Large Power System - Separate Earth Grounds?
I worked in a Radio and TV studio building during equipment installation.

All broadcast equipment, and outlets for such equipment, was isolated from Building Ground (Protective Earth), but was connected to "Technical Ground".  Technical Ground and Building Ground were connected only at one point, in the TV master control room.  During installation, we had an alarm device connected between Tech Gnd and Building Ground to alert us if there was any connection between the two grounds.  This arrangement was intended to prevent ground loops from causing interference in the broadcast equipment.

It sounds like you are expected to do something similar with grounding in your scientific system.