Faculty Member Receives Educator Award for University Blockchain Research Initiative
Ariel Zetlin-Jones, Associate Professor of Economics at the Tepper School of Business, received the Ripple UBRI Educator Award at the third annual University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) Awards, announced at UBRI Connect in London in October.
According to the website, UBRI Connect “brings together scholars, researchers, and thought leaders in the UBRI network to showcase blockchain initiatives, share knowledge, and inspire future research.”
Over 50 nominations were submitted and reviewed by the UBRI partner judging panel from five global universities including the University of Luxembourg, El Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, Oxford University, the University of Texas, and Kyoto University.
During the ceremony, UBRI acknowledged Zetlin-Jones’s many accomplishments and contributions to blockchain research initiatives including his teaching, presentations to U.S. state representatives, and being a co-director of Carnegie Mellon CyLab’s Secure Blockchain Initiative, the cross-discipline, cross-campus collaboratory.
Zetlin-Jones also created the Tepper School’s Blockchain Initiative, established to foster innovations in the design, use, ethics, and regulation of decentralized, blockchain-based technologies. They also mentioned how he co-developed and co-teaches the course “Developing Blockchain Use Cases” and advises two Ph.D. students undertaking research in decentralized finance.
To unite researchers, students, donors, and industry to advance understanding of important topics and how they shape business and society, the Tepper School of Business has established four interdisciplinary initiatives: Blockchain, Health Care, Inclusive Growth and Prosperity, and Sustainability.
The Tepper School established the Blockchain Initiative to foster innovations in the design, use, ethics, and regulation of decentralized, blockchain-based technologies. The initiative serves as a hub for all of the Tepper School's existing thought leadership concerning blockchain technologies, including active research topics and use cases, educational content, and industry partnerships. It also seeks to further promote innovative blockchain and cryptocurrency activities by faculty, students, alumni, policymakers, and industry leaders.
Ripple’s university partnerships team is working with UBRI’s 29 academic partners to help them identify research, technical projects, and other academic activities they will pursue as part of the UBRI program.
