Recommendation 4.3

Recommendation to researchers to record IGSNs when taking samples

Description

Status: 23.5.2025

Motivation for this Recommendation:

Researchers, technicians, and others who take or handle samples are best positioned to record IGSNs because they are directly involved in the sampling process and have immediate access to critical contextual information. By recording IGSNs at the time of sampling—and documenting parent IGSNs when creating subsamples—they help ensure that sample provenance is accurately captured and preserved. This reduces the risk of information loss, supports reproducibility, and enables reliable linking of samples to data, publications, and other research outputs. Their active involvement in IGSN registration strengthens the traceability and long-term value of sample-based research.

Recommendation

It is recommended that researchers, technicians, and other people who take samples:

record an IGSN when taking a sample.

record parent IGSNs when subsampling or splitting physical samples.

Binding Convention:

mandatory	conditional	optional
Helmholtz FAIR Principle

Precondition for Implementation:

- need institutional workflows to register IGSN - needs training for researchers with registration and the appropriat tools and workflows.

Related Recommendations

Parent: Recommendation to use IGSN as the standard reference in technical infrastructures to samples where appropriate

Dependent: none

Other: none

Contributors

Emanuel Soeding (lead)

Content

1. Explanation of the Background and Benefits of the Recommendation

About

History and structure

Current Use of …

Motivation

2. Possible alternative solutions

3. Consideration of the advantages and disadvantages of implementing the recommendation

See the general discussion of advantages and challenges implementing IGSNs in the recommended way.

4. The Recommendation

It is recommended that researchers, technicians, and other people who take samples:

record an IGSN when taking a sample.

record parent IGSNs when subsampling or splitting physical samples.

5. Naming of communities that have already implemented the recommendation

There exist tools, which support users in registering IGSNs e.g. in the field or laboratory. RSpace [1] e.g has an integration of a field book tool Fieldmark, with it's electronic lab notebook, which can register IGSNs.

6. Documentation of the test to validate correct implementation

7. Examples of Instances

8. Further Information

References

[1] IGSN Registration with RSpace and FieldMark website

Relevant Community Recommendations

9. History of this document