We are building The DeSci Journal, a web3 repository where scientists can publish scientific papers as NFTs and earn money.
The DeSci Journal is a decentralized scientific journal where scientists can collaboratively work in the peer-review process, keep their copyright and share financial gains using smart contracts.
The impact we aim to create is a web3 alternative to the current industry of scientific publication. Create a decentralized scientific journal in which the scientist, as a creator of highly relevant scientific content, can maintain his copyright, share knowledge while making financial gains. Change the way science is published.
Problem that someone must solve: Scientific publication today does not meet the needs of either scientists or society.
What are we building: We are building The DeSci Journal, a web3 repository where scientists can publish scientific papers as NFTs and earn money. The DeSci Journal is a decentralized scientific journal where scientists can collaboratively work in the peer-review process, keep their copyright and share financial gains using smart contracts.
Why: Currently, the scientific publication industry hinders the advance of human knowledge. Today, scientific publishing houses and their journals have outrageously high publication fees (2-6k USD/ per paper; some charge 10k USD/ paper), act as filters to what they believe is high quality research worth publishing, use high rejection rates which are uncoupled from merit, significance, and quality, take a long time from submission to publishing, undermining the expectations of the scientific community and the development of human society. As if that weren't enough, Authors, Reviewers and most Editors do not get paid for working in the peer-reviewing process. Authors pay for publishing, pay for open access and moreover, give away copyright. Universities and Research Institutions pay subscriptions so that their staff to have access to journals.
When: Now. Late March 2023 we launched a “call for papers” for the first edition of the DeSci Journal.
How: We will use:
- the momentum of the decentralized science-DeSci movement,
- the extensive scientific experience of the team and,
- the power of community,
to increase awareness and bring web3 technologies which can solve issues on i) paying excessive fees for publishing, ii) paying for open access, iii) being forced to give up copyright, iv) our universities and research institutes paying outrageous annual subscriptions and v) not receiving for highly skilled content, present in todays’ scientific publishing industry.
What:
- Test MVP. Speak to potential authors about the solution of scientific papers publishing using NFT; understanding needs and features needed; decide for science niches for Alpha tests.
- Decide for privacy ID and reputation building (holonym using zpk, POAPs).
- Publish the NFT white paper. Reach out for Editors and Reviewers.
- Validate peer-reviewing payment process based on a stable coin, $desci tokens, % royalties.
- Develop and implement smart contracts with % royalties in the submission and peer-review flow.
- Build The DeSci Journal.
- NFTs will be arranged in the DeSci Journal. NFTs can be displayed in marketplaces such as OpenSea.
- Automate online manuscript submission.
The cover of the first issue of the DeSci Journal
Impact: Create a web3 alternative to the current industry of scientific publication. Create a decentralized scientific journal in which the scientist, as a creator of highly relevant scientific content, can maintain his copyright, share knowledge while making financial gains. Change the way science is published.
GR15 – What was made with funds contributed
| deScier REPORT April 3rd, 2023
TL;DR
Foreword and Foremost
- The Funding provided by you, our Grantors, during GR15 was a turning point for our decentralized science project, then named SciDAO.
- SciDAO aimed to provide a solution for the highly monopolized, extremely unfair scientific publications’ industry.
- It gave us instant access to meaning and authority and we cannot thank you enough for your contribution.
- Having participated in Gitcoin Round 15, the first ever to include #DeSci and being able to attract attention and contributions positively impacted us with a strong sense of belonging. And this was from day zero.
A bit of history
- SciDAO was among the 4 projects to win a contest of more innovative during Blockchain Rio in September 2022.
- As a result, SciDAO entered the Accelerated network, a DAO’s accelerator.
- There was a merge with another DAO and we changed our name.
- On October 11th, 2022 deScier was created.
Use of contributions and matched funds
- We have been very busy. There has been a lot of activities on deScier. Whenever possible, activities were conducted voluntarily to make a better use of funds.
- A landing page at https://descier.science was successfully created.
- A request for comments-RFC page was created at https://publishing.descier.science for testing the editorial flow used by the Open Journal System-OJS.
- Another RFC page was created to serve as forum and for team-writing of deScier white papers at http://discuss.descier.science
- Some members of our Genesis team have been engaging on networking chats, talks and events’ participation either online or presential.
- An Alpha version for a decentralized scientific journal publication we called The DeSci Journal was launched in the last week of March 2023.
- DeSci Journal® was registered in the blockchain hash: https://polygonscan.com/tx/0x3c292bd7e3d434cee175315371af40ebdf8d9f7ef78a912da9eecf8bfa2f855c
- To increase awareness on DeSci, we have applied and succeed in participating in the 2023 University of Campinas-Unicamp Permanent Forums. Unicamp ranks the 2nd in Brazil, 3rd in Latin America and among the first 200 worldwide (https://www.unicamp.br/unicamp/noticias/2022/10/13/ranking-mantem-unicamp-como-segunda-melhor-universidade-do-brasil).
- deScier will open Unicamp’s permanent forums on May 23rd, 2023 with a forum entitled “Open and Decentralized Science: paradigms for research, development, democratization and access to science” https://www.foruns.unicamp.br/noticias/calendario-dos-foruns-2023
- We have been invited to organize 2 DeSci satellite events.
- The first satellite event will happen at University of São Paulo-USP on June 21st, 2023. We called this event DeSci Americas® and will invite members of the DeSci community from Brazil and abroad.
- The second satellite event will happen at ExpoMAG-Rio de Janeiro on September 13th, 2023. We called this event DeSci Summit® and will invite members of the DeSci community from Brazil and abroad.