# Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory

> facility in Columbia, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q108737693](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q108737693)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/biological-control-of-insects-research-laboratory

## Summary
The Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory is a research facility and institute located in Columbia, United States. Operating as a distinct entity within the Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area, it functions as a dedicated organization for systematic investigation and the generation of new knowledge.

## Key Facts
- **Location:** Situated in Columbia, United States, at coordinates 38.9328863 latitude and -92.3439986 longitude.
- **Parent Organization:** Operates under the Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area.
- **Classification:** Identified as both a "facility" and a "research institute" in structured knowledge bases.
- **Aliases:** Commonly referred to by the acronym BCIRL.
- **Identifiers:**
  - **ROR ID:** 05xqthq76
  - **GRID ID:** grid.512859.2
  - **ISNI:** 0000000406169691
  - **Ringgold ID:** 57834 (listed as USDA-ARS Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory)
- **Official Website:** https://www.ars.usda.gov/midwest-area/columbia-mo/biological-control-of-insects-research/
- **Organizational Type:** As a research institute, it is classified under Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and German National Library GND ID 4017909-6.
- **Geographic Code:** Recognized in geographic databases with the Geonames feature code S.ITTR.

## FAQs
### What is the primary purpose of the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory?
The laboratory is a research institute, meaning its primary purpose is to conduct research and generate new knowledge through systematic investigation rather than providing undergraduate education or granting degrees.

### Who operates the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory?
This facility is operated under the oversight of the Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area, serving as a specialized unit within that larger organizational structure.

### Where is the facility located?
The laboratory is physically located in Columbia, United States, with a precise geographic location recorded at latitude 38.9328863 and longitude -92.3439986.

### How does this facility differ from a university or think tank?
Unlike universities that balance teaching with research, this laboratory is a dedicated research institute. It also differs from think tanks by focusing on fundamental scientific inquiry across its discipline rather than primarily conducting policy-oriented research to influence government decisions.

## Why It Matters
As a research institute, the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory serves as a dedicated engine of discovery, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, it accelerates potential breakthroughs in its specific field. It provides a space where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within university or corporate timelines. In the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, this facility represents critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving specific scientific problems without the distractions of hybrid organizational models.

## Notable For
- **Dedicated Research Focus:** Exists specifically to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation, distinguishing it from universities or companies that include research as one of several functions.
- **Distinct Classifications:** Differentiated from scientific societies, learned societies, think tanks, and research centers by its operational nature and broad disciplinary scope.
- **Global Recognition Standards:** Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization for structured data purposes and classified with unique identifiers across multiple library and knowledge systems (Library of Congress, GND, Dewey Decimal).
- **Unique Identity:** Holds specific administrative identifiers including ROR ID 05xqthq76, GRID ID grid.512859.2, and ISNI 0000000406169691.
- **Operational Structure:** Functions as a standalone facility with the alias BCIRL, under the parent organization Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area.

## Body

### Organizational Classification
The Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory is formally classified as a research institute, a distinct organizational form in the landscape of knowledge-producing institutions. Unlike universities that balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends, this facility exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. The concept of the research institute to which this facility belongs is formally classified under multiple knowledge organization systems, including the Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and the German National Library GND ID 4017909-6. In library science, this classification falls under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 and is recognized in geographic databases through the Geonames feature code S.ITTR.

### Distinctions from Related Entities
This laboratory is specifically differentiated from several similar organizations. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies, which are membership-based organizations, the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation. It differs from think tanks in its disciplinary scope; while think tanks focus on policy research to influence government, this facility pursues fundamental inquiry within its scientific field. Furthermore, it is distinct from research centers that may exist as sub-units within larger organizations, operating instead as a specific facility with its own designated identity and alias, BCIRL.

### Operational Structure and Leadership
The facility operates under the Agricultural Research Service - Midwest Area, identifying it as part of a broader scientific infrastructure. Its operational status is that of a facility, emphasizing its physical and functional role in conducting research. The organization is structured to allow scientists to pursue investigation without the distraction of undergraduate education or degree granting, which are typical functions of universities.

### Geographic and Digital Identity
Geographically, the Biological Control of Insects Research Laboratory is situated in Columbia, United States, with precise coordinates of 38.9328863 latitude and -92.3439986 longitude. Its digital presence is established through its official website, which serves as a primary source of information regarding its activities. The entity maintains a robust presence in global identifier systems to ensure accurate data exchange and recognition. It is assigned the ROR ID 05xqthq76 and the GRID ID grid.512859.2. Additionally, it utilizes the International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI) 0000000406169691 and the Ringgold ID 57834.

### Global Context and Data Integration
The laboratory is integrated into the global research infrastructure through its classification as a ResearchOrganization in schema.org. This mapping facilitates its inclusion in structured data ecosystems. As a research institute, it belongs to a class of organizations that achieve broad international recognition, with the concept itself covered by 41 Wikipedia language editions. The specific entity is linked to the Wikidata entry Q31855 for the class "research institute," ensuring it is connected to the wider semantic web of scientific organizations.

## References

1. GRID Release 2021-09-16
2. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions