What Is DeSci? (The Next Frontier Of Crypto)

Summary

This video delves into Decentralized Science (DSi), an emerging crypto sector aiming to revolutionize the scientific community by addressing its inefficiencies and bureaucracy. It discusses the current broken system, where scientists spend more time on grants than actual research, and highlights DSi's potential to democratize science through blockchain, open collaboration, and new funding mechanisms. The speaker also reviews several top DSi projects, such as Vita Dao and AntiDo, which focus on longevity and cancer research, emphasizing their early-stage growth potential.

Takeaways

• 🔬 **Decentralized Science (DSi)** is a new area in the crypto space that aims to improve the current scientific system by addressing inefficiencies and promoting openness and collaboration.
• 🧑‍🔬 **Current Scientific System Critique**: The existing scientific system is described as bureaucratic, hierarchical, and inefficient, with scientists spending more time on grant applications than actual research.
• 💡 **Open Source Comparison**: DSi is likened to open-source software, emphasizing the importance of making science accessible to everyone, not just a select few with the right credentials.
• 💼 **Funding Issues**: The script highlights issues with current research funding, where decision-makers from governments and corporations choose what gets funded, often overlooking innovative ideas.
• 📝 **Peer Review Process**: The unpaid peer review process is criticized for being slow and potentially missing fraudulent research due to lack of incentive.
• 📉 **Publish or Perish**: The academic culture of 'publish or perish' is said to encourage researchers to publish positive results, sometimes at the expense of scientific integrity.
• 🌐 **Blockchain Solutions**: The script suggests that blockchain technology can offer solutions such as on-chain research sharing, transparent funding, and improved data reproducibility.
• 🚀 **Potential for Growth**: Over 90 DSi projects are mentioned, with most launched in the past year and a half, indicating a new and potentially high-growth sector in the crypto space.
• 💊 **Vita Dao**: One of the top projects, Vita Dao, is focused on longevity science and has deployed significant funding across various projects, with a sizable community.
• 🧬 **Genomes Project**: Another highlighted project, Genomes, aims to create a medical research and DNA data library, allowing users to submit and monetize their DNA data.
• 📈 **Investment Opportunities**: The script presents DSi projects as potential investment opportunities, with the possibility of significant returns if breakthroughs are made.

Q & A

What does DSi stand for and what is its purpose?

DSi stands for Decentralized Science. Its purpose is to create a new system that addresses the inefficiencies and issues within the current scientific research process by making science open and accessible to everyone, similar to open-source software.

What are some of the problems with the existing scientific system according to the transcript?

The existing scientific system is described as bureaucratic, built around a social hierarchy with inefficiencies, a lack of openness, and an anti-scientific culture. It is criticized for the 'publish or perish' mindset, cumbersome peer review process, and the focus on publishing positive, exciting results which can lead to fraudulent research.

How does the current funding system for scientific research work and what issues does it create?

The current funding system is based on government grants or corporate entities, where small groups of decision makers decide who and what gets funded. This leads to researchers tailoring their proposals to what is likely to get funded rather than pursuing their passionate ideas, and results in a lack of funding for certain types of research and treatments.

What is the issue with the current peer review process in scientific research?

The peer review process is currently unpaid and thus disincentivized, which slows down the publication of critical research. Reviewers may not thoroughly check the research, potentially missing fraudulent findings.

How does DSi propose to improve the transparency and reproducibility of scientific research?

DSi aims to improve transparency and reproducibility by sharing open research on-chain, allowing different collaborators to contribute and preserving the history of contributions. This would make data documentation and preservation easier, facilitating the reproduction of research results.

What is the potential impact of DSi on the careers of researchers, especially those who are not part of prestigious institutions?

DSi could democratize access to research opportunities by allowing brilliant scientists, regardless of their institutional affiliation or geographic location, to contribute and gain recognition for their work, potentially leading to a more diverse and innovative scientific community.

How does the transcript suggest that crypto can contribute to the funding of scientific research?

Crypto can provide a platform for a wide range of ideas to get funding, allowing for global participation and removing gatekeepers. It can also facilitate the building of decentralized platforms that replace traditional research journals and fairly compensate the peer review process.

What is Vita Dao and what is its focus within the DSi space?

Vita Dao is a project within the DSi space that aims to advance longevity science and tackle age-related diseases. It has deployed around 4 million in funding across different projects and has a significant community following.

What is Antidote DAO and how does it approach the funding of cancer research?

Antidote DAO is a project that focuses on funding cancer research. It uses blockchain technology to transparently show how funds are spent, ensuring that they go towards the intended causes and reducing overall costs.

What is Genomes and how does it propose to contribute to medical research?

Genomes aims to create a library of medical research and DNA data. It allows users to submit their DNA data and get paid when it's used for research, offering a model similar to 23andMe but with data ownership for the users.

What is the significance of the token economy in DSi projects and how might it influence their success?

The token economy in DSi projects can incentivize participation, collaboration, and contribution to the ecosystem. Tokens can appreciate in value, attracting more investment and resources, which can be crucial for the success and growth of these projects.