What is DeSci?
DeSci, or Decentralized Science, is a movement to rebuild how science is funded, published, reviewed, and shared, using Web3 tools to replace legacy systems.
Instead of relying on closed journals, opaque grant processes, or institutional gatekeepers, DeSci gives researchers open access to publishing, peer review, funding, and collaboration, all powered by smart contracts, DAOs, and decentralized infrastructure.
It’s about giving science back to scientists and making it more transparent, inclusive, and efficient in the process.
Why DeSci Needs Identity
DeSci thrives on openness, but openness without trust can backfire.
To truly work, DeSci must balance an open network of contributors with the need for verified credentials, accountability, and protection from fraud or spam. Right now, that’s difficult:
Reviewer and author credibility is hard to prove without tying wallets to off-chain identity.
Grant applications and research contributions lack verified academic or institutional proof.
Sybil attacks can distort funding rounds, DAO governance, or peer reviews.
Sensitive research access (biotech, medical, defense-related) needs identity-aware gating.
Without trust and identity, DeSci becomes vulnerable to the same bottlenecks and bad actors it aims to escape.
How Humanity Protocol Strengthens DeSci
Humanity Protocol enables verifiable, privacy-preserving credentials that prove who someone is (or what they’ve earned) without doxing or centralizing data.
With Humanity Protocol, DeSci platforms can:
Verify authorship or academic credentials using ZK-backed credentials (such as PhD in Biology or Published Researcher)
Protect peer review with one-human-one-review mechanics to avoid duplicate feedback and spam.
Gate sensitive data with cryptographic proofs of clearance or affiliation, without revealing identity.
Run fair funding rounds by ensuring that DAO votes and grant decisions aren’t manipulated by bots or duplicate accounts.
Recognize and port scientific reputation across DeSci apps and platforms.
These credentials are owned and controlled by the researcher (not their institution) creating portable, persistent reputation across the open science ecosystem.
What This Enables
DeSci platforms powered by Humanity Protocol can:
Build trust without gatekeeping, by tying reputation to verified, human accounts.
Maintain openness without spam, using human-verified participation in review, voting, and funding.
Enable compliance without compromise (e.g. age restrictions, medical ethics, or jurisdictional data controls)
Recognize merit across platforms, allowing scientific impact to follow contributors wherever they go.
With Humanity Protocol, DeSci gets what it’s always needed: a decentralized identity layer that puts humans and science (not institutions) at the center.
