What is an IGSN Allocating Agent?

An Allocating Agent is an institution which allocates IGSN names on behalf of the IGSN registration agency of IGSN. An Allocating Agent may delegate technical functions and services to one or more sample repositories or data centres.

To become an IGSN Allocating Agent, you must become a full member of the IGSN e.V.

Roles and Responsibilities

    • Register IGSN and operate registration services
    • Apply for top-level namespaces from IGSN and assign sub-namespaces to its clients
    • Provide OAI-PMH interfaces for metadata harvesting
    • Follow best practices for IGSN allocation, syntax and metadata
    • Ensure persistent access to the metadata record of the registered IGSN and ensure the persistence of the Allocating Agent’s sample catalogue. In future, Allocating Agents will be asked to prepare a contingency plan for the case that the Allocating Agent is going out of business.
    • Ensure uniqueness of the allocated IGSN and make best effort at avoiding co-reference of IGSNs
    • Participate in the IGSN General Assembly

A failure to comply with the roles and responsibilities may result in the termination of the membership.

Sources for additional information

List of current IGSN e.V. Allocating Agents

 

Allocating Agent Service Community
Australian Research Data Commons (ARDC) Sample holders and curators affiliated with Australian research organisations that do not offer their own IGSN minting service
Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) Researchers funded by CNRS.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Organization facilities and staff
Geoscience Australia Organization facilities and staff
German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) Information forthcoming
GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel Information forthcoming
Institut Français de Recherche pour l’Exploitation de la Mer (IFREMER) Organization facilities and staff
Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM) Korea’s geoscience research and academic sectors.
MARUM Center for Marine Environmental Studies at University of Bremen Organization facilities and staff
System for Earth Sample Registration (SESAR) at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University Registration by the general public supported; funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF)
Learn more about membership in the IGSN e.V.
For questions and membership application, please contact info@igsn.org