📚🔬 An Educational Hub for Decentralised Science on Cardano

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Dr Bharat Harbham

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Not Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Co-proposers and additional applicants

Erin Magennis, BA (Neuroscientist)

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

6

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

We will produce educational materials (videos, podcasts, articles, etc) about decentralised science (DeSci) targetted to the Cardano community.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

N/A

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

All material will be public.

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

TL;DR: Our team includes a doctor and a scientist with over two years of experience in decentralised science. We want to share our knowledge with the Cardano community by creating fun and informative content like videos, podcasts, and blog posts to help everyone understand Decentralised Science (DeSci).

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Our goal is to make learning about decentralised science (DeSci) engaging and easy to understand for everyone.

Who are we?

Hi 👋, our team consists of Bharat (a medical doctor) and Erin (a neuroscientist). We each have over two years of experience in DeSci and are excited to share our learnings with the Cardano community.

What is DeSci?

It's using blockchain to solve pain points in science. Science is becoming less disruptive, and there is an exodus of scientists from academia. DeSci aims to solve this by realigning incentives and increasing coordination. This can involve anything from new types of science organisations to funding things that aren't normally funded to rethinking the peer-review process, and more.

Why are we doing this?

There is a lack of awareness of DeSci on Cardano, and we think we can help! Additionally, Cardano's ethos aligns with research & peer review, so we hope these educational resources open current Cardano ecosystem members to new opportunities. Not to mention that there is limited high-quality content about DeSci anywhere! Having a hub of content, you can send to scientists/developers unfamiliar with the space would be super useful.

What is the plan?

We will create a hub of educational material for the Cardano community about Decentralised Science.

It will be aimed at beginners and encompasses both scientists and developers.

Key Components:

• Video Series: High-quality videos on DeSci basics, how it works, and its potential on the Cardano blockchain.

• Podcasts: Conversations about DeSci trends and how they fit with Cardano, featuring insights and debates from experts.

• Articles and Blog Posts: These range from intro articles such as "DeSci 101" to articles covering more complex topics.

• Interactive Sessions: Monthly sessions for community engagement with DeSci experts, including live Q&A.

• Social Media Engagement: Promoting content across social platforms with live tweets, video teasers, and interactive polls to gather feedback.

• Cardano Specific: Materials that are specific to Cardano and its ecosystem (this can be videos, podcasts, articles etc)

Objectives:

• Educate and Inform: Raise awareness and increase knowledge about decentralised science among Cardano users, helping them understand the importance and implications of DeSci in blockchain.

• Build Community: Foster a well-informed, strong community that is enthusiastic about DeSci and its developments on Cardano.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

Educational Enhancement:

There is currently no educational content about decentralised science on Cardano! We will fill this gap by providing high-quality, accessible content on DeSci via videos, podcasts, and articles. This will educate the Cardano community about blockchain technology in scientific research.

Increased Engagement:

Decentralised Science can be a major use case for the Cardano Blockchain. By showcasing Cardano's capabilities in supporting scientific endeavours, the project will increase community engagement.

Community Growth:

Attracting participants from various sectors, including non-blockchain scientists, will help grow the Cardano community. This will bring fresh ideas and strengthen the Cardano ecosystem.

Building Credibility:

Communicating the advantages and successes of using Cardano in DeSci will enhance its credibility among scientific and academic communities, leading to more collaborations, research initiatives, and potential institutional adoption.

Measurement and Sharing:

• Impact Measurement: We will use metrics like the number and quality of material produced, number of users, increased knowledge of DeSci opportunities within the Cardano ecosystem, content reach, engagement rates, community feedback, and the number of new DeSci projects that emerge.
• Sharing Outputs: Outputs will be shared through Cardano community channels, social media, and dedicated webinars to ensure wide dissemination and engagement.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

For Context:

• Bharat and Erin are co-founders of MuseMatrix. They each have 2+ years of experience in DeSci.
• They are currently running a DeSci Fellowship so have experience in teaching DeSci to both scientists and developers making them uniquely skilled for this task.
• Bharat is the founder of DeSci London, the largest IRL DeSci community which he started two years ago. DeSci London organises workshops, meetups, hackathons, and conferences. Cardano had a presence at their recent conference. Their main goal is education of DeSci to the community, so again, this makes them uniquely positioned for this task as it demonstrates a level of experience in DeSci which is rare to find.
• Bharat is a medical doctor with experience in academia, product development and web3.
• Erin is a neuroscientist with experience in marketing, tech startups and web3
• Erin helped launch 18 science-tech ecosystems, led the DeSci Research Landscape Analysis, and is core team at the largest blockchain ecosystem in the Midwest (conference, monthly workshops, & hackathons)
• We have other proposals related to Cardano and DeSci which we have linked.

Validation of Feasibility:

• Pilot Episode and Feedback Loop: Before fully launching the series, we will produce a pilot episode and gather feedback from the Cardano community. This will help us gauge interest levels and refine our content strategy based on real user insights.
• Engagement Metrics: We will monitor viewership and engagement across all platforms to assess the effectiveness of our content and make necessary adjustments.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Pre-production Planning (Month 1):

• Develop content themes and schedules.
• Complete scriptwriting and storyboard for the first set of videos and podcasts

Acceptance Criteria: Detailed project plan, script outlines, and content strategy finalized.

Production Launch (Month 2-3):

• Begin filming and recording the initial batch of videos and podcasts. Release as soon as produced.
• Publish the first set of articles and blog posts.

