The University of Konstanz is a campus university,founded 1966 and is located close to the shore of Lake Constance. It is the youngest and with approx. 10,000 students, also the smallest of the nine universities recently awarded the title of University of Excellence in Germany. Besides its internationally outstanding reputation it is also known for its excellent services, such as its 24-hour library and its Welcome Service Center for international students. The large Department of Biology has grown into one of the most active and successful biology departments out of all German universities. The Department of Biology has been awarded with excellent ratings in all the last years’ independent surveys of German universities.

The Max Planck Institute for Ornithology (MPIO) is part of the Max Planck Society, the second most cited research institution world-wide. The MPIO has three departments, one in Seewiesen and one at the Ornithological Station (Vogelwarte) in Radolfzell. The location in Seewiesen was founded in 1958 as the Max Planck Institute for Behavioral Physiology, the workplace of the Nobel Prize laureate Konrad Lorenz. Today, two directors as well as several research groups work there. Recently renovated office buildings, a new laboratory building and a wind tunnel provide excellent facilities for researchers. The campus of Seewiesen is situated in Upper Bavaria between the lakes Starnberger See and Ammersee close to the city of Munich.

The Vogelwarte Radolfzell is located in close proximity to the City of Konstanz and Lake Constance. It was founded 1946 as the successor of the Vogelwarte Rossitten (nowadays in Russia), the oldest ornithological station world-wide.