The II. Institute for Theoretical Physics is one of the leading institutes in the field of stochastic thermodynamics. Combining methods from classical thermodynamics and stastical physics this framework allows to define thermodynamic quantities, such as heat or work, along individual, fluctuating trajectories. The rational is relevant in small systems where thermal noise plays a crucial role. Such small systems are not only encountered in the lab but also form the very basis of life for instance in the form of molecular motor proteins or biological reaction networks.