Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

When using this site personal data are collected and stored in databases, log files, or other systems. We adhere strictly to data protection regulations for storing and processing these data.

2. How we use and disclose your information

The data we collect will be used exclusively for the purposes listed. We will disclose data to a third party only under explicitly stated circumstances (e.g. for purposes like conference registration, with specified partners in joint projects, or in cases where data are administered by a consortium the MfN is a member of). We will not share data with third parties without authorization. External service providers who have been contracted by us to process data do not count as third parties as defined by data protection regulations; they are contractually obliged to adhere to data protection regulations and are subject to our supervision. We will disclose data to state agencies only in compliance with legislation or in order to aid criminal proceedings should our systems be attacked. Data will be deleted as soon as they are no longer required.

3. Consent to further use

In order for you to use certain parts of our services, we may need to store and use personal data in addition to the cases described in section 4 below. In such cases we will obtain your prior consent.

4. The personal data we collect when you use our website:

4.1 Log of your Internet visits and access to data and web services

When you access the MfN’s website, we will store access information relevant for data protection and data security purposes in a log file. Depending on the access protocol, the log may contain the following details:

  • IP address of the computer making the request
  • IP address host name
  • Name of the requested website, file, or action
  • Date and time of the request
  • Volume of data transferred
  • Access status of the web server (data transferred, file not found, command not executed, etc.)
  • Description of the web browser used
  • Originating URL of the request.

The stored information will be used exclusively for the purpose of identifying and pursuing improper access (attempted or successful) to our web server, as well as for general statistical analysis. We do not produce profiles of individual users. The analysis will be performed by authorized personnel of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. The logged information will be stored for a maximum of three months and all non-anonymized information will be deleted after this period.

4.2 Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your computer. Cookies can be used to remember certain information during an online session (session cookies) or to identify a particular computer over multiple sessions (persistent cookies). We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. They can be deleted after your visit on our site. You can block cookies in your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may prevent you from accessing the full content of our site.

4.3 Web analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”). Google Analytics uses cookies to help the website analyse how users use the site. The information generated by the cookie about your use of this website will be transmitted to and stored by Google on servers in the United States. If IP anonymization is activated on this website, your IP address will however be truncated by Google beforehand within the area of member states of the European Union or other signatories of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address sent to a Google server in the USA and truncated. Google will use this information on behalf of the operator of this website for the purpose of evaluating how you use the website, compiling reports on website activities, and providing further services related to website and internet usage for the website operator. The IP address transferred by your browser within the scope of Google Analytics will not be associated with any other data held by Google. You can prevent the storage of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings of your browser software. However, we would like to point out that if you do so, it may not be possible for you to utilize the full scope of this website’s functions. You can also prevent the data generated by the cookie and related to your usage of this website (including your IP address) from being conveyed to and processed by Google by downloading and installing a browser plug-in available through the following link: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.You can also opt out from being tracked by Google Analytics (effective after the opt-out) by clicking on the link below. This sets an opt-out cookie to prevent tracking:Opt out of Google Analytics

Further information on the terms of use and privacy policy of Google Analytics can be found on:http://www.google.com/analytics/terms/de.html and http://www.google.com/intl/de/analytics/privacyoverview.html.Please note that on this website, Google Analytics code is supplemented by “gat._anonymizeIp();” to ensure an anonymized collection of IP addresses (so-called IP masking).

4.4 Social plug-ins

Our website uses social plug-ins for social networks such as Twitter, Facebook, or Flickr. These are often operated in countries outside the EU. More precise details about these services can be found on the providers’ own websites. Plug-ins are identified through the logo of the respective network or service.If you open a page of our website containing such a plug-in in your web browser, your web browser will create a direct connection to the servers of the respective provider in the country concerned. The content of the plug-in will be transferred to your browser embedded into the website by the provider. By incorporating the plug-ins the provider is given at least the information that you have visited a certain page on our website. If you are registered and have logged in with the provider concerned, your visit can also be assigned to your user account. If you interact with a plug-in, e.g. if you click on the “Like” button or enter a comment in a form field, your browser will also transmit this information directly to the provider where it will be saved and, if applicable, continue to be used and published. You can find details on this, on your rights, and on ways in which you can prevent the collection and use of your data in order to protect your privacy in the data privacy policy of the respective provider.If you do not want a social network to collect data about you, you must log out of that network before visiting our website.

