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Photo of the institute entrance in Martinsried, five persons walking towards it. Photo of the institute entrance in Seewiesen.

Welcome to the MPI for Biological Intelligence!

In January 2022, the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence emerged from the MPI for Ornithology (MPIO), located in Seewiesen and the MPI of Neurobiology (MPIN) in Martinsried. The final, legal foundation of the institute with the two locations happened on January 1, 2023.

Together, we are dedicated to the investigation of biological intelligence – the evolved ability of animals to cope with a constantly changing environment and to find ever new solutions to life's challenges.

News

Photo of a scientist with gloves and pipette in the laboratory

Deciphering a hidden messaging system inside cells

June 25, 2025

Tabitha Hees receives the Otto Hahn Medal for pioneering mitochondria research

Photograph of a yellow-fronted barbet in a tree eating a fig.

Birds like it sour!

June 19, 2025

Evolution has provided birds with a clever strategy to eat extremely acidic fruit

Picture with four people. Left and right two men, in the middle two women with flowers in their hands. All are smiling.

Hansol Lim and Mekhla Rudra win Young Scientist Award

June 18, 2025

Young Scientist Award

Annual award presented for outstanding publications by early-career researchers

Further News

Campus Seminars

Institute Seminars

July 2025

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Neurobiology of vocal creativity

Jul 8, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Single-Neuron Learning using Closed-Loop Neurofeedback

Jul 10, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

New Imaging Technologies for Multiscale Connectomics

Jul 10, 2025 from 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Decision Making in a Complex World: How Human Foragers Integrate Information from Their Environment, Personal Experience, and Conspecifics

Jul 15, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Adjusting to Uncertainty: Unraveling Behavior in a Disturbed Environment

Jul 22, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Endosome-mRNA association in developing neurons

Jul 29, 2025 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Website Campus Development

Information regarding the development of the Max Planck Campus in Martinsried and associated construction projects.

Behind the scenes

Vocational training: Precision Mechanics

Video November 11, 2024

Find out how your passion for craftsmanship can help advance basic research.

Vocational training: Biology Lab Technicians

Video October 30, 2024

Biology Lab Technicians are essential drivers of research progress. We show you why.

Vocational training: Office Management

Video May 21, 2024

Vocational trainees Benny & Christoph show you why administration is anything but boring.

Imaging Facility

Video March 10, 2024

Get to know our Imaging Facility, essential driving force behind our research.

Social behavior of Cichlids

Video December 17, 2023

Dive into the investigation of the complex social behaviors of Cichlids.

Zebrafish behavior

Video December 10, 2023

Watch Joe at his multi-faceted work to investigate the integration of sensory input.

Fieldwork in Mexico

Video November 12, 2023

Join Luke Eberhart-Hertel on an exciting fieldtrip to Mexico, investigating snowy plovers.

Decoding neurodevelopment

Video October 29, 2023

Unravel the mysteries of brain development with Ann and Yana, studying interneurons.

Mitochondria research

Video October 22, 2023

Spend a day in the lab with PhD students Isabel & Tabitha, investigating mitochondria.

Where’s the mRNA?

Video October 08, 2023

Come trace the mRNA with Juliana: Watch her lab routine researching hormones in birds.

Fieldwork in Madagascar

Video September 24, 2023

Join an exciting trip to Madagascar and find out more about plover research.

Motion vision in fruit flies

Video September 18, 2023

Inspire your vision with insights into motion vision research.

Fieldwork in Alaska

Video August 20, 2023

Follow Bart Kempenaers and his team into the vastness of Alaska.

Welcome to the MPI for Biological Intelligence!

News

Campus Seminars

Institute Seminars

Social Media

Behind the scenes