# GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences

> organization

**Wikidata**: [Q1485220](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1485220)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GESIS_–_Leibniz_Institute_for_the_Social_Sciences)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/gesis-leibniz-institute-for-the-social-sciences

## Summary
GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences is a German research institute dedicated to the infrastructure and support of empirical social science research. It serves as a central hub for data management, digital archiving, and methodological innovation in the social sciences. Established in 1986, it is part of the Leibniz Association and operates under the name GESIS, with multiple aliases including ZUMA and GESIS – Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften.

## Key Facts
- Founded in 1986
- Located in Mannheim, Germany
- Parent organization: Leibniz Association
- Member of: Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes, Confederation of Open Access Repositories, Informationsdienst Wissenschaft, German National Research Data Infrastructure, DataCite
- Affiliated with researchers: Brigitte Mathiak, Fakhri Momeni, Wolfgang Otto
- Director since 2017: Christof Wolf
- Operates in the field of social science
- Uses German as its primary language
- Website: [https://www.gesis.org/](https://www.gesis.org/)
- Social media: Twitter (@gesis_org), Facebook (gesis.org), Instagram (@gesis_lifs), Mastodon (GESIS@sciences.social), Bluesky (gesis.org)
- Coordinates: 49.485686, 8.46294
- ROR ID: 018afyw53
- GRID ID: grid.425053.5
- ISNI: 0000000110131176
- Freebase ID: /m/0100kyfz
- Ringgold ID: 28363
- VIAF ID: 140603058
- KISTI ID: K000210092
- IDRef ID: 121287122
- Open Library ID: OL13510228A
- Open Library Publisher ID: GESIS
- Google Scholar Organization ID: 10487257893411394154
- Scopus Affiliation ID: 60106411
- CLIOnine Organization ID: 13902
- Library of Congress Authority ID: no2012042965
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987010859848105171
- Gepris Organization ID: 145000415
- DDB Institution ID: ESFTMRPKEJ2ZZWUQSXMVEXXTR7CZM3RN
- IPv6 Routing Prefix: 2a01:488:2000:e200::/56
- Instance of: research institute, open-access publisher
- Member of the Confederation of Open Access Repositories and DataCite
- Affiliated with open-source tools like DSpace (inception: 2002) and Dataverse (inception: 2006)
- Has a presence in both English and German on social media and digital platforms
- Participates in the German National Research Data Infrastructure and Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
- Part of the Yale LUX group: dd0b2d07-16f5-447d-97b3-0962b50a4e3d

## FAQs

### What is GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences?
GESIS is a German research institute focused on supporting empirical social science research through data infrastructure, digital archiving, and methodological services. It is part of the Leibniz Association and has been operational since 1986.

### When was GESIS founded?
GESIS was founded in 1986.

### Where is GESIS located?
GESIS is headquartered in Mannheim, Germany, with geographic coordinates at 49.485686, 8.46294.

### What organizations is GESIS a member of?
GESIS is a member of:
- Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes (since 2017)
- Confederation of Open Access Repositories
- Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
- German National Research Data Infrastructure
- DataCite (since 2024)

### Who leads GESIS?
GESIS has been led by Christof Wolf since July 1, 2017.

### What is the role of GESIS in the research ecosystem?
GESIS supports empirical social science research by providing data infrastructure, digital repositories, and methodological tools. It is involved in open access initiatives and collaborates with major research networks and infrastructures in Germany and internationally.

### What tools and platforms does GESIS use or support?
GESIS supports or is associated with tools like DSpace (inception: 2002) and Dataverse (inception: 2006), which are used for digital repository management and data sharing.

### What are the key identifiers for GESIS?
GESIS is identified by:
- ROR ID: 018afyw53
- GRID ID: grid.425053.5
- ISNI: 0000000110131176
- Freebase ID: /m/0100kyfz
- Ringgold ID: 28363
- VIAF ID: 140603058
- KISTI ID: K000210092
- IDRef ID: 121287122
- Open Library ID: OL13510228A
- Library of Congress Authority ID: no2012042963
- Gepris Organization ID: 145000415

### What is the significance of GESIS in open access and data sharing?
GESIS plays a central role in open access and data sharing by supporting repositories like DSpace and Dataverse, and by being a member of DataCite and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories.

### What languages does GESIS use?
GESIS primarily uses German, but also communicates in English, especially on social media platforms.

### What is the social media presence of GESIS?
GESIS maintains a presence on:
- Twitter: @gesis_org
- Facebook: gesis.org
- Instagram: @gesis_lifs
- Mastodon: GESIS@sciences.social
- Bluesky: gesis.org

## Why It Matters
GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences is a cornerstone of empirical social science research in Germany and beyond. It provides essential infrastructure for data management, archiving, and methodological support, enabling researchers to share, preserve, and analyze data effectively. As part of the Leibniz Association and a member of key research networks, GESIS contributes to the global open science movement by supporting open access repositories and data citation practices. Its work underpins the reproducibility and transparency of social science research, making it a critical player in the advancement of empirical methods and data-driven insights.

