Joint Research Data Infrastructures to foster interoperability and future sample retrieval

Until very recently, the word “archive” has often been associated with the connotation of a dark, dusty storage room with odd objects poorly maintained. Changing this perception and transforming an archive into a vivid, well-curated collection of samples for research, is a worthwhile effort that increases the value of each sample.

The Helmholtz Centres GEOMAR and Alfred Wegener Institute jointly develop research data infrastructure to keep track of the physical objects AND their associated data, using the open-source system LinkAhead. It hosts metadata of various sample types, such as biological and geological samples, taken at sea, on land and during ice expeditions. It ensures the unique identification of each sample and allows registration of persistant identifiers e.g. International Generic Sample Number IGSN as DOI via DataCite. Other export options serve for publications, to provide metadata to overarching platforms like the Marine Data Portal, and a link to the Nagoya documentation. Furthermore, a sample storage management with individual loan requests and lending documentation is incorporated.

In both Institutes, the database tool is in use as separate instances but with a common kernel, to allow for close collaboration and future joint developments. With these services to Earth and Environment researchers, we expand the F.A.I.R. data principles to the original physical material - make samples findable and facilitate their reuse - and want to encourage other dusty old archives to join the future of Geosciences.