The mission of the Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences (GELIFES) is to enhance the understanding of adaptive processes, including their causes and consequences and their maladaptive costs, across all levels of biological organization (from molecules and genes to individuals and ecosystems), to inform society of the institute’s findings and contribute with (tangible) solutions to urgent societal problems.

GELIFES' goals are as follows:

1. To perform frontline research both by integrative multidisciplinary approaches to short- and long-term adaptive processes as well as in its separate foundational disciplines.
2. To educate the new generation of life sciences researchers and educators in this integrative way of thinking.
3. To inform the public at large of GELIFES research and its fields, and where possible join forces with non-academic partners and promote knowledge-based societal change.
4. To contribute with solutions to global challenges by tailoring GELIFES fundamental and applied research to societal demands.