Heinz Köhler studied biology at Heidelberg University and obtained his PhD there with a study on the role of Diplopoda in the decomposition of plant matter. After postdoctoral times at Hohenheim and Lund Universities he took a professorship at Tübingen University and became Founding Director of the Institute of Evolution and Ecology. He was rewarded the Medal of Western University Arad and a research professorship at the University of Le Havre. Currently he holds the Chair of Animal Physiological Ecology at the University of Tübingen.