Unlocking the Potential of ELNs: Toward a Helmholtz-Wide Solution

Collaboration Coffee
In session Collaboration Coffees No. 2 , Sept. 4, 2025, 13:00 – 14:00
Exact timing: 13:00 – 14:00
Room info: Library Meetingroom , Big Meetingroom

Söding, Emanuel¹ , Baldewein, L.² , Kirchner, F.² , Eschke, C.² , Rambhia, M.² , Pörsch, A.³ , Kottmeier, D.⁴

Lab and field notebooks are essential tools for documenting structured information during measurement campaigns or field and laboratory work. Modern Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) offer advanced features to support this documentation process and can enrich records with additional metadata—such as instrumentation details, personnel involved, sample registration, and more. To fully harness this potential, it is desirable to integrate ELNs seamlessly into the center’s data workflows—supporting information flow from sample and data acquisition, through measurement activities, all the way to data publication in repositories.

However, many laboratories face significant barriers: ELNs are not readily available, may require costly licenses, and often lack institutional support or training opportunities. As a result, their use is not yet widespread.

In this coffee round, we invite participants to explore the potential of ELNs in scientific workflows. Together, we’ll discuss desirable features, briefly review a few existing solutions, and consider whether centrally provided ELN services across Helmholtz could be a sustainable way forward.