## Notable For
- Being a founding member of the German National Research Data Infrastructure
- Supporting open access through membership in DataCite and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories
- Hosting and supporting open-source tools like DSpace and Dataverse
- Operating under the Leibniz Association, a prestigious union of non-university research institutes in Germany
- Providing infrastructure for empirical social science research since 1986
- Leading in digital archiving and data sharing practices in the social sciences
- Affiliation with major research networks and digital initiatives in Germany
- Hosting a diverse team of researchers and computer scientists
- Supporting multilingual communication in both German and English
- Being a key node in the German academic research network through its membership in Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes

## Body

### History
GESIS – Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences was established in 1986. It is part of the Leibniz Association, which was founded in 1990 and includes a network of non-university research institutes in Germany. GESIS has evolved into a central institution for empirical social science research, focusing on data infrastructure, digital archiving, and methodological support.

### Organizational Structure
GESIS is a research institute and open-access publisher. It is part of the Leibniz Association, which is headquartered in Berlin and operates in the research industry. GESIS is located in Mannheim, Germany, with postal code 68072. It is led by Christof Wolf, who has been the director since July 1, 2017.

### Affiliations and Memberships
GESIS is a member of several key organizations:
- Verein zur Förderung eines Deutschen Forschungsnetzes (since 2017)
- Confederation of Open Access Repositories
- Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
- German National Research Data Infrastructure
- DataCite (since 2024)

It is also part of the Yale LUX group and is affiliated with the Confederation of Open Access Repositories and DataCite, emphasizing its role in open science.

### Key Personnel
GESIS is affiliated with several researchers:
- Brigitte Mathiak, computer scientist
- Fakhri Momeni, researcher, computer scientist, and information scientist
- Wolfgang Otto, researcher and computer scientist

### Infrastructure and Tools
GESIS supports and is associated with open-source tools such as:
- DSpace (inception: 2002)
- Dataverse (inception: 2006)

These tools are used for digital repository management and data sharing, aligning with GESIS's mission to support open access and data sharing in the social sciences.

### Digital Presence and Identifiers
GESIS maintains a strong digital presence with:
- Website: [https://www.gesis.org/](https://www.gesis.org/)
- Social media accounts on Twitter (@gesis_org), Facebook (gesis.org), Instagram (@gesis_lifs), Mastodon (GESIS@sciences.social), and Bluesky (gesis.org)
- IPv6 routing prefix: 2a01:4) and IDRef ID: 12128712288:2000:e200::/56
- ROR ID: 018afyw53
- GRID ID: grid.425053.5
- ISNI: 0000000110131176
- Freebase ID: /m/0100kyfz
- Ringgold ID: 28363
- VIAF ID: 140603058
- KISTI ID: K000210092
- Open Library ID: OL13510228A
- Google Scholar Organization ID: 10487257893411394154
- Scopus Affiliation ID: 60106411
- CLIOnine Organization ID: 13902
- Library of Congress Authority ID: no2012042965
- National Library of Israel J9U ID: 987010859848105171
- Gepris Organization ID: 145000415
- DDB Institution ID: ESFTMRPKEJ2ZZWUQSXMVEXXTR7CZM3RN

### Language and Communication
GESIS primarily uses German in its operations but also communicates in English, particularly on social media platforms. This multilingual approach supports its international collaboration and open access mission.

### Research Focus and Field of Work
GESIS operates in the field of social science, focusing on empirical research support through data infrastructure, digital archiving, and methodological tools. It plays a key role in the German National Research Data Infrastructure and supports open science initiatives.

### Significance in Open Access and Data Sharing
As a member of DataCite and the Confederation of Open Access Repositories, GESIS contributes to global open science by supporting repositories like DSpace and Dataverse. These tools are essential for data sharing, preservation, and citation in empirical research.

### Social Media and Community Engagement
GESIS maintains an active presence on social media, engaging with the research community through:
- Twitter: @gesis_org
- Facebook: gesis.org
- Instagram: @gesis_lifs
- Mastodon: GESIS@sciences.social
- Bluesky: gesis.org

This engagement supports its mission to promote open access and data sharing in the social sciences.

## References

1. Directory of Open Access Journals
2. GRID Release 2017-01-10
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. [Source](https://www.dfn.de/verein/mv/mitglieder/)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20190714135243/https://www.coar-repositories.org/community/members-and-partners-by-country/)
6. [Source](https://idw-online.de/de/institution479)
7. [Source](https://www.nfdi.de/verein/#mitglieder)
8. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240112184553/https://datacite.org/members/)
9. [Prof. Dr. Christof Wolf ist neuer Präsident bei GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften](https://idw-online.de/de/news677553)
10. GRID Release 2015-12-14
11. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
12. [Source](https://apps.db.ripe.net/search/lookup.html?source=ripe&key=2a01:488:2000:e200::/56&type=inet6num)
13. GERiT
14. FactGrid
15. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File