DeSci, short for decentralized science, is a growing trend in Web3 in 2024. It uses blockchain and Web3 technologies to transform how scientific research is funded, conducted, shared, and published. DeSci doesn't create entirely new technology but repurposes existing blockchain tools to reshape the scientific community. The goal is to make science more inclusive, transparent, and efficient, which could lead to faster innovation and fairer access to scientific knowledge.
The History of Decentralized Science
An early example of decentralized science occurred in the 2000s when Sony launched the PlayStation 3. Owners could share their console's computing power with the Folding@Home project from Stanford University. This power helped with calculations for research to fight diseases like cancer. Sony reported that over 15 million PlayStation 3 owners contributed over 100 million hours to the project, showcasing an early use of crowd-sourced computing for scientific research.
DeSci goes beyond just computing power. It also involves distributing research funding and encouraging community participation. In the future, DeSci aims to make science more inclusive for everyone, not just those in research labs.
The Main Features of DeSci
Here are five main fatures of DeSci.
- Decentralized funding and research: DeSci enables transparent, community-driven funding models. Crowdfunding through cryptocurrencies or DAOs helps allocate research funds.
- Transparency and accessibility: Blockchain technology makes research data and findings transparent, verifiable, and publicly accessible. This reduces control from large institutions and promotes open access.
- Incentivization through tokens: DeSci uses tokens or NFTs to reward researchers. Scientists can mint NFTs representing their research to fund future work or recognize contributions.
- Decentralized peer review and publication: DeSci introduces decentralized peer review, making the process more transparent. Blockchain ensures accountability in contributions and reviews.
- Community involvement: DeSci invites everyone, not just academics, to participate in science. This democratizes research, encouraging diverse input and solutions.
Challenges Faced by DeSci
DeSci faces several challenges that shall be tackled for further developments in this field.
Resistance from Traditional Institutions
Many academic institutions are slow to adopt decentralized systems. They rely on old funding models, peer-reviewed publications, and metrics like impact factors, which could delay the acceptance of DeSci.
Lack of Legal Frameworks
Tokenizing research with NFTs raises questions about intellectual property rights. It's unclear how these digital assets fit into current laws on patents, copyrights, and financial transactions. Compliance with regulations like GDPR is also tricky in a decentralized environment.
Ensuring Quality
Without centralized oversight, ensuring research quality and credibility becomes harder. Creating a reliable, decentralized peer review system is complex. The open nature of DeSci could also allow pseudoscience or fraudulent research if not properly monitored.
Though DeSci is still growing, it faces regulatory, community acceptance, and ethical challenges. However, its potential to speed up scientific progress through collaboration, transparency, and open access is significant.
