URI
Unique Researcher Identity
Problem
Fragmented solution to the problem of unique researcher identity (URI) proposed by multiple centralized organizations, examples include:
Solution
- Create a unique researcher identity (URI) that can be stored, tracked, shared, and audited by blockchain technology
- The URI can connect to the researcher's profile, research activities, references, and publications
- Connect URI with IPIS to implement the "cost of idea"
Approach
- Encapsulate the researcher ID inside the Idea class of Interplanetary Idea System (IPIS)
- This will be a roadmap feature as it is not feasible in the projects current state but is a goal as the project evolves
- Use third party services for Identification/Authentication (i.e. Civic) and for data collection via blockchain oracles (i.e. LINK)
- CIVIC or uPort can be used as a forma of authentication
- LINK or Oraclize can be used to pull data from existing researcher identity platforms such ORCID, Google Scholar, etc. and tie them into the URI model
- Hybrid approach
- Combine the concept of IPIS and authenticator and oracle services from third party
Network Diagram
To help visualize how these solutions can combine together to help build a research ecosystem the following diagram has been put together.
Contract Design
To help visualize the URI design in code we are going through a Proof of Concept phase to accelerate the development process. An initial design idea can be seen with the Solidity contracts found in this repository.
Also, a high level Schema has been put together that will help serve as a goal for this Proof of Concept stage.