IGB Berlin, also known as Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei, is the largest research center for inland waters in Germany and a leading international institution in this field. Their primary focus is on the study of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. IGB conducts cutting-edge research to understand the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems, with a particular emphasis on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and their response to global change.

Their work contributes significantly to our understanding of these ecosystems and sustainable water management. The institute's research is organized into three program areas, which combine fundamental and applied research to protect and ensure the sustainable use of inland waters. This integrative and dynamic approach allows them to develop innovative ideas, address research questions, and promote national, European, and global research developments.

IGB's research is carried out through 37 research groups, organized in five disciplinary departments, allowing for multidisciplinary research in the fields of freshwater ecology and inland fisheries. IGB also boasts state-of-the-art research infrastructure, including large-scale research facilities like the IGB-Seelabor in Lake Stechlin and the River Lab in the Tagliamento River. Their infrastructure includes facilities for fish and invertebrate holding, as well as modern laboratories for biogeochemistry, isotopes, microbiology, and molecular research.

They use a wide range of methods and models, including remote sensing, sensors, and AI-assisted image analysis. The institute has made significant scientific contributions, such as developing bypass channels at weirs to protect sturgeons and other large migratory fish, understanding the socio-economic benefits of pond landscapes and small water bodies, and studying water cycles in large, intensively managed river basins. With their commitment to research excellence, IGB Berlin is at the forefront of advancing knowledge about freshwater ecosystems and their sustainable management for the future