It is widely accepted that zoos are an important source for research on animals, biodiversity and conservation issues. Additionally, educational work at the institution zoo have become a new subject of research in the past years. Our department wants to integrate interdisciplinary objectives and fields of research and introduce zoo biology-specific courses in the academic education at the Goethe University in Frankfurt. Studies of zoo animal behavior, mixed-species exhibits, chronobiology and environmental enrichment are part of our work. Furthermore, educational research is carried out on the evaluation of teaching concepts in zoos, visitor studies and the efficiency of zoos in knowledge transfer and attitude change regarding conservation learning. The foundation professorship provides the possibility to establish a new line of research and education in this field.