One of the main aims of the Göttingen Centre for Biodiversity and Ecology GCBE is the promotion of interdisciplinary studies on biological diversity at a genetic, species and ecosystem level in both research and education. A central research interest focuses on terrestrial ecosystems with studies being carried out across all continents, with the only exception being the Antarctic.

A total of 18 departments at the University of Göttingen representing a wide range of disciplines are involved in the centre, making this constellation one of a kind in Germany in the field of ecology. The centre avails of diverse research opportunities via access to various long-term research plots (including Hainich National Park (Germany), Sulawesi (Indonerisa), long-term experimental plots (Göttingen Forest, Luneburg Heath), central university institutions (including the Zoological Museum, herbaria and the Botanical Gardens), and research centres and equipment (including an elevating truck for tree crown research, lab for root research, DNA sequencing lab).

Current research projects include a collaborative research centre (DFG SFB), a 1b excellence cluster, two research training groups and a German Science Foundation (DFG) research group.