DAOs can help scientists find funding and society, says Nature Science Journal

The journal Nature recently published an editorial in the Nature Bioscience section describing decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) as a revolutionary new way researchers working in underfunded scientific fields can create communities around their work and mobilize funding that would otherwise be unavailable.

In a DAO-based research scheme, project organization, fundraising, feedback and the pipeline from discovery to production/industry can all be handled by the same decentralized governance body.

As an article of nature, the entire workflow is adjusted against the existing situation.

“Project proposals are sent to the DAO, and each DAO member can vote on whether a particular project should be funded. Members have tokens… to support and comment on new project proposals. Research results are also presented to the DAO as projects continue, leading to further feedback and participation.” Finally, the project will (hopefully) be an IP-NFT (Intellectual Property Irrevocable Token) – something like a patent, owned by the DAO and managed by all token holders.

Funding may vary from one scientific endeavor to another. In times of boom and bust, research in areas like AI and quantum computing may receive big boons from big tech, government and subsequent investors, but previously well-funded fields such as longevity, or traditionally underfunded fields such as women's Health issues, for example, can make it very difficult to get financial support.

DAOs are built on blockchain technology. This allows them to operate on a transparent and decentralized digital ledger – meaning it is not controlled by a single entity or institution. In the world of science, this means that project funding and community interaction can be democratized.

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Typically, those scientists who work at the most prestigious institutions or at the highest levels—high GDP countries, government agencies and contractors, large technology and large pharmaceutical companies—not only receive the most funding, but also have the most potential funding.

The distinction is important because when scientists leave geographic areas with less funding to conduct research in richer areas, the “brain drain” associated with migration worsens.

And, because DAOs do not necessarily respect borders (although the legalities surrounding their operation may vary from region to region), they can be driven by the interests and needs of the scientists conducting the research, not by a country, university or company sponsor. is it.

Ultimately, Nature's editorial staff concludes that DAOs can be an important platform for underfunded researchers, but adoption requires more education.

“Part of this challenge is to help them understand that The DAO is not just a funding body, but a community of people who care deeply about supporting a particular scientific cause,” they wrote.