Research Program

Research, explain, conserve—under this guiding principle, the Center of Natural History (CeNak) has established an integrated research program dedicated to the study of biodiversity. In our 12 research departments, we investigate organisms and their habitats, from right here on the Elbe River to the species-rich tropics.

Since its foundation in 2014, the Center of Natural History at Universität Hamburg has pursued a research program integrating zoology, geology-paleontology, and mineralogy with the mission of “discovering biological diversity—its evolution and future.” Research at CeNak centers on questions of taxonomy and phylogeny, evolutionary biology (in particular speciation mechanisms and ecomorphology), as well as biogeography, monitoring, and modeling. Our scientists study organisms in marine habitats ranging from the Elbe River to polar regions, as well as organisms in terrestrial and limnic habitats, with special focus on the species-rich tropics.

• Evolutionary Systematics

• Organismic Structure and Function

• Ecosystem Dynamics

Research Departments

The Center of Natural History consists of 12 Research Departments, of which 10 focus on zoological research and 2 on mineralogy and paleontology. [ more ]