An ORCID ID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID) is a persistent digital identifier that distinguishes researchers from one another and resolves issues of name similarity, changes in name, and affiliations. This unique alphanumeric code is essential in the global research environment, providing a range of benefits that facilitate scholarship and professional communication. This article outlines the various advantages of having an ORCID ID for researchers at all stages of their careers.
What is an ORCID ID?
An ORCID ID is a 16-digit number that uniquely identifies scientific and other academic authors and contributors. This system was developed to solve the problem of author identification in academic publishing. Researchers can register for an ORCID ID for free, which remains with them throughout their career regardless of changes in name, institution, or research area.
Benefits of ORCID ID
1. Uniqueness and Visibility:
One of the primary benefits of having an ORCID ID is the distinction it provides. Researchers often share names, and their publications can be easily confused with others'. An ORCID ID eliminates this ambiguity, ensuring that all work is attributed to the correct individual. This unique identification helps increase the visibility of a researcher's work in the scholarly community.
2. Simplifies Record Keeping:
Researchers typically publish across various platforms and journals, which makes tracking all scholarly outputs challenging. ORCID provides a centralized profile where all publications, datasets, and other scholarly works can be linked. This not only simplifies the record-keeping process but also makes updating CVs, grant applications, and bios quicker and more accurate.
3. Seamless Integration:
Many journals, funding bodies, and institutions have integrated ORCID into their workflows, making it a crucial element in the submission and application processes. Having an ORCID ID allows for seamless integration of a researcher’s output into these systems, facilitating easier submission processes and ensuring that all contributions are appropriately recognized and tracked.
4. Enhances Mobility and Collaboration:
As the academic environment becomes increasingly global, maintaining a coherent and portable academic identity is more important than ever. An ORCID ID allows researchers to carry their professional identities across geographical, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries, enhancing opportunities for collaboration.
5. Access to a Wide Range of Tools:
ORCID connects with a multitude of tools that researchers use to track work, measure impact, and maintain data. For instance, researchers can link their ORCID ID with their Scopus author profile or Publons to automatically import their publication lists and citation metrics.
6. Supports Automatic Updates:
Several research-related platforms and systems use ORCID IDs to automate updates. For example, data repositories, journal submission systems, and grant application portals can pull information from or send information to a researcher’s ORCID record, reducing redundancy and minimizing the potential for errors.
7. Aids in Compliance and Reporting:
Funders and institutions often require evidence of outputs and outcomes from research activities. An ORCID ID facilitates this by providing a trustworthy and verifiable digital record of an individual’s academic contributions, which can be particularly useful for compliance and reporting requirements.
Conclusion
The ORCID ID provides a solution to a critical problem in the research community by distinguishing researchers from one another reliably and consistently. It offers an array of benefits that enhance research efficiency, visibility, and interoperability across the academic ecosystem. For researchers, creating and maintaining an ORCID ID is an investment in their professional future, ensuring that their work is accurately captured and recognized, thereby fostering opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.
