Scientists have acknowledged for years that there are large structural problems in science: the funding system is dysfunctional, results are frequently unreproducible, and scientific knowledge is siloed. Recently, a small but passionate group of technologists, scientists, and entrepreneurs have envisioned web3 and blockchain-based tools as potentially breaking these structural logjams. This has become the decentralized science (DeSci) movement, but it has percolated slowly while scientists have been sluggish to participate.
In late 2021, Sarah Hamburg issued a call-to-action to scientists in Nature, and something clicked. Prominent scientists are beginning to recognize the opportunity, such as Eric Topol declaring that decentralized blockchain technology may be key to developing the smartphone apps we need to thwart the next pandemic. As the communities have finally begun to connect, DeSci has been gaining momentum in 2022.
With that in mind, here is Future’s web3 x science coverage from this year so far, as well as some of the major writings and events across the community. Given that the DeSci movement is still in the early stages, we include some coverage of web3 and decentralization that provide some useful lessons and insights for the growing community.
At Future :
A Guide to DeSci, the Latest Web3 Movement by Sarah Hamburg
A Guide to Decentralized Biotech by Jocelynn Pearl
Decentralization for Web3 Builders: Principles, Models, How by Miles Jennings
The Missing Link Between Web2 and Web3: Custody by Mahesh Vellanki
Around the web:
What is decentralized science? by Kay / CoinMarketCap
Decentralized Science – ResearchHub with Patrick Joyce, Anton Lebed / Smart Contract Research Forum Interviews
Cloud labs: where robots do the research by Carrie Arnold / Nature
The State of Crypto Report 2022 by Darren Matsuoka, Eddy Lazzarin, Chris Dixon, and Robert Hackett / a16z crypto
When blockchain meets artificial intelligence: An application to cancer histopathology by Runyu Hong David Fenyö / Cell Reports Medicine
DeSci: Can crypto improve scientific research? by Max Parasol / CoinTelegraph
Phage Directory: How a Decentralized Network of Researchers Find Cures / with Jessica Sacher, Jan Zheng, and Jocelynn Pearl / UltraRare
Community events:
ICYMI: DeSci.Berlin took place in May. Talks are online for both day 1 and day 2.
Upcoming events: DeSci Community Calendar maintained by Ariella Coller-Reilly
Event to watch: DeSci Boston Hackathon sponsored by VitaDAO, Molecule and more, Sept 23-25, 2022
Posted June 30, 2022
Technology, innovation, and the future, as told by those building it.
Thanks for signing up.
Check your inbox for a welcome note.
Views expressed in “posts” (including articles, podcasts, videos, and social media) are those of the individuals quoted therein and are not necessarily the views of AH Capital Management, L.L.C. (“a16z”) or its respective affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources, including from portfolio companies of funds managed by a16z. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, a16z has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.
This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. Furthermore, this content is not directed at nor intended for use by any investors or prospective investors, and may not under any circumstances be relied upon when making a decision to invest in any fund managed by a16z. (An offering to invest in an a16z fund will be made only by the private placement memorandum, subscription agreement, and other relevant documentation of any such fund and should be read in their entirety.) Any investments or portfolio companies mentioned, referred to, or described are not representative of all investments in vehicles managed by a16z, and there can be no assurance that the investments will be profitable or that other investments made in the future will have similar characteristics or results. A list of investments made by funds managed by Andreessen Horowitz (excluding investments for which the issuer has not provided permission for a16z to disclose publicly as well as unannounced investments in publicly traded digital assets) is available at https://a16z.com/investments/.
Charts and graphs provided within are for informational purposes solely and should not be relied upon when making any investment decision. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The content speaks only as of the date indicated. Any projections, estimates, forecasts, targets, prospects, and/or opinions expressed in these materials are subject to change without notice and may differ or be contrary to opinions expressed by others. Please see https://a16z.com/disclosures for additional important information.
