralized and to avoid risks of compromising the quality of scientific discoveries, DeSci organizations will need to find ways to ensure scientific quality, some form of governance and the ability to upgrade the existing scientific process. As blockchain technology continues evolving, it will be exciting to see what else it can bring to the scientific table.
