Botanical Garden

Welcome to the Faculty of Biological Sciences

Botanical Garden
Image: Anne Günther/FSU

The Faculty of Biological Sciences represents a broad variety of biological disciplines as well as the nutritional sciences and pharmacy. Famous scholars such as the botanist Matthias Jacob Schleiden (1804-1881) and the zoologist Ernst Haeckel (1834-1919) worked here with their sunny and dark sides.

The Faculty of Biological Sciences cooperates with other faculties of the Friedrich Schiller University and non-university research institutes of the Max Planck Society and the Leibniz Association in several coordinated research projects. These projects are part the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse" funded by the German Research Foundation.  

Image: Anna Schroll
Exzellence cluster Balance of the Microverse
Research Cluster Balance of the Microverse
The Research Cluster investigates the complex interactions of microorganisms with other organisms and with their environment, which are of great significance for the functioning of ecosystems, our climate and the well-being of plants, animals and humans.
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Latest News

· Life
Scientists discover new ant species
International research team uses micro-computed tomography to scan 20-million-year-old amber
Three-dimensional image of the previously unknown extinct ant species.
Picture: Hammel/Lauströer
· Life
New “centre of gravity” for excellent research in microbiology
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new research building of the “Balance of the Microverse” Cluster of Excellence at the University of Jena
South of the Beutenberg Campus, the new "Microverse Center Jena" is being built.
Picture: hks | architekten
· Life
Twisted-wing parasites feel no pain
How female twisted-wing parasites endure the trauma of mating
Stylops ovinae: One female protrudes from its host’s abdomen (left); an adult male (right).
Image: Hans Pohl/Universität Jena
· Life
National parks - islands in a desert?
Effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in national parks is strongly associated with socioeconomic conditions
A ranger of the Saxon Switzerland National Park shows a forest area whith an illegal fireplace.
Image: Hanspeter Mayr, Nationalpark Sächsische Schweiz, Deutschland
· Life
Life in the earth’s interior as productive as in some ocean waters
Researchers discover microbes in pitch-dark aquifers as important primary producers
Dr Will Overholt and Prof. Kirsten Küsel during water analyses in the field.
Image: Beatrix Heinze
· Light · Life
Of biosystems and energy-rich chemicals
Two University of Jena Collaborative Research Centres awarded further funding by DFG
Petri dish with an algae culture into which bacterial extracts were introduced.
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)
All short news