# Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Geographisches Institut

> research institute

**Wikidata**: [Q101255471](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101255471)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/christian-albrechts-universitat-zu-kiel-geographisches-institut

## Summary
The Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Geographisches Institut is a research institute affiliated with Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel) in Germany. It is classified as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research, operating within the academic framework of its parent university in the city of Kiel.

## Key Facts
- **Instance of**: Research institute (organization whose primary purpose is research)
- **Parent organization**: Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)
- **Country**: Germany
- **Headquarters location**: Kiel, Germany
- **ISNI (International Standard Name Identifier)**: 0000000122896678
- **VIAF ID**: 134765082
- **Ringgold ID**: 64339
- **Library of Congress Authority ID**: n80144927
- **IDREF ID**: 060833246
- **National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007451677505171
- **NL CR AUT ID**: osd2015867026 (with label: Universität Kiel. Geographisches Institut)
- **Wikidata description**: Research institute

## FAQs

**Q: What type of organization is the Geographisches Institut at Kiel University?**
A: It is a research institute, which is an organization dedicated primarily to conducting research rather than teaching or commercial activities. It operates as part of Kiel University in Germany.

**Q: Where is the Geographisches Institut located?**
A: The institute is headquartered in Kiel, Germany, and operates under the umbrella of Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel).

**Q: How is this institute identified in library and academic systems?**
A: The institute holds multiple standardized identifiers including ISNI 0000000122896678, VIAF ID 134765082, Ringgold ID 64339, Library of Congress Authority ID n80144927, and appears in French (IDREF 060833246) and Israeli (J9U ID 987007451677505171) national library catalogs.

**Q: What is the relationship between the Geographisches Institut and Kiel University?**
A: The Geographisches Institut is a constituent part of Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), functioning as its specialized research unit for geography.

## Why It Matters
As a research institute embedded within a major German university, the Geographisches Institut represents the specialized organizational form that allows focused scientific inquiry to occur within academic settings. Research institutes like this one serve as dedicated engines of discovery, concentrating resources and expertise on systematic investigation in their specific field—geography in this case. Within the broader landscape of knowledge-producing institutions, such institutes bridge pure academic research and practical geographic study, contributing to both fundamental understanding and applied solutions. The institute's multiple cataloging identifiers across international library systems indicate its recognized standing in global academic infrastructure, making its research outputs traceable and accessible to scholars worldwide.

## Notable For
- Operating as a specialized research unit within Kiel University's academic structure
- Holding standardized identifiers across multiple international library and academic systems (ISNI, VIAF, Ringgold, Library of Congress, National Library of Israel, and French IDREF)
- Classification as a dedicated research institute rather than a teaching department or commercial research entity
- Recognition in German national academic infrastructure under the parent organization Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

## Body

### Organizational Classification and Structure
The Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel Geographisches Institut is formally classified as a **research institute**, defined as an organization whose primary purpose is to conduct research. This classification distinguishes it from entities that conduct research as one of multiple functions, such as universities that balance teaching and research missions, or companies that pursue research for commercial ends.

The institute operates as a constituent part of **Kiel University** (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel), its parent organization. This structural relationship places it within one of Germany's significant higher education institutions while maintaining its focused research mission.

### Geographic and National Context
The institute is located in **Kiel, Germany**, serving as its headquarters location. Its national affiliation with **Germany** situates it within the German academic and research infrastructure, which provides the institutional and regulatory framework for its operations.

### International Identifier Systems
The Geographisches Institut maintains presence across multiple international standard identifier systems, reflecting its integration into global academic infrastructure:

**International Standard Name Identifier (ISNI)**: 0000000122896678 — This unique ISO standard identifier connects the institute to the global registry of names and identities used across libraries, universities, and research organizations.

**Virtual International Authority File (VIAF)**: 134765082 — Maintained by OCLC (Online Computer Library Center), this identifier links the institute's records across multiple national library catalogs.

**Ringgold ID**: 64339 — This organizational identifier is used within academic publishing and library systems to identify institutions unambiguously.

### National Library Cataloging

**Library of Congress Authority ID**: n80144927 — The United States Library of Congress maintains an authority record for the institute, making it discoverable through American library systems.

**IDREF (France)**: 060833246 — The French national library's authority file includes the institute, with references documented as of July 6, 2022, linked to VIAF ID 134765082.

**National Library of Israel J9U ID**: 987007451677505171 — Israeli library systems catalog the institute under this identifier, with references documented as of June 1, 2023.

**NL CR AUT ID (Czech National Library Authority)**: osd2015867026 — The Czech national authority file lists the institute under the label "Universität Kiel. Geographisches Institut," demonstrating its recognition in Central European cataloging systems.

### Research Institute Classification Context
As a research institute, the entity belongs to an organizational category formally classified under multiple knowledge organization systems. The broader concept of "research institute" has Library of Congress Authority ID sh85113043, German National Library GND ID 4017909-6, and uses Geonames feature code S.ITTR for geographic identification. This classification framework positions the Geographisches Institut within a globally recognized organizational type dedicated to generating new knowledge through systematic investigation.

The research institute designation differentiates the entity from several related but distinct organizational forms:
- **Scientific societies and learned societies**: Membership organizations rather than operational research entities
- **Think tanks**: Policy-focused research organizations with narrower disciplinary scope
- **Research centers**: Often sub-units within larger organizations rather than standalone entities

This classification system, mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization for structured data purposes, provides the institutional context within which the Geographisches Institut operates as a specialized geography research unit.

## References

1. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File