{"id":23411,"date":"2026-02-18T17:17:54","date_gmt":"2026-02-18T17:17:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/?p=23411"},"modified":"2026-07-13T12:34:22","modified_gmt":"2026-07-13T12:34:22","slug":"what-is-desci","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Decentralized Science (DeSci)? \ud83e\uddec\u26d3\ufe0f"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"scien-2915410413\" class=\"scien-before-content scien-entity-placement\"><style>\r\n.amazon-support-link {\r\n    display: inline-flex;\r\n    align-items: baseline;\r\n    gap: 0.3rem;\r\n    padding: 0.35rem 0.55rem;\r\n    color: inherit;\r\n    font-size: 0.88rem;\r\n    line-height: 1.2;\r\n    text-decoration: none;\r\n    opacity: 0.72;\r\n    white-space: nowrap;\r\n    transition: opacity 0.2s ease;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.amazon-support-link:hover,\r\n.amazon-support-link:focus-visible {\r\n    opacity: 1;\r\n    text-decoration: underline;\r\n}\r\n\r\n.amazon-support-link small {\r\n    font-size: 0.65rem;\r\n    opacity: 0.7;\r\n}\r\n\r\n@media (max-width: 900px) {\r\n    .amazon-support-link small {\r\n        display: none;\r\n    }\r\n}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<a class=\"amazon-support-link\"\r\n   href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/?tag=vpf04-20\"\r\n   target=\"_blank\"\r\n   rel=\"nofollow sponsored noopener\"\r\n   aria-label=\"Shop on Amazon and support World Science DAO\">\r\n    Shop on Amazon <span aria-hidden=\"true\">\u2197<\/span>\r\n    <small>affiliate link<\/small>\r\n<\/a><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Decentralized Science, usually abbreviated as DeSci, is a movement that uses blockchain, decentralized governance, open infrastructure, and programmable incentives to improve how scientific research is funded, conducted, evaluated, owned, and shared.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci does not mean that every scientific activity must take place on a blockchain. In most systems, experiments, data analysis, publishing, legal agreements, and laboratory work remain partly or entirely off-chain. Blockchain is used where a shared, auditable record or programmable coordination mechanism may be useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The broader goal is to give researchers, funders, reviewers, patients, developers, and other communities more direct ways to organize scientific work without relying exclusively on universities, publishers, grant agencies, or commercial intermediaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseprofile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#What_Does_DeSci_Mean\" >What Does DeSci Mean?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#DeSci_and_Open_Science_Are_Related_but_Different\" >DeSci and Open Science Are Related but Different<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#How_DeSci_Can_Support_Scientific_Research\" >How DeSci Can Support Scientific Research<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Transparent_Research_Funding\" >Transparent Research Funding<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Broader_Participation\" >Broader Participation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Recognition_of_More_Types_of_Contribution\" >Recognition of More Types of Contribution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Community_Governance\" >Community Governance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Scientific_Records_and_Attribution\" >Scientific Records and Attribution<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Representative_DeSci_Projects\" >Representative DeSci Projects<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#VitaDAO\" >VitaDAO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Molecule\" >Molecule<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#World_Science_DAO\" >World Science DAO<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#What_Problems_Could_DeSci_Address\" >What Problems Could DeSci Address?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Limitations_and_Risks_of_DeSci\" >Limitations and Risks of DeSci<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Scientific_Quality_Cannot_Be_Automated_Completely\" >Scientific Quality Cannot Be Automated Completely<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Governance_Can_Be_Captured\" >Governance Can Be Captured<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Public_Blockchains_Can_Conflict_With_Privacy\" >Public Blockchains Can Conflict With Privacy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Legal_Rights_Remain_Off-Chain\" >Legal Rights Remain Off-Chain<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Incentives_Can_Distort_Research\" >Incentives Can Distort Research<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Is_DeSci_a_Replacement_for_Traditional_Science\" >Is DeSci a Replacement for Traditional Science?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/what-is-desci\/#Why_DeSci_Matters\" >Why DeSci Matters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Does_DeSci_Mean\"><\/span>What Does DeSci Mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A widely used definition describes DeSci as an effort to build public infrastructure for funding, creating, reviewing, crediting, storing, and disseminating scientific knowledge using Web3 technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practical terms, DeSci may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>transparent research-funding systems;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decentralized autonomous organizations, or DAOs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>smart contracts for milestone-based payments;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>public records of proposals, votes, and financial transactions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>community governance of research programs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decentralized storage or timestamping of scientific outputs;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tokenized intellectual-property rights;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>incentives for peer review, replication, software, datasets, and other contributions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A 2024 peer-reviewed study described DeSci as an emerging field centered on openness, transparency, collaboration, decentralization, shared ownership, and contribution-based recognition. Because the movement is still developing, no single implementation represents all of DeSci.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DeSci_and_Open_Science_Are_Related_but_Different\"><\/span>DeSci and Open Science Are Related but Different<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci and open science overlap, but they are not identical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Open science<\/strong> focuses on making publications, data, software, methods, and research processes more accessible and transparent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>DeSci<\/strong> may support those goals while also experimenting with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>decentralized funding;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>community ownership;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>programmable rewards;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>blockchain-based governance;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>verifiable transaction histories;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tokenized research assets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A project can practice open science without using blockchain. Similarly, a blockchain-based research project is not necessarily open, scientifically rigorous, or meaningfully decentralized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_DeSci_Can_Support_Scientific_Research\"><\/span>How DeSci Can Support Scientific Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Transparent_Research_Funding\"><\/span>Transparent Research Funding<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional grant decisions are often visible only in their final form. Applicants may not know how priorities were established, how reviewers were selected, or why one project was funded instead of another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A DeSci funding system can publish proposals, governance rules, votes, treasury transactions, and payment milestones. This does not automatically make the decisions fair, but it can make parts of the process easier to inspect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smart contracts can also release funding according to predetermined conditions. For example, a project might receive an initial payment followed by additional payments when agreed milestones are completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Broader_Participation\"><\/span>Broader Participation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some DeSci systems allow researchers to submit proposals without belonging to a particular university or possessing a conventional academic title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This could benefit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>independent researchers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>early-career scientists;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>interdisciplinary teams;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>open-source developers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>patient-led research groups;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>researchers in regions with limited institutional funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Permissionless submission should not mean an absence of evaluation. Scientific claims still require relevant expertise, evidence, ethical review, and appropriate quality controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Recognition_of_More_Types_of_Contribution\"><\/span>Recognition of More Types of Contribution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Conventional academic incentives concentrate heavily on journal articles, citations, institutional affiliations, and grant income. Yet research also depends on datasets, software, replication, documentation, peer review, negative results, technical infrastructure, and public communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci mechanisms can be designed to record and reward these contributions more explicitly. The difficult part is determining their quality and importance without creating metrics that can be manipulated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Community_Governance\"><\/span>Community Governance<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/desci-dao\/\">DeSci DAO<\/a> can allow members to propose research projects, allocate funds, change governance rules, or oversee shared resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Voting rights may be based on tokens, verified expertise, reputation, past contributions, delegated authority, or a combination of these methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Token voting alone can create plutocracy: participants with more capital may acquire more influence. Reputation-based systems introduce different problems, including how reputation is awarded, transferred, challenged, and protected from collusion. Effective scientific governance may therefore require hybrid models rather than a single voting mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scientific_Records_and_Attribution\"><\/span>Scientific Records and Attribution<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Blockchain systems can timestamp records and make later alteration detectable. They may therefore help document when a proposal, dataset, manuscript, or contribution was registered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, an immutable timestamp establishes only that particular information was recorded at a particular time. It does <strong>not<\/strong> establish that the information is true, original, ethical, reproducible, or scientifically valuable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Large datasets and research files are also rarely stored directly on a blockchain. They are commonly kept in repositories or distributed storage systems, with hashes or references recorded on-chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Representative_DeSci_Projects\"><\/span>Representative DeSci Projects<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VitaDAO\"><\/span>VitaDAO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vitadao.