Acceptance Criteria: Pilot episode produced and reviewed, and feedback collected from the community on articles, videos and podcasts.

Initial Release and Community Feedback (Month 4):

• Collect and analyse community feedback to refine future content.
• Start producing multiple video episodes, podcasts, and articles, taking into account feedback

Acceptance Criteria: Production of multiple video episodes (aiming for 15-20 videos at a minimum), podcasts (minimum 10), and articles (minimum 15).

Full-Scale Production (Month 5-6):

• Produce and release content on a bi-weekly basis based on the refined strategy.
• Host monthly webinars and interactive sessions.

Acceptance Criteria: Launch and continuously manage social media campaigns, webinars, and interactive sessions.

Evaluation and Expansion (Month 7):

• Evaluate the overall impact based on engagement metrics and feedback.
• Plan for the next phase of content based on audience demands and emerging trends in DeSci and Cardano.

Acceptance Criteria: Assessment of engagement metrics, community feedback, and content effectiveness.

Final Report and Future Planning (Month 8):

• Compile a comprehensive report detailing project outcomes, audience growth, and lessons learned.
• Develop a roadmap for ongoing content production beyond the initial project timeline.

Acceptance Criteria: Final episodes and articles published, final webinar conducted, overall project review and impact assessment.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Bharat: LinkedIn, Twitter

Erin: LinkedIn, Twitter

Bharat - Project Manager:

• Role: Oversees the entire project, ensuring all aspects run smoothly, from content creation to dissemination. Responsible for managing timelines, coordinating with other team members, and ensuring project deliverables meet quality standards.

Erin - Content Director:

• Role: Leads the content creation team, developing the educational framework for videos, podcasts, and articles. Works closely with technical experts to ensure accuracy and clarity of the information presented about decentralized science and Cardano. Note that Erin has experience producing and interviewing for podcasts.

Additional Team Members Needed:

• Videographer
• Skills Required: Experience in video production, editing, and post-production. We already have a few people in mind.
• Podcast Assistant
• Skills Required: Experience in podcast production, including recording, editing, and distribution. Ability to coordinate with guests and manage scheduling. We already have a few people in mind.

Engagement Steps: We have engaged relevant community members through platforms such as Discord and Telegram to gauge interest and availability. Initial discussions have occurred with potential candidates to confirm their willingness and capacity to support the project if funded.

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Our budget costs is an approximation and around 45-50K USD

Content Production Costs: $20,000

• Videography and Editing: $12,000
• Includes hiring a professional videographer and editor to produce high-quality educational videos.
• Podcast Production: $5,000
• Covers recording, editing, and distributing podcasts.
• Graphic Design: $3,000
• For creating visuals, infographics, and promotional materials for videos and podcasts.

Personnel Costs: $18,000

• Labour costs, including additional content creators: $12,000
• Guest Speakers and Experts: $3,000
• Fees for guest speakers and experts contributing to videos and podcasts.
• Administrative Support: $3,000
• For administrative tasks, including scheduling, coordination, and communication.

Marketing and Promotion: $7,500

• Social Media Advertising: $2,500
• Targeted ads on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote the content.
• Community Engagement Events: $3,000
• Hosting events to engage with the community and promote the project.
• Promotional Materials: $2,000
• Creation and distribution of flyers, posters, and online promotional content.

Operational Costs: $2,000

• Web Hosting and associated costs: $1,000
• For hosting the project's website and content etc.
• Software Subscriptions: $1,000
• Subscriptions for content management and editing tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, webinar platforms).

Contingency and Miscellaneous: $2,500

• Contingency Fund: $1,500
• Set aside for unexpected costs and opportunities to expand content or engage in additional promotional activities.
• Miscellaneous Expenses: $1,000
• For unforeseen expenses that may arise during the project.

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Enhancement of Community Knowledge and Skills:

The project's focus on producing high-quality educational materials, specifically about decentralised science in Cardano, ensures that members of the Cardano community will become more knowledgeable and skilled. This education enhances their ability to engage with and utilize the Cardano blockchain for scientific applications, thereby increasing the overall competence of the community. There is currently no DeSci content for Cardano, which means this is a necessary first step!

Increased Adoption:

The funds will be used to create and disseminate content that highlights Cardano's capabilities and successes in supporting DeSci. This visibility attracts new users, developers, and researchers, expanding the Cardano user base and increasing the adoption of Cardano technology.

Long-term Community Engagement:

Sustainable resources: The educational content—videos, podcasts, and articles—will serve as long-lasting resources for the Cardano community. These materials will continue to engage users, spark discussions, and inspire new projects for years, representing a long-term investment in the community’s development.

Catalysing Innovation:

The project promotes innovation within the Cardano ecosystem by encouraging the development of new DeSci applications. By showcasing real-world use cases and success stories, we motivate community members to explore and create their own projects.

Cost-Effective Community Building:

The budget includes allocations for webinars and interactive sessions, which are crucial for building a cohesive community. These activities are cost-effective methods for fostering collaboration and support within the ecosystem.

Justification of Costs: The costs for content production are based on industry-standard rates for professional videography, podcast production, and graphic design. These rates align with typical freelance and professional service fees, ensuring we get the best quality without overspending.

Budget Optimization: We have optimised operational costs and contingency funds to ensure that every dollar is effectively utilized, providing maximum impact with the allocated budget.