URI

Unique Researcher Identity

Problem

Fragmented solution to the problem of unique researcher identity (URI) proposed by multiple centralized organizations, examples include:

1. Researcher ID
2. ORCID
3. Google Scholar
4. Researchgate

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

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.

References

1. http://www.jakobrdl.dk/blog/2015/02/why-orcid-and-researcherid-when-we-have-google-scholar