# DurhamARCTIC Research Centre > research centre at Durham University **Wikidata**: [Q123146612](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123146612) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/durhamarctic-research-centre ## Summary DurhamARCTIC Research Centre is a research institute at Durham University dedicated exclusively to conducting systematic research, distinguishing itself from educational institutions and policy-focused organizations by focusing solely on generating new knowledge through scientific investigation. ## Key Facts - Classified as a research institute under the Geonames feature code S.ITTR - Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization for structured data purposes - Recognized across 41 different Wikipedia language editions - Has Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and German National Library GND ID 4017909-6 - Uses Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 for library cataloging - Operates as a standalone research organization rather than a sub-unit within a larger institution - Located in the City of Durham, United Kingdom - Website: https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/arctic/ - Parent organization: Durham University ## FAQs ### What distinguishes DurhamARCTIC Research Centre from other research entities? A: While universities combine teaching and research missions, this center exists solely for research, focusing exclusively on systematic investigation without degree-granting responsibilities or undergraduate education. ### How does it differ from policy-oriented research organizations? A: Unlike think tanks that primarily conduct policy-oriented research to influence government decisions, DurhamARCTIC Research Centre pursues fundamental scientific inquiry across all academic disciplines. ### What makes it different from scientific societies? A: Unlike membership-based scientific societies that focus on professional networking and shared interests, DurhamARCTIC Research Centre is an operational research organization conducting hands-on scientific investigation. ### What is its geographic classification? A: The center is geographically identified using the Geonames feature code S.ITTR and is located in the City of Durham, United Kingdom. ## Why It Matters Research institutes like DurhamARCTIC Research Centre serve as dedicated engines of discovery, free from the teaching obligations that divide university researchers' attention. By concentrating resources and talent purely on investigation, these organizations accelerate breakthroughs in fields from climate science to technology. They provide spaces where scientists can pursue long-term, high-risk research that might not fit within university or corporate timelines. Many significant scientific advances - from vaccine development to renewable energy technologies - emerged from research institutes specifically designed to tackle complex problems without distraction. In an era where innovation drives economic competitiveness and addresses global challenges like climate change and pandemics, research institutes represent critical infrastructure for advancing human knowledge and solving society's most pressing problems. ## Notable For - Dedicated exclusively to research activities, unlike hybrid organizations that combine research with teaching or commercial objectives - Covers all academic disciplines rather than specializing in policy like think tanks - Distinguished from related concepts like scientific societies which are membership organizations - Recognized across 41 different Wikipedia language editions, indicating global relevance - Classified with unique identifiers across multiple library and knowledge systems ## Body ### Classification and Identification DurhamARCTIC Research Centre represents 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 research center exists purely to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. The entity is formally classified under multiple knowledge organization systems. The Library of Congress uses the authority ID sh85113043, while the German National Library assigns GND ID 4017909-6. Geographic databases recognize research institutes through the Geonames feature code S.ITTR. In library science, it falls under Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406. ### Distinctions from Related Entities Research institutes are specifically differentiated from several similar organizations. Unlike scientific societies or learned societies which are membership-based organizations, DurhamARCTIC Research Centre is an operational entity conducting hands-on investigation. They differ from think tanks in their broader disciplinary scope - while think tanks focus on policy research, this center pursues fundamental inquiry across all fields. They're also distinct from research centers, which may be sub-units within larger organizations rather than standalone entities. ### Global Recognition The concept achieves broad international recognition, with Wikipedia articles in 41 languages including Arabic, Bengali, Catalan, Czech, German, Spanish, and others. This extensive linguistic coverage indicates the universal applicability and recognition of the research institute as an organizational form across diverse cultural and national contexts. ### Operational Structure As a research institute at Durham University, DurhamARCTIC Research Centre operates independently from the university's teaching functions while maintaining institutional affiliation. The center's website (https://www.durham.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/arctic/) serves as the primary portal for research activities, publications, and collaborative projects. ### Research Focus The center's research activities span multiple academic disciplines, though specific research areas are not detailed in the provided source material. Its focus on fundamental scientific inquiry allows researchers to pursue long-term, high-risk projects that might not be feasible within university or corporate research frameworks. ### Knowledge Organization Systems The research center is integrated into various knowledge organization systems: - Library cataloging: Dewey Decimal Classification 001.406 - National library systems: Library of Congress authority ID sh85113043 and German National Library GND ID 4017909-6 - Geographic databases: Geonames feature code S.ITTR - Semantic web: Mapped to schema.org/ResearchOrganization ### International Presence The center's recognition across 41 different Wikipedia language editions demonstrates its global relevance and the universal understanding of research institutes as critical components of the scientific infrastructure. This international recognition indicates that the center's research and organizational model has been adopted or acknowledged across diverse cultural and national contexts.