4.5 Registration

Some of our services require you to register. You will be required to provide relevant personal information, which will be used exclusively for the stated purpose. This may involve the explicit transfer of data, for example to reserve hotel accommodation for events. Information will be shared for such specified purposes only and will be stored only until your request has been dealt with for the duration of legal retention periods. Information you enter in web forms may be transmitted unencrypted via the Internet, in which case it may, in theory, be intercepted by unauthorized persons. Your registration is voluntary and can be deleted at any point.You must provide an e-mail address for certain purposes, such as subscribing to circulars or newsletters. You may be required to confirm your e-mail address, for example by clicking on a link in a confirmation e-mail, to validate your registration. Any additional information you provide is voluntary and may help us to personalize our communications with you. You may unsubscribe from circulars/newsletters at any point. When you unsubscribe, your information will be deleted from our system.In some cases (e.g., electronic journals, wikis, or blogs), information is collected in order to publish or permanently archive content generated or uploaded on our site. Where such content is subject to copyright, we are legally obliged to retain a minimal dataset (name and contact details, such as address or e-mail) even after account deletion in order to document authorship, licencing, or copyright issues and ensure that the moral rights of the author(s) are respected. If this information was not part of a publication and publicly visible, it will remain protected. It can, however, be referenced by the publisher of the platform (electronic journal, wiki, blog).

4.6 Ordering

When placing orders through our website, you may choose whether your address information will be used solely to process your order and be deleted after the end of the legal retention period, or whether the order is linked to a registration.

4.7 Email communication

If you want to communicate with us by e-mail please use either our main address info(at)mfn.berlin. If you are in contact with a specific person, you may use the person’s own e-mail address on our domain (username)@mfn.berlin. Your e-mail address will be used exclusively for the purpose of communicating with you and will not be shared with any third party, except in situations where this is absolutely necessary to comply with your request and never without your explicit permission. We cannot yet provide encrypted email services. If you wish to contact us with confidential information, you are welcome to alternatively use the postal system.

5. Hyperlinks to other providers

This privacy policy applies to all online services provided by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin. When we refer to or link to external content on third-party websites, the MfN can neither be held liable for the accuracy or completeness of such linked content, nor for the data security of such websites. Linked content is checked for obvious legal infringement at the time it is linked. Continual monitoring of the content of linked sites, however, is not feasible. We will, however, study any specific indications of legal infringement that is brought to our attention. Please notify us of any linked content that violates existing laws or is inappropriate in any other way. The MfN has no control over the extent to which external providers comply with data protection laws. Please check the privacy policy of any linked website you visit.

6. Data security

Your personal information will be stored on secured computers. In order to protect the data we have collected from loss, manipulation, or unauthorized access, technical and organizational measures will be implemented by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin in accordance with the latest technological standards. Authorization procedures regulate access to information, limiting access to the persons assigned to processing it. All personnel who collect, process, or use personal data are bound to data confidentiality in accordance with Section 8 of the Berlin Data Protection Act.

7. Right to information and contact data

You have the right to receive disclosure about data stored about you on request. Furthermore, you may request the correction of erroneous data and the deletion of data that is no longer needed. Should you wish to make an application to view, correct, or delete your data, or if you have any other questions about data protection, please contact us at the following address: datenschutz(at)mfn.berlin

8. Validity and changes

This privacy policy was last updated on 8. July 2015 and is currently valid. Technological developments and changing legal requirements may necessitate changes to the privacy policy at any time. Please check this privacy policy regularly for future updates.