Café Scientifique
A Café Scientifique is a forum, where for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can participate in the discussion of current scientific issues in the relaxing, informal setup of a Café!
The Cafés Scientifiques are organized by Dr. Sahar El Khoury and Life Science Zurich. They take place in general once a month in Zürich.
How does it work?
- A Café Scientifique starts with conversations in small groups about the topic to break the ice, fill the glasses, and concretize our knowledge about the subject.
- Afterwards, there is a short talk (usually about 15/20 min) by an expert speaker.
- This is followed by approximately half an hour of questions and answers and general discussion.
What subjects will be discussed ? Any scientific subject that is of interest to the general public.
Who are the invited speakers? The speakers are researchers from the University of Zurich and ETH Zürich.
Blockchains, Economic Incentives and Technocracy. Is that enough?
Monday, 24 February 2025, 19:00 at Coworking Lounge Tessinerplatz
Blockchain technology has revolutionised the way information, particularly economic transactions, is verified in a decentralised manner. This has been achieved through carefully designed economic incentives, ranging from protocol-level cryptocurrencies to governance structures and user-generated tokens. However, these incentive mechanisms operate within rigid, pre-programmed frameworks designed by a small set of actors, effectively embedding a form of technocratic control. While incentives are central to blockchain functionality, their real-world impact has often been overshadowed by speculative dynamics rather than sustainable economic utility. We will examine the extent to which current blockchain architectures and incentive models fulfil their promise of decentralisation and economic transformation. Are they merely reinforcing financial speculation, or is there a missing element that could drive broader, long-term value?
Professor Claudio J. Tessone heads the Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technologies group at the University of Zurich (UZH). He is also co-founder and Chairman of the UZH Blockchain Center.
Register here