Life science evolved as the demand for specially trained scientists for the expanding field of biotechnology grew in the chemical industry and chemical research in Germany. In a bid to meet the demand for such early career researchers, Leibniz Universität Hannover introduced its very practice-oriented degree programme in Life Science in 2001 – the first programme of its kind in Germany. Life science, which combines the traditional subjects of chemistry and biology, is primarily concerned with processes occurring in the cells of all organisms (e.g. microorganisms, plants and humans).