We are meeting in Frankfurt

Welcome to our Annual Meeting 2026

Highlights will included the presentation of the Max Planck Startup Award of the Stifterverband and the plenary assembly featuring an expert dialogue on the future of democracy

Ovo Labs receives Max Planck Startup Award of the Stifterverband 2026

The Max Planck start-up aims to significantly improve IVF success rates

News

Sustainable chemistry through innovative catalyst research

June 12, 2026
Chemistry (M&T) Climate Research Policy
The kick-off event for ASCEND took place in Berlin on June 11. The research project aims to accelerate the development of new catalysts and thereby lay the groundwork for climate-neutral chemical production

VR simulations can enhance long-term thinking

June 10, 2026
Psychology
Study shows digital interventions help people connect with their future self

Erin Schuman receives Kavli Prize 2026

June 10, 2026
Awards Brain Neurobiology
The director at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research has been awarded the prize in the field of neuroscience, alongside three other scientists 
Further News

International

Two interdisciplinary Dioscuri Centres in Poland

April 21, 2026
International
The Call is directed at scientists from all scientific disciplines and all nationalities who are willing to establish a Dioscuri Centre at a Polish Host Institution

Between cutting-edge research and responsibility

April 16, 2026
How the Max Planck Society cooperates with China

Curiosity knows no boundaries

February 12, 2026
How Kenyan scientist Mercy Akinyi is establishing a Max Planck Humboldt Research Group in her home country
Country portals

Career

Innovative training programmes for Phd students

Talented German and foreign junior scientists are offered the opportunity to earn a doctorate under excellent research conditions

Max Planck-Weizmann Postdoctoral Programme

The call for applications for the Joint Max Planck-Weizmann PostDoc Programme is currently open until July 1st, 2026. Interested applicants can get more information regarding the program and the current call here

Job Offers

Electrical Engineer (m/f/d) for High Heat Flux Test Facility GLADIS

Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (Garching), Garching
June 05, 2026

Master’s Student (f/m/d) | Automation and Machine Learning in Electrosynthesis

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr
June 02, 2026

Master’s Student (f/m/d) | Electrosynthesis for value-added Products

Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Mülheim an der Ruhr
June 02, 2026
to the JobBoard
Career

Topic Specials

Climate and Transformation

In addition to climate forecasts, the consequences of climate change are increasingly becoming the focus of research at Max Planck Institutes

The brain

The human brain is the most complex organ that nature has ever produced: 100 billion nerve cells and many times more contact points give it capabilities that no supercomputer can match

Migration

The causes and consequences of human mobility and its history are central topics for research at Max Planck Institutes
Further Topic Specials

Publications


Illustration of networks and two persons
Cover of the brochure Living and Working in Germany
Research is Calling! cover
Cover Max Planck Research Magazine 1/2026
Image brochure - Max Planck Society
Cover - Highlights 2024 from the Yearbook of the Max Planck Society
Annual Report 2024 cover - Max Planck Society
Evaluation cover

From the Institutes


MPI of Biophysics
Searching for the Right Place to Divide Mitochondria more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Molecular change helps balance nutrition and detoxification in modern humans more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
When does a tool become part of an individual? more
MPI for Chemistry
Europe benefits from a faster renewable energy transition more
MPI for Biology, Tübingen
How brown algae choose their mates more
MPI for Gravitational Physics, et al.
The new LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA catalog sets records in precision gravitational-wave astronomy more
MPI for the Study of Crime, Security and Law
A Tool for Democratic Transparency more
MPI for Solar System Research
Different Meteorites, Same Birthplace more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
When noisy decision-making becomes a strategic advantage more
MPI of Animal Behavior
Overlooked breadth of chimpanzee culture more
MPI for Political and Social Science
Steven Vertovec Appointed President of the New International Panel on Migration (IPM) more
MPI for Biology, Tübingen
Giant viruses inside seaweed more
MPI for Gravitational Physics, et al.
Gravitational-wave detectors can now “autotune” their signals more
MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology
Swartkrans Paranthropus and Sterkfontein Australopithecus  had different locomotor repertoires more
MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology
Double defense against self-recognition more
MPI for Marine Microbiology
Related bacteria in the ocean and the gut more
MPI for Evolutionary Biology
Altered behavior of conserved cells builds the shark´s face more
Sustainability Network, et al.
How do climate extremes alter animal societies? more

Events

June 2026
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
5 6
A history of science and injustice

Jun 5, 2026 from 04:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Local Time Germany)

Tomorrow Labs: The Festival at the Science Port Magdeburg - 6 June 2026

Jun 6, 2026 from 04:00 PM to 09:59 PM (Local Time Germany)

Upcoming Events

Open Day at GEO600

Jul 4, 2026 12:00 PM - 04:00 PM (Local Time Germany)
GEO600, Schäferberg, 31157 Ruthe
All Events

Multimedia


Screenshot of the picture gallery "My Science and Me"

My Science and Me

What fascinates scientists about their research? What drives them? Science thrives on the people who shape it. Our picture gallery depicts aspects of research from the perspective of those who carry it out
Two smiling women standing looking in the direction of the camera with a dark background.

Unraveling Behavior

Podcast
A science podcast about the patterns driving human judgment and decision making. In each episode,  Ana Sofia Morais sits down with a researcher to explore how people make decisions, how they handle risk, and how our surroundings and the online world shape our behavior.
A microsopic view of a fluorescent green worm on a black background.

Cell droplet research

Video
A new hope for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. A film about the research of Anthony Hyman, who was awared the Koerber Prize 2022 and the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences 2023.
A sombre grey cartoon image of four people sitting on a bench.

Flight and Trauma

Video
Traumatic experiences from fleeing war zones can lead to distressing symptoms, which impair everyday life. Now with Ukranian sub-titles.
Optogenetics | briefly explained

Optogenetics | briefly explained

Video
Turning nerve cells on and off using pulses of light. Optogenetics is a relatively new field that uses light to control genetically modified cells. It is based on light-activated membrane proteins, such as bacteriorhodopsin or channelrhodopsin, that are built into nerve cells.

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