ELN

The paper-based laboratory notebook is still widely used, and the way chemical research data is documented has hardly changed for a century. The progress of information technology in the laboratory (Smartlab) involves more than just tablets and touchscreens. It is about networking the entire workflow and handling research data according to the FAIR principles.

Electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs) enable researchers to enrich experiments with extensive metadata and make the collected data traceable and reusable. The direct transfer of measuring devices to the ELN makes it the central repository for all data, which can then be easily published in repositories and transferred to long-term archives.

A key difference between ELNs and paper is the structured documentation of metadata that humans and machines can read. You can find further differences between simple systems, ELNs and laboratory information management systems (LIMS) in the knowledge base.

Screenshot of Chemotion ELN.

Screenshot of Chemotion ELN

Advantages of an ELN

  • ELNs link test descriptions directly to the collected data so that all information is available in one place.
  • Secure data storage and backups prevent data loss.
  • Centralised storage facilitates knowledge management and access to data, including for new members of a research project.
  • The biggest advantage of an ELN is the structured and standardised storage of metadata, which facilitates the publication of research results and the transfer of data to repositories.

More Info

News around ELN

Practical RDM in teaching Practical RDM in University Education - Lessons learned from a research data management workshop at the consortium meeting in Halle.
Participants of the Chemotion-Hackathon June 23 Chemotion Hackathon 2024 - In June 2024, a hackathon took place at the TU Braunschweig with members from 4 working groups for Theoretical Chemistry.
Thumbnail of Status Tracking notifications Updates on Chemotion Repository - In this version, we've enhanced the data transfer process for greater efficiency and reliability, along with several other updates and improvements.
Thumbnail for chemotion use-cases - NFDI4Chem Saving time with ELN and Repositories - 3 use-case stories help to understand, how and why using an ELN and a repository doesn't cost time, but saves it.
Ivan Vilotijević on Electronic Lab Notebooks - About the advantages of using an electronic lab notebook and experiences of introducing it in a research lab.
Interview with Prof. Dr. Georg Manolikakes from the RPTU Kaiserslautern - NFDI4Chem Integrating digital literacy into teaching - Interview with Prof. Dr. Georg Manolikakes from the RPTU Kaiserslautern, how to teach digital tools in a practical course.
Preview Screenshot Another ELN made available for testing - The website demo.chemotion.scc.kit.edu/ provides a collection of test versions of various electronic laboratory notebooks (ELNs).
Guidelines for Sharing in Chemotion - Published in Chemistry-Methods Sharing of data with the scientific community plays an important role in conducting FAIR and sustainable research. As an example, reporting experimental results (also negative ones) in…
“Stammtisch” on the Electronic Laboratory Notebook and Repository “Chemotion” (Throwback) - The Place for Discussions Around Chemotion and more In January, our monthly “Stammtisch” on the electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) and repository Chemotion opened with a brief summary of the NFDI4Chem…

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