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VitaDAO<\/a> is a community-owned collective focused on funding and advancing early-stage longevity research. It has experimented with decentralized governance and community involvement in research funding and intellectual-property development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">VitaDAO illustrates how a DeSci organization can concentrate on a defined scientific field rather than attempting to govern all areas of research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Molecule\"><\/span>Molecule<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/molecule.xyz\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Molecule<\/a> develops infrastructure for funding, tokenizing, and advancing scientific research, particularly in biotechnology and translational research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Molecule is associated with IP-NFTs and other mechanisms intended to represent and govern rights connected to scientific intellectual property. Such systems may open new funding models, but they also depend on conventional legal agreements and jurisdiction-specific intellectual-property law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"World_Science_DAO\"><\/span>World Science DAO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/\">World Science DAO<\/a> explores decentralized and transparent approaches to research funding and scientific publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its projects include funding mechanisms, open publishing initiatives, and <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a>, a proposed system for allocating support according to assessed scientific and open-source contributions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">World Science DAO\u2019s approach emphasizes funding contributors whose work may be overlooked by conventional academic institutions, including independent researchers and free-software developers. As with other experimental DeSci systems, its evaluation methods, governance safeguards, technical implementation, and results should be assessed transparently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Problems_Could_DeSci_Address\"><\/span>What Problems Could DeSci Address?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci is often proposed as a response to several weaknesses in existing research systems:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>slow and highly competitive grant processes;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>limited funding for unconventional or early-stage work;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>barriers facing independent researchers;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>weak incentives for replication and negative results;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>unpaid or poorly recognized peer review;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>inaccessible publications and data;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>fragmented records of research contributions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>concentrated control over publishing and scientific infrastructure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These problems are real, but blockchain is not a complete solution to them. Many are social, legal, economic, and institutional rather than purely technical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci is most credible when it identifies a specific coordination problem and explains why decentralization is better suited to that problem than a conventional database, nonprofit organization, research fund, or open repository.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Limitations_and_Risks_of_DeSci\"><\/span>Limitations and Risks of DeSci<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Scientific_Quality_Cannot_Be_Automated_Completely\"><\/span>Scientific Quality Cannot Be Automated Completely<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smart contracts can enforce rules, but they cannot determine by themselves whether a theorem is correct, an experiment is well designed, a dataset is reliable, or a treatment is safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scientific evaluation still requires qualified judgment, criticism, replication, and domain-specific standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Governance_Can_Be_Captured\"><\/span>Governance Can Be Captured<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Token holders, founders, major donors, coordinated voting groups, or technically privileged administrators may dominate an allegedly decentralized system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Projects should disclose:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>how voting power is distributed;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>who controls contracts and interfaces;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether administrators can override decisions;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how conflicts of interest are handled;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how governance attacks are prevented;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>how disputed decisions can be appealed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Public_Blockchains_Can_Conflict_With_Privacy\"><\/span>Public Blockchains Can Conflict With Privacy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Medical, personal, proprietary, and security-sensitive research data should