Research

Exploring biodiversity. Shaping the future.

The Natural History Museum Stuttgart is an internationally connected research museum with an integrated approach. More than 190 dedicated staff from almost 30 countries work together towards a shared goal: to explore, preserve and share knowledge about the biological diversity of our planet throughout its history.
At the Natural History Museum Stuttgart, we combine outstanding scientific research with a responsibility to nature and society, providing important insights into the understanding and protection of biological diversity. At the heart of our research is our scientific collection. Its origins lie in the ducal Kunstkammer (cabinet of art and curiosities) established in 1600, and the Natural History Cabinet founded in 1791. Today, it is one of the most important natural history collections in Europe.
This archive of biological diversity allows us to look deep into the past and closely at the present – from prehistoric fossils and historical specimens to animals, plants and fungi living today. By bringing together the unique perspectives of palaeontology and biology, we can investigate how biological diversity arises, changes and disappears.

What is biodiversity?

Biodiversity refers to the full variety of life on Earth throughout its history – from genetic diversity and the diversity of species to the diversity of ecosystems. It forms the web of life that supports our ecosystems and, in turn, makes life on Earth possible.

Our key research questions

• How do living organisms adapt to their environment?
  Variation within a species is an important prerequisite for its ability to adapt. We investigate how genetic differences and physical traits enable populations to adapt to changing environmental conditions and, over the course of evolution, give rise to new species.
• How does species diversity arise, and where is it found?
  The diversity of species and their interactions keep our ecosystems functional and resilient. We investigate how many species there are on Earth, how they are related to one another, and how their patterns of distribution, from the past to the present, can be explained.
• How do biological communities and ecosystems change?
  Our ecosystems are complex networks. We investigate how natural and human-induced environmental factors influence the composition and stability of these communities. We compare ecosystems of the past with those of the present to gain new insights into ecological change and draw important conclusions for safeguarding biodiversity.

Right on the pulse of science: current research from the Natural History Museum Stuttgart as well as from (international) partner institutions is presented at our research colloquium. The colloquium serves the scientific exchange between researchers and all those interested in research. The lectures in English take place regularly every fortnight on Tuesdays at 4 pm at Museum am Löwentor and are transmitted via Zoom. We look forward to active participation on site or online!

From July to October, the research colloquium is on its summer break! The lecture series will resume on 06.10.2026.