The Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology was founded by the Max Planck Society in March 1996. The German (Federal State of Thuringia) town of Jena was selected because it is home to the Friedrich-Schiller-University and many other research centers, making it an attractive scientific location. The establisment of the new institute building on the Beutenberg Campus with immediate proximity to other biological and chemical institutes offers excellent potential for scientific co-operations and the establishment of networks. The institute attracts researchers from all over the world. At the moment it hosts scientists from 24 different countries. Besides the five directors who are heads of the departments, more than 70 scientists and 50 PhD and graduate students do their research work here.