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Table of Contents
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
Dependent: none
Other: none
Contributors
Names of contributors to this recommendation
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
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