not be placed indiscriminately on a public blockchain. Even encrypted information can create long-term privacy risks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci systems need clear separation between public audit records and confidential research information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Legal_Rights_Remain_Off-Chain\"><\/span>Legal Rights Remain Off-Chain<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tokens and smart contracts do not automatically create legally enforceable ownership of patents, data, companies, or licensing revenue. Legal entities and signed agreements are usually still required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Incentives_Can_Distort_Research\"><\/span>Incentives Can Distort Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Financial rewards may encourage low-quality submissions, exaggerated claims, popularity contests, fragmented publications, or metric manipulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A good incentive system must reward verification, correction, maintenance, and long-term scientific value\u2014not merely visible activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_DeSci_a_Replacement_for_Traditional_Science\"><\/span>Is DeSci a Replacement for Traditional Science?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci is better understood as an experimental extension of the scientific ecosystem than as a complete replacement for universities, journals, governments, laboratories, or research charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Traditional institutions provide laboratories, legal responsibility, research ethics committees, long-term employment, education, archives, and specialized expertise. DeSci projects can complement these institutions by introducing new funding channels, open governance, auditable transactions, and broader participation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The strongest future systems may combine decentralized infrastructure with established scientific and legal safeguards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_DeSci_Matters\"><\/span>Why DeSci Matters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci asks an important institutional question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Can digital communities fund and coordinate scientific work more openly, transparently, and fairly than existing systems do?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The answer is not yet settled. DeSci has produced real organizations, funding experiments, governance mechanisms, and intellectual-property models, but the field remains young.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Its success should be judged by measurable outcomes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>the quality of funded research;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the diversity of supported contributors;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>reproducibility and openness;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>governance participation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>resistance to manipulation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>efficient use of funds;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>long-term scientific and public benefit.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">DeSci should therefore be evaluated neither as a guaranteed revolution nor as merely a cryptocurrency trend. It is a developing set of institutional experiments that may improve particular parts of scientific funding, coordination, attribution, and ownership.<\/p>\n<div id=\"scien-1879822138\" class=\"scien-after-content scien-entity-placement\"><section>\r\n\r\n<h2>Support Independent Science<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Supporting independent science is not only a matter of fairness to researchers whose expertise and work are often underfunded. It is also essential for addressing <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/who-are-science-marketers\/\">systemic failures in scientific publishing<\/a> that delay discoveries and leave important results unnoticed. In science and software, even one missing component can prevent an entire system from working.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Help valuable research and open-source infrastructure move forward.<\/strong> Please <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/donation\/\">make a donation<\/a><\/strong> to support <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/amateur-scientists\/\">independent scientists<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/free-software\/\">free software developers<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>\r\n\t\tOur flagship product is <a href=\"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/meritocracy\/\">AI Internet-Meritocracy<\/a> - an app, that unlike universities distributes money directly to researchers and open source developers, without bureaucracy.\r\n<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/section><\/div><div id=\"scien-1168403834\" class=\"scien-after-content-2 scien-entity-placement\"><div data-nosnippet style=\"max-width: 800px\">\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 0\">Ads:<\/p>\r\n<style>\r\n    \/* Compact Table Styling *\/\r\n    .amazon-ad-table {\r\n        width: 100%;\r\n        max-width: 800px;\r\n        border-collapse: collapse;\r\n        margin: 10px auto;\r\n        font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\r\n        border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-ad-table th {\r\n        background-color: #f3f3f3;\r\n        padding: 8px;\r\n        text-align: left;\r\n        border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd;\r\n        font-size: 0.9em;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-ad-table td {\r\n        padding: 8px 5px;\r\n        border-bottom: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\r\n        vertical-align: middle;\r\n    }\r\n    \/* Column sizing *\/\r\n    .col-image { width: 