3rd Forum Helmholtz Research Data Commons

Background

The Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) and the Helmholtz Open Science Office hosted the third iteration of the Helmholtz Research Data Commons on 3 February 2026, this time focussing on: Sample Handling and Tracking – Good and FAIR Data Practices in Action. In the online event, we took a closer look at use cases and examples from four different institutions and research fields: Speakers from three Helmholtz Centers (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Helmholtz Munich) and from the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research presented how they handle and track different types of samples – such as material samples, soil samples, bio samples and plant samples – in their respective areas of application. The talks allowed to gain both practical insights into the specific use cases as well as into the general challenges in collecting accompanying good-quality metadata for samples. The event included an open discussion round on the topic with the speakers and participants.

Research Data Commons is a joint recurring Helmholtz-forum for the exchange and discussion of research data-relevant topics at Helmholtz, initiated in 2024 by the Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC) and the Helmholtz Open Science Office. A second forum took place in 2025. The events are open to all employees from Helmholtz Centers and other institutions of the Helmholtz Association to share their experiences and approaches around specific focus topics.

Program

Documentation

Lange, M., Lemster, C., Lorenz, S., Vleugel, M., Krahl, R., Kunkel, C., Six-Merker, J., & Lange, M. (2026). Forum Helmholtz Research Data Commons: Sample Handling and Tracking – Good and FAIR Data Practices in Action. Helmholtz Open Science Office and Helmholtz Metadata Collaboration (HMC). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18603153