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Published Jan 22, 2024

206 - Decentralized Science | Brian Armstrong & Patrick Joyce

Brian Armstrong and Patrick Joyce delve into Decentralized Science (DeSci), examining how crypto principles can revolutionize scientific research by addressing inefficiencies, promoting innovation, and creating a more open, collaborative environment. They critique current incentive structures and propose realignment to enhance the scientific ecosystem's efficiency and accessibility.
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  • Flawed Incentives

    The current scientific incentive structures are flawed, leading to a culture of risk aversion and incrementalism. highlights how scientists often tailor their research to secure funding rather than pursue groundbreaking ideas, akin to tech startups avoiding risk to ensure funding 1. This results in a lack of innovation and a focus on safe, predictable outcomes. adds that negative results are often hidden due to career concerns, further stifling scientific progress 2.

    The end result is that there's a lot of knowledge that's not shared with the world, and it's due to this kind of broken incentive structure.

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    These issues underscore the need for a system that values truth and innovation over mere positive results.

       

    Crypto Solutions

    Crypto and blockchain technologies offer potential solutions to the flawed incentive systems in science. suggests that decentralized science (DeSci) can align incentives by rewarding genuine breakthroughs and facilitating open collaboration, similar to open-source software 3. This approach could transform the way scientific contributions are recognized and commercialized. Additionally, discusses incentivizing peer reviews and literature summaries through bounties, allowing scientists to earn rewards for their contributions 4.

    Crypto is a tool to align incentives, and the incentives in science are kind of broken.

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    These innovations aim to create a more efficient and equitable scientific ecosystem.

       

    Commercialization

    Commercializing scientific breakthroughs remains a challenge, with most research never reaching the market. proposes a system akin to Creative Commons for science, allowing easy licensing of innovations to encourage commercialization 5. This could enable scientists to benefit financially from their discoveries without complex negotiations. also emphasizes the role of private capital in funding research, arguing that it can drive innovation more effectively than traditional government funding 6.

    The best companies are based on scientific breakthroughs.

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    Such approaches could unlock the potential of scientific research, turning more discoveries into tangible products.

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