15%; text-align: center; vertical-align: top; padding-top: 10px; }\r\n    .col-desc { width: 65%; }\r\n    .col-action { width: 20%; text-align: center; }\r\n\r\n    \/* Image Placeholder Styling *\/\r\n    \/* YOU WILL REPLACE THIS ENTIRE BLOCK WHEN YOU INSERT REAL AMAZON CODE *\/\r\n    .img-placeholder {\r\n        width: 80px;\r\n        height: 110px;\r\n        background-color: #eee;\r\n        border: 1px solid #ddd;\r\n        color: #666;\r\n        font-size: 0.7em;\r\n        display: flex;\r\n        justify-content: center;\r\n        align-items: center;\r\n        margin: 0 auto;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n    }\r\n    \r\n    \/* Typography - Smaller fonts and tighter line heights *\/\r\n    .product-title {\r\n        font-size: 1em;\r\n        font-weight: bold;\r\n        color: #007185;\r\n        text-decoration: none;\r\n        display: block;\r\n        margin-bottom: 2px;\r\n    }\r\n    .product-title:hover { color: #C7511F; text-decoration: underline; }\r\n    .product-author { \r\n        color: #565959; \r\n        font-size: 0.8em; \r\n        margin-bottom: 4px; \r\n    }\r\n    .product-blurb { \r\n        font-size: 0.85em; \r\n        line-height: 1.25;\r\n        color: #333; \r\n        margin: 0;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/* Compact Button Styling *\/\r\n    .amazon-button {\r\n        display: inline-block;\r\n        background-color: #FFD814;\r\n        border: 1px solid #FCD200;\r\n        border-radius: 20px;\r\n        color: #0F1111;\r\n        padding: 6px 10px;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        text-decoration: none;\r\n        font-size: 0.8em;\r\n        font-weight: bold;\r\n        box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\r\n        transition: background-color 0.2s;\r\n        white-space: nowrap;\r\n    }\r\n    .amazon-button:hover { background-color: #F7CA00; border-color: #F2C200; cursor: pointer;}\r\n\r\n    \/* Disclosure *\/\r\n    .affiliate-disclosure {\r\n        font-size: 0.75em;\r\n        color: #565959;\r\n        text-align: center;\r\n        margin-top: 5px;\r\n    }\r\n\r\n    \/* Responsive *\/\r\n    @media (max-width: 600px) {\r\n        .amazon-ad-table thead { display: none; }\r\n        .amazon-ad-table tr { display: flex; flex-direction: column; border-bottom: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 10px; }\r\n        .amazon-ad-table td { width: 100%; border: none; padding: 5px 0; text-align: center; }\r\n        .col-desc { text-align: center; }\r\n    }\r\n<\/style>\r\n<table class=\"amazon-ad-table\">\r\n    <thead>\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <th>Description<\/th>\r\n            <th>Action<\/th>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n    <\/thead>\r\n    <tbody>\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0553380168?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">A Brief History of Time<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Stephen Hawking<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">A landmark volume in science writing exploring cosmology, black holes, and the nature of the universe in accessible language.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0553380168?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0393609391?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Astrophysics for People in a Hurry<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Neil deGrasse Tyson<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">Tyson brings the universe down to Earth clearly, with wit and charm, in chapters you can read anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0393609391?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n         <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=raspberry+pi+4+starter+kit&tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Raspberry Pi Starter Kits<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">Supports Computer Science Education<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">Inexpensive computers designed to promote basic computer science education. Buying kits supports this ecosystem.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=raspberry+pi+4+starter+kit&tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">View Options<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n\r\n        <tr>\r\n            <td class=\"col-desc\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0596002874?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"product-title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Free as in Freedom: Richard Stallman's Crusade<\/a>\r\n                <div class=\"product-author\">by Sam Williams<\/div>\r\n                <p class=\"product-blurb\">A detailed history of the free software movement, essential reading for understanding the philosophy behind open source.<\/p>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n            <td class=\"col-action\">\r\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/0596002874?tag=vpf04-20\" class=\"amazon-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Check Price<\/a>\r\n            <\/td>\r\n        <\/tr>\r\n    <\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<div class=\"affiliate-disclosure\">\r\n    <p>As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases resulting from links on this page.<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Decentralized Science, usually abbreviated as DeSci, is a movement that uses blockchain, decentralized governance, open infrastructure, and programmable incentives to improve how scientific research is funded, conducted, evaluated, owned, and [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23411","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23411"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23411\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24182,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23411\/revisions\/24182"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/science-dao.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}