Greetings!
The Devcon Scholars Program represents an initiative by the Ethereum Foundation aimed at offering a chance for Ethereum ecosystem members originating from underprivileged backgrounds, distinctive situations, or emerging regions to participate in the most significant annual gathering in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Entering its second year, the Devcon Scholars Program delivers comprehensive scholarships to numerous individuals globally, fostering their learning, connecting, and growth within the blockchain sector, culminating in the opportunity to attend Devcon 5 in Osaka.
In partnership with industry leaders such as UNICEF Innovation, ConsenSys, and Bounties Network, the Ethereum Foundation has chosen over 50 scholars from around the globe to be part of the program. These selected scholars embody diverse backgrounds and possess varying degrees of blockchain expertise. Their abilities range from design, software development, academic pursuits, policy insights, and beyond. Participants receive travel and accommodation support for the conference, exclusive programming, valuable networking opportunities, and personalized mentorship from a fantastic group of volunteers. Scholars are encouraged to write articles on the transformative prospects of blockchain technology and subsequently on their experiences during the conference. Our aspiration is that each Devcon Scholar finds belonging within the Ethereum community and that attending Devcon aids in initiating a successful career in this vibrant ecosystem.
Demographic Information of 2019 Cohort
We hold the conviction that enhancing diversity within our community represents an investment in the future of Ethereum. The Devcon Scholars Program strives to advocate for diversity and inclusion within our rapidly developing industry and to broaden access to Ethereum education.
The 2019 Devcon Scholars cohort is comprised of individuals from 15 different nations including Afghanistan, Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria, Sweden, and Syria among others. The demographic composition of the cohort is outlined as follows:
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50% of Scholars self-identify as newcomers to blockchain, while the remaining 50% classify themselves as intermediate or experts in Ethereum technology.
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Around 80% of Scholars fall within the age range of 18 to 34 years, and the majority of Scholars are female.
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The Scholar cohort identifies as 18% Hispanic or Latino, 22% Asian/Pacific Islander, 27% Black or African American, 9% White, with 24% recognizing as multi-ethnic.
The Devcon Scholars Program receives substantial support from generous donations from various organizations including:
ConsenSys: $30,000 allocated for educational programming and certification opportunities offered by ConsenSys Academy
UNICEF Innovation: UNICEF’s Boost (BST) Token is utilized on the Bounties Network to educate about blockchain concepts and stimulate multinational participation while introducing new voices into the ecosystem. There were over 140 submissions for bounties recorded in July 2019 alone.
Bounties Network: Crafted the tailored ETHScholars environment and is covering the gas fees for all Scholars’ transactions during the program.
In the forthcoming weeks, the Ethereum Foundation will acknowledge several Scholarship Supporters as we unveil this year’s Devcon Sponsors.
Lastly, post-Devcon, Bounties Network will launch Devcon Scholar Videos to showcase their experiences in Osaka.
For further details on the Devcon Scholars Program, refer to the Ethereum Devcon Scholars Medium, which will be authored by the Scholars themselves and overseen by program partners.
We invite you to join us in congratulating this year’s cohort of Devcon Scholars. We eagerly await the opportunity to meet everyone in Osaka!
P.S. – As highlighted in our previous Devcon blog, we are implementing two on-chain ticket distribution methods this year, with any proceeds supporting the Devcon Scholars Program. Although these will operate on a relatively limited scale as we’re experimenting with this model for the first time, there is potential for expansion in future years. The first mechanism is an on-chain auction that will incorporate a minor fee as a measure against Sybil attacks, commencing two days after this announcement and lasting for 48 hours. Keep an eye out for further updates, coming Thursday via blog and Twitter!
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devcon team
