Beyond Cryptocurrency: IEEE Blockchain Insights at NOVA IMS with Prof. Gora Datta
Beyond Cryptocurrency: IEEE Blockchain Insights at NOVA IMS with Prof. Gora Datta
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On June 26, NOVA IMS welcomed Professor Gora Datta, Vice-Chair of the IEEE Blockchain Technical Community, for a keynote session hosted by the NOVA Blockchain Lab. In a thought-provoking talk, Prof. Datta offered a broader perspective on blockchain technology – looking well beyond its common association with cryptocurrencies.
With over 40 years of experience in technology and more than 25 in digital health, Prof. Datta explored how blockchain can support trust, security, and interoperability in fields such as healthcare, real estate, supply chains, and agriculture, among others. "Blockchain is a tool, not a goal. Just like a knife can be used by a surgeon or a criminal, its value depends entirely on how – and by whom – it’s used", he noted.
The first part of the session focused on the evolution of digital public health and how mobile technologies have transformed access to information and services. Prof. Datta highlighted that since the launch of the iPhone in 2007, annual global mobile phone sales have grown from just 122,000 to over 1.5 billion units. Meanwhile, 75 billion IoT devices have been sold this year alone–a sign of how connected our world has become.
Drawing on fieldwork in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and remote Indonesian islands, he underscored the power of mobile technology to bridge geographic and social divides. With infrastructure in place, the challenge now is to build secure and context-sensitive systems–and that’s where blockchain comes in.
Still, he warned against blind faith in any single solution.
“Immutability is one of blockchain’s biggest strengths–but in sectors like healthcare, it can also be a weakness, especially when you need to correct or erase information”
The second part of the session introduced the IEEE Blockchain Technical Community–its global structure, open-access resources, and commitment to supporting education, innovation, and standards development in blockchain.
This initiative was organized by the NOVA Blockchain Lab, a pioneering center of excellence at NOVA IMS dedicated to exploring the intersection of blockchain technology and data science through applied research and educational initiatives. To follow the activities and research of the Nova Blockchain Lab, subscribe here to the Blogchain – Research Insights.