Crypto Sapiens - DeSci & TalentDAO | Saulthorin - Founder TalentDAO
Primer: TalentDAO aims to create a new scientific field solely focused on studying DAOs and helping them to succeed. Find out about the decentralized science (DeSci) sector that they operate in in this episode of Crypto Sapiens.
Background
Joined Bankless DAO in June 2021
Worked in the Analytics Guild, Research Guild, and Writers Guild
Saw the opportunity for more DAO research
“There's a lack of scientific rigor, and a lot of the sort of thought leadership and opinionated frameworks that come out. So I said to myself like maybe we could create a sort of DAO of researchers.”
- Saulthorin
Started TalentDAO in Oct 2021
Decentralized Science (DeSci)
First learned about the term in ETHDenver
The term DeSci was first mentioned in 2018 regarding peer review on the blockchain
Currently, the DeSci market is focused on biotech and pharma, since it’s the most commercialized aspect of science
Molecule is an NFT marketplace for biotech companies to use NFTs for fundraising
VitaDAO is a DAO that’s focused on longevity research
DeSciWorld is aspiring to become a DeSci metaverse
TalentDAO
TalentDAO focuses on the study of coordination structures, organizational structures, team dynamics, DAO contributor engagement and burnout
From their perspective, DeSci is their research participants
“Our role in DeSci is to help create direction for the entire ecosystem, and to help ensure that all these different DeSci DAOs truly succeed using the best possible science we have available.”
- Saulthorin
Have an ongoing study on decentralized leadership
Doing research on onboarding, DAO governance, and community engagement
Biggest threat to DeSci are DAOs relying on traditional ways of organizing/coordinating
“I do believe that most of the seminal academic literature on DAOs has yet to be written. And I think TalentDAO is going to be an author of a lot of it.”
- Saulthorin
Their Manifesto
Traditional work is broken and we are unable to push humanity forward anymore with our current work structures
A worker should be able to work anywhere and whenever they want
In the US, income inequality has widened
Since the 70s, productivity has increased linearly but wages have remained flat
DAOs are promising but have not quite hit the mark yet
To ensure that DAOs succeed, they have to create a new scientific field solely focused on studying DAOs
This introduces a new research publications system that is community owned, on-chain, and open source
Building a peer-reviewed journal called the Journal of Decentralized Work
Building Inclusive Communities
Most scientists are Male Caucasians or Indians
DeSci has the same diversity and inclusion challenges as the wider crypto community
Most projects have not put effort into making their communities inclusive
Researching into the best practices for inclusivity to be part of DAO processes
Improving Fundraising Systems
Started TalentDAO before transitioning from a male to a trans woman
It became more challenging and awkward
Doesn’t like to be on camera. Found it unfair that people make assumptions about professional experience simply because they do not want to be on camera
Two possible solutions:
Create pseudonymous processes to evaluate pitches
Provide more training to people who do a lot of meetings
Who Influenced Her The Most In Her Crypto Journey
David and Ryan from Bankless HQ — for opening her eyes to a different world
Frogmonkee — his tweets and the work he has done
Josh Rosenthal — philosophical content
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