About
The Senckenberg (Meta)Data Portal
The Senckenberg (meta)data portal is the key place for research activities at Senckenberg that generate data in the geo and biodiversity domain.
It is designed to help scientists, collaborators, and the public discover, describe, and connect scientific datasets related to biodiversity, geology, ecology, paleontology, and environmental research. Built on the CKAN open-source platform, it offers functions that support successful research data management, foster synergies, and meet (legal) requirements.
For External Users – Search Senckenberg Data
You do not need an account to search and explore public datasets. Start by using the search bar at the top or browse by Keywords (e.g., Lepidoptera, Miocene, fossil scans).
Each dataset record includes metadata describing the context of the data and contact details. Some also contain publicly accessible linked files.
🔍 Looking for something specific? Use the search bar and filters! Search Datasets
Hint: If you are looking for Senckenberg’s natural history collection material, please use our Collections Search.
For Senckenberg Researchers – Publish & Manage Your Metadata
The portal is the official place for documenting and sharing datasets created at Senckenberg. It supports compliance with FAIR data principles and tracking of project metadata.
Each scientist is responsible for documenting their activities and is technically enabled to enter them into the data portal. Documentation of completed activities is always welcome. Ongoing work should be accompanied by a documenting dataset, and you are warmly invited to use the dataset form as a planning aid for upcoming projects.
🗂️ What Kind of Data Can Be Registered?
Please record all your activities that generate geo and biodiversity research data, such as:
- Externally funded projects
- Doctoral theses
- Collection trips
- Travel journal scans, code repositories, multimedia metadata
Note: The portal focuses on metadata and discoverability, not long-term storage of raw data. Files can be uploaded or linked externally.
To get started: If you’re a Senckenberg staff member, please refer to the important hints and the full user manual:
📘 Metadata Portal Manual
Global Visibility 🌍
All public records are indexed and searchable through:
- Google Dataset Search
- Global research aggregators (if linked)
- Open metadata standards
This ensures your dataset descriptions are discoverable by global researchers, even outside Senckenberg.