Released in 2009, the open source bitcoin protocol remains the foremost example of so called block chain technology, providing a permissionless, decentralized and indelible public ledger, collectively maintained and validated by a network of participants, of all transactions undertaken across the network.
Still in its relative infancy, the potential for applications and innovations using ‘block chains’ is being considered across numerous fields. For example the possibility of creating databases to store property titles, contracts, shares, or voting decisions, as well as more complex innovations such as ‘smart’ contracts through the use of the Ethereum platform.
Earlier this year in January, the Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Mark Walport, published his report on distributed ledger technology, outlining a series of recommendations for how the UK should take a leading role in the research and development of how this disruptive innovation could transform the delivery of public and private services and enhance productivity through a wide range of applications.
The technology and its potential impact cover a number of fields and interests, across computer science, cryptography, mathematics, economics, law, politics and beyond.
This workshop is intended for researchers with an interest in this emerging field to explore and share the work that is currently being undertaken at the University and understand what cross-cutting inter-disciplinary research could be taken forward.
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