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Add to Preferred SourcesHighlighting Blockchain-based innovations for education, democracy and artistic expression, the first UNESCO Conference on Blockchain practices and perspectives took a stake at promoting the debate on technology’s applications for social good, beyond cryptocurrencies.
“Blockchain” is often associated with “bitcoin”. The UNESCO conference, featuring 42 international panelists and over 400 audiences, revolved around a different message: Blockchain presents the potential to transform and innovate different sectors of society, including science, education, artistic creation, democratic governance, sustainable territories, social innovation, and finance.
Held at UNESCO’s Headquarters on 17 May 2019, the conference devoted its morning sessions to highlight theoretical elements of Blockchain technology, including its technological, political, legal, social and economic implications. The afternoon sessions aimed at presenting specific and practical applications of Blockchain technology in various UNESCO’s fields of competence, ranging from education to art.
In his welcoming remarks, Moez Chakchouk, Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, reminded that “UNESCO’s work in the field of emerging technologies, such as Blockchain, is informed by our vision of inclusive knowledge societies, of overcoming digital and knowledge divides and of harnessing technological innovations for the social good”.
Five different use cases scenarios were discussed during the afternoon sessions, where concrete applications of Blockchain technology were further explained, such as using it to better evaluate and record students’ education performance, as well as sharing scientific data and information in a more efficient way.
In concluding the conference, Mr. Chakchouk called for stronger cooperation between UNESCO and the start-ups that are providing concrete solutions to sustainable development challenges through Blockchain technology.
Original source: UNESCO
Published on 24 May 2019