#33 - Benji Leibowitz: What is ‘Decentralized-Science’ & How Will It Transform The Future of Science & Innovation

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Benji Leibowitz, Chief Operating Officer at Molecule and Co-Founder of Pump.Science. Benji is at the forefront of the Decentralized Science (DeSci) movement, which utilizes blockchain technology to democratize research funding and empower scientific communities.   Benji Leibowitz has a diverse background in academic research, investment banking, venture capital, and computational biology research and development. At Molecule, he plays a pivotal role in creating a decentralized biotech protocol that connects researchers with funding opportunities through Web3 technologies. Additionally, he leads Pump.Science, a Solana-native DeSci funding platform aimed at gamifying and broadening participation in scientific research. ​   In This Episode, We Explore: • The Challenges in Traditional Science Funding: How centralized funding models limit innovation and how DeSci proposes to address these issues. • The Role of Blockchain in DeSci: Why blockchain is considered the ideal technology for decentralizing scientific research and funding.​ • Introduction to Molecule and Pump.Science: An overview of these platforms and how they aim to revolutionize the way scientific research is funded and conducted.​ • Engaging the Broader Community: How platforms like Pump.Science are gamifying research funding to involve a wider audience in scientific discovery.​ • Advice for Researchers: Encouragement and guidance for scientists interested in exploring decentralized models for their work.​   Key Takeaways: 1. Decentralization Empowers Researchers: By leveraging blockchain technology, researchers can access funding sources beyond traditional institutions, fostering innovation.​ 2. Community Engagement is Crucial: Decentralized platforms enable public participation in scientific research, increasing transparency and trust.​ 3. Blockchain Ensures Transparency: The immutable nature of blockchain records enhances the credibility and reproducibility of scientific findings.​ 4. Gamification Attracts Participation: Introducing game-like elements to research funding can make science more accessible and engaging to the public.​ 5. Future of DeSci: Decentralized Science holds the potential to accelerate scientific discoveries by democratizing access to funding and resources.​   Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro

(01:27) - What is decentralized science, and how does it challenge traditional research models?

(03:25) - What inefficiencies in traditional science does decentralized science aim to solve?

(05:31) - How is decentralized science redefining intellectual property in research and innovation?

(12:18) - In today’s fast-moving biotech landscape, does drug exclusivity still hold up for 20 years?

(19:18) - Are early-stage anti-aging drugs the future of longevity science?

(24:09) - How does decentralized science ensure research credibility and scientific rigor?

(26: 08) - In a world of fractionalized IP, how do researchers protect and govern their innovations?

(31:53) - Is decentralized science a revolution or just another crypto scam?

(33:47) - Can long-term scientific research thrive in the fast-paced, hype-driven crypto market?

(44:42) - How can decentralized science integrate with traditional research institutions and publishing models?

(47:44) – What career paths and recognition exist for researchers in decentralized science?

  Join us for this insightful discussion with Benji Leibowitz as we delve into how decentralization and blockchain technology are transforming the scientific research ecosystem.   Follow our host on Linkedln to know more or subscribe to our emailing list to get new episodes directly into your inbox.