50 Diversity Scholarships

The digital currency summit Consensus 2015, in collaboration with the MIT Media Lab’s Digital Currency Initiative, is providing 50 diversity scholarships for the event on 10th September in New York City.
In a bid to increase diversity within the cryptocurrency and blockchain technology space, the scholarships are being offered to people of colour and women between 18 and 25 years of age.
A recent CoinDesk study of bitcoin users revealed fewer than one in 10 bitcoin owners (8.2%) are female, while over 72% describe their ethnicity as “white”.
With this in mind, the MIT Media Lab’s DCI and CoinDesk will work with local groups to select Consensus Scholars, such as CODE2040, Girls Who Code, Microsoft-sponsored TEALS programme and National Center for Women & Information Technology, who are addressing diversity in technology. Click here to apply to become a Consensus Scholar.
Not only will the Consensus Scholars get the opportunity to attend Consensus 2015 free-of-charge, they will also gain mentorship from leaders in the industry during the event to develop a deeper understanding of the digital currency economy. Mentors include executives from Citi, the title sponsor of the conference, and other speakers at the event.
“Our hope is to expose more young people, from a diverse set of backgrounds to the powerful potential of digital currency. The Consensus Scholarships will allow young people to ask questions, gain unique insights and meet with leaders in the digital currency movement,” said Brian Forde, director of the Media Lab’s DCI.
The Media Lab initiative brings together global experts to explore the development of digital currency through fundamental research, social impact pilots and diversity outreach.
Consensus 2015 is donating 10% of tickets, worth a total of $75,000, while the Media Lab’s DCI is actively working with a number of organisations to identify scholars and facilitate mentorship at the summit.
About Consensus 2015:
Consensus 2015 is organised by CoinDesk, the leading publisher of news and analysis on the digital currency economy, and it's supported by a title sponsorship from Citi.
For more information, visit http://www.coindesk.com/events/consensus-2015/