FAIR WISH - FAIR Workflows to establish IGSN for Samples in the Helmholtz Association

Baldewein, Linda¹ , Elger, K.² , Heim, B.³ , Brauser, A.² , Frenzel, S.² , Kleeberg, U.¹ , Norden, B.²

The International Generic Sample Number (IGSN) is a globally unique and persistent identifier for physical objects, such as samples. IGSNs allow to cite, track and locate physical samples and to link samples to corresponding data and publications. The metadata schemata is modular and can be extended by domain-specific metadata.

Within the FAIR WISH projected funded by the Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration, domain-specific metadata schemes for different sample types within Earth and Environment are developed based on three different use cases. These use cases represent all states of digitization, from hand-written notes only to information stored in relational databases. For all stages of digitization, workflows and templates to generate machine-readable IGSN metadata are developed, which allow automatic IGSN registration. These workflows and templates will be published and will contribute to the standardization of IGSN metadata.