Ethereum and Academia: A Missed Opportunity?
Peter Szilagyi, the team lead of Ethereum, has recently shared his disappointment regarding his former university’s disinterest in collaborating with Ethereum, particularly in encouraging student involvement.
A Disconnect Between Academia and Ethereum
During his visits to the university to speak about Ethereum, Szilagyi noticed a concerning trend: students were more interested in the cryptocurrency’s price rather than its technological aspects. Despite Ethereum’s recent 20.10% increase in value, Szilagyi emphasizes the importance of understanding the project beyond its market performance.
Efforts to Involve Students
In an attempt to foster interest, Szilagyi arranged a grant for nine students to attend Devconnect, covering their travel and accommodation expenses. However, he was dismayed to find that the students were unaware of the source of this funding.
University’s Lack of Response
After reaching out to his university contacts to recommend students for potential collaborations with Ethereum, Szilagyi was met with silence, receiving no responses to his emails.
Growing Demand for Crypto Education
Contrasting Szilagyi’s experiences, there is a notable increase in demand for cryptocurrency and blockchain courses at universities. Major companies like Oracle, Amazon, and Google are actively seeking individuals with crypto and blockchain expertise. Additionally, the rise in interest among information systems students in decentralized applications is a positive sign.
France’s Proactive Approach
In a move reflecting the growing importance of blockchain technology, France has recently established the Institute of Crypto-Assets to support and conduct research in this field, indicating a broader recognition of the significance of crypto and blockchain education.
