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wiki:m4.0 [2025/05/20 13:38] – [1. Explanation of the Background and Benefits of the Recommendation] esoedingwiki:m4.0 [2025/05/20 14:42] (current) – [5. Naming of communities that have already implemented the recommendation] esoeding
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 ^                         ^ mandatory  ^ conditional           ^ optional ^ ^                         ^ mandatory  ^ conditional           ^ optional ^
-^ Helmholtz FAIR Principle|            |      |          |+^ Helmholtz FAIR Principle|            |  X    |          |
  
 =====Precondition for Implementation: ===== =====Precondition for Implementation: =====
  
 +The institution needs to be a member of Data Cite or needs to partner with a member to be able to register IGSNs. 
 =====Related Recommendations ===== =====Related Recommendations =====
  
-Parent: 
  
-Dependent:+Parent: 0.1 
 + 
 +Dependent: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 
  
 Other: none Other: none
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 The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a persistent, globally unique identifier designed to unambiguously reference physical samples and other material objects in the research lifecycle. It enables reliable citation, tracking, and linking of samples to related data, instruments, people, and publications, making them FAIR—findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a persistent, globally unique identifier designed to unambiguously reference physical samples and other material objects in the research lifecycle. It enables reliable citation, tracking, and linking of samples to related data, instruments, people, and publications, making them FAIR—findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable.
  
-__History and structure__+__History__
  
 Originally developed by the geoscience community in the early 2000s, IGSN emerged from the need to manage and cite geological samples across laboratories and institutions. It was formalized through the IGSN e.V. foundation in 2011 and has since evolved into a cross-disciplinary identifier supported by the global research infrastructure. Since 2021, IGSNs have been registered through DataCite, aligning their metadata with other research outputs. Originally developed by the geoscience community in the early 2000s, IGSN emerged from the need to manage and cite geological samples across laboratories and institutions. It was formalized through the IGSN e.V. foundation in 2011 and has since evolved into a cross-disciplinary identifier supported by the global research infrastructure. Since 2021, IGSNs have been registered through DataCite, aligning their metadata with other research outputs.
 +
 +__Structure__
  
 IGSN records consist of a unique identifier (a prefix-suffix structure similar to DOIs) and a metadata record that captures core descriptive information about the sample: sample type, material, collection method, spatial and temporal context, and links to related entities (e.g., datasets, people, institutions). Metadata can be enhanced to fit domain-specific needs while maintaining a consistent structure for interoperability. IGSN records consist of a unique identifier (a prefix-suffix structure similar to DOIs) and a metadata record that captures core descriptive information about the sample: sample type, material, collection method, spatial and temporal context, and links to related entities (e.g., datasets, people, institutions). Metadata can be enhanced to fit domain-specific needs while maintaining a consistent structure for interoperability.
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 Using IGSNs improves sample traceability, ensures reproducibility of results, and supports data integration across disciplines. It allows researchers to explicitly reference the physical basis of data analyses, which is critical for verification, reuse, and credit assignment. Using IGSNs improves sample traceability, ensures reproducibility of results, and supports data integration across disciplines. It allows researchers to explicitly reference the physical basis of data analyses, which is critical for verification, reuse, and credit assignment.
  
-__Current Use of ...__+__Current Use of IGSN__
  
 IGSNs are currently used in a range of domains, including geosciences, environmental sciences, archaeology, and biodiversity research. For example, ocean drilling samples from IODP expeditions, sediment cores, rock specimens, water samples, and even archaeological artifacts have been assigned IGSNs. These identifiers help integrate sample-based research into digital infrastructures and link physical materials to datasets and publications, thus enabling transparent and connected science. IGSNs are currently used in a range of domains, including geosciences, environmental sciences, archaeology, and biodiversity research. For example, ocean drilling samples from IODP expeditions, sediment cores, rock specimens, water samples, and even archaeological artifacts have been assigned IGSNs. These identifiers help integrate sample-based research into digital infrastructures and link physical materials to datasets and publications, thus enabling transparent and connected science.
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 ====2. Possible alternative solutions==== ====2. Possible alternative solutions====
  
 +  * Internal or Local Identifiers
 +
 +What: Lab- or institution-specific sample IDs.
 +
 +Pros: Easy to implement, tailored to local needs.
 +
 +Cons: Not globally unique, not resolvable, hard to track across systems or publications.
 +
 +  * Accession Numbers in Domain Repositories
 +What: Identifiers assigned by domain-specific repositories or museums (e.g., GenBank accession numbers, museum catalog numbers).
 +
 +Pros: Well-integrated in their domains.
 +
 +Cons: Often not globally unique, not persistent outside their system, not interoperable across disciplines.
 +
 +  * Handle System / Custom DOIs
 +What: Using general-purpose persistent identifiers like DOIs or Handles for samples.
 +
 +Pros: Technically viable; DOI infrastructure is mature.
 +
 +Cons: Lack of community consensus or metadata model for samples unless built on top of IGSN or similar; harder to ensure consistency and semantic clarity.
 +
 +  * ARK (Archival Resource Key, [[https://arks.org/]])
 +What: A persistent identifier scheme designed for objects of any type.
 +
 +Pros: Flexible, openly governed, used by some institutions (e.g., museums, archives).
 +
 +Cons: Less widely adopted in science, lacks built-in metadata requirements for samples, limited interoperability in research workflows.
 +
 +__Why IGSN?__
 +
 +While alternatives exist, IGSN is currently the only PID system specifically designed to handle the complexities of referencing physical samples across scientific domains. It combines:
 +
 +  * Global uniqueness and persistence
 +  * A structured, interoperable metadata schema
 +  * Community governance
 +  * Integration with DataCite infrastructure
 +  * Support for linking to related PIDs (e.g., ORCID, ROR, dataset DOIs)
 +
 +Therefore, for research workflows that require transparent, machine-readable, and citable links between samples and data, IGSN remains the most suitable and sustainable option.
 ====3. Consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the recommendation==== ====3. Consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the recommendation====
  
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 ====5. Naming of communities that have already implemented the recommendation==== ====5. Naming of communities that have already implemented the recommendation====
  
 +GFZ Data Services
 +
 +Pangaea
 +
 +Hereon HCDC (?)
 +
 +Others?
  
 ====6. Documentation of the test to validate correct implementation==== ====6. Documentation of the test to validate correct implementation====
wiki/m4.0.1747748330.txt.gz · Last modified: by esoeding