---
type: concept
title: Digital Research Data History at Greifswald
tags: [history, digitalization, research-data]
related: [forschungsdaten-managen]
created: 2026-06-30
updated: 2026-06-30
sources: ["output/rz_uni_greifswald_de_dienste_studium_lehre_forschungsdaten_managen_projekte_fors.md"]
---

# Digital Research Data History at Greifswald

The evolution of digital research data management at the **Universität Greifswald** can be divided into five distinct phases:

### 1. Pioneering Phase (1969–1989)
Early adoption of computers for simulations in Biostatistics, Theoretical Physics, and Applied Mathematics. Use cases included administrative data processing (student files) and early environmental data (bird migration and habitat mapping).

### 2. Cataloging Phase (1990–1999)
A shift toward creating digital catalogs of existing collections. This phase was characterized by individual initiatives using basic office software (Word, Excel, Access) to record metadata for easier research (e.g., Moosherbarium).

### 3. Specialized Repositories Phase (2000–2009)
The emergence of large-scale, often **DFG**-funded, specialized digital archives and GIS systems. Examples include **GeoGREIF**, **FloraGREIF**, and **SVEA-Pommern**, as well as the virtualization of specific exhibitions.

### 4. Systematization Phase (2010–2019)
Transition to a university-wide, systematic approach to digitalization led by the **Kustodie**. This period saw the launch of the **Wissenschaftliche Sammlungen Portal** (2012) to centralize the presentation of various scientific collections.

### 5. Modernization Phase (2020–Present)
Focus on the relaunch of central portals (e.g., the Collections Portal in 2020/21) and the continuation of specialized digital humanities and linguistic projects.