PSDI Digital Lab Notebook Resources

ELNFinder, a resource actively supported by PSDI, assists researchers and staff from research institutions to select the most suitable Electronic Lab Notebook (ELN) software for their needs. Users can easily filter the extensive list of ELNs by key criteria such as import/export capabilities, search functionality, delivery model, data storage, and pricing options. The filters are grouped into useful categories: General, Usability, Core Functions (used for daily work), Extended Functions (used for daily work), Compliance with Legal Requirements, and Integration into Research Data Management (RDM) and IT environments. Users can use these filters to generate a list of ELNs that match their specific requirements.

This topic collection offers practical guidance on selecting and implementing electronic notebooks for research. It covers the benefits and challenges of adopting digital notebooks and advice on choosing the right notebook for your project. Additionally guidance is provided on considerations for moving from paper to digital and steps needed to successfully deploy an ELN solution.

This case study discusses why we chose OneNote, how we implemented OneNote as an ELN, and discuss the positives and negatives of the implementation with suggestions for readers on about how to approach a similar implementation. In late 2019, the undergraduate teaching laboratories in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the University of Southampton (UoS) underwent a major refurbishment, including the introduction of teaching laptops to the labs. This paved the way for the teaching labs to phase out physical notebooks. Yet this phasing out process was not without it complications, and it was not until 2024 a comprehensive replacement for the old physical notebooks was fully implemented. In this case study, we will look at the background for the implementation of an Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) for undergraduate students.