Governance
ÆSC Trust is governed through open charters, transparent processes, and councils accountable to the principles of conservation and coherence. Our goal is to prevent capture, enable participation, and keep decision-making aligned with the core invariants that anchor the system.
Foundational Principles
Transparency
All proposals, meeting minutes, and funding disbursements are published openly. Decisions are logged and archived for permanent reference.
Accountability
Councils operate under explicit charters with defined term limits. Performance is reviewed publicly before renewal or replacement.
Participation
Anyone may submit proposals or comment on active discussions. Fellowship programs prepare contributors to take on greater responsibilities.
Council Structure
Governance is carried out by specialized councils. Each has a focused mandate but remains accountable to the broader community.
Research Council
Reviews proposals, validates publications, and manages reproducibility audits. Ensures rigor and integrity of the scientific program.
Grants Council
Oversees disbursement of funds, milestone reviews, and compliance with openness requirements. Evaluates impact of funded projects.
Community Council
Manages communication channels, facilitates forums, and ensures proposals are visible and accessible to all stakeholders.
Proposal Lifecycle
Proposals progress through clear, predictable stages. This prevents gatekeeping while keeping the process efficient and auditable.
1. Draft
Anyone may publish an initial draft. Community feedback is encouraged.
2. Review
Councils review proposals for clarity, scope, and alignment with invariants. Constructive feedback is public.
3. Decision
Approved proposals receive charters or funding. Decisions are logged with rationale and voting record.
4. Execution
Work is carried out under open reporting requirements. Milestones are tracked and published.
DAO & Decentralized Pathways
ÆSC Trust experiments with decentralized governance models. A token-governed DAO layer may enable broader participation while the councils safeguard coherence. This hybrid approach ensures rigor at the core while allowing open experimentation at the edges.
- DAO proposals mirror council lifecycle for consistency
- Community tokens could grant signaling power, not unilateral control
- DAO pilots are run in parallel with council oversight
Opportunities to Contribute
Governance thrives when more voices are engaged. There are multiple ways to help shape the framework.
Join a Working Group
Participate in focused groups on research review, grants evaluation, or community standards. Working groups are open to volunteers who commit time and expertise.
Propose Improvements
Submit governance improvements as formal proposals. Past examples include adjustments to term limits and transparency reporting formats.
Act as Reviewer
Experienced contributors may join rotating review pools to provide peer commentary on proposals or milestones.
Support the DAO Pilot
Participate in decentralized pilots, test signaling mechanisms, and help refine how DAO inputs complement council oversight.
Help Guide the Framework
Governance is not static — it evolves with the ecosystem. Join discussions, propose changes, and help ensure ÆSC Trust remains aligned with its founding invariants of conservation and coherence.
- Join a council call
- Draft a proposal
- Contribute to DAO pilot
- Help review milestones