The Rollup
Tarun Chitra vs. DeSci Debate with Benji Leibowitz
Jan 13, 2025
Tarun Chitra, CEO of Gauntlet, and Benji Leibowitz, founder of Pump.Science, dive deep into the heated debate on decentralized science. They discuss whether many DeSci projects are essentially just ICOs in disguise. Chitra criticizes the lack of accountability in these initiatives, while Leibowitz presents live demos showcasing genuine scientific research. Their conversation highlights the tension between blockchainโs promise of innovation and the realities of scientific funding, accountability, and peer review, ultimately questioning if DeSci can genuinely transform scientific research.
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Quick takeaways
- Decentralized Science (DeSci) aims to disrupt traditional funding mechanisms by leveraging blockchain for transparency, while challenging accountability next to scientific rigor.
- The debate highlights a concern that many DeSci projects exhibit unrealistic expectations, lacking clear metrics to measure success and hinder credibility.
Deep dives
Defining Decentralized Science (DeSci)
Decentralized Science (DeSci) aims to provide new funding mechanisms for scientific research that traditional institutions may overlook, particularly for emerging fields or unconventional studies. It seeks to lower the barriers to entry for researchers seeking financial support while also using blockchain technology to enhance transparency and accountability in scientific claims. However, many proponents of DeSci focus primarily on fundraising, which can lead to unrealistic promises about the outcomes of funded projects. Critics argue that without a way to measure success or assure quality, the structure may result in a lack of accountability, undermining the credibility of the scientific research produced.
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