News

IGB researchers emphasise the great importance of the WFD for sustainable water management.

In a statement released today, the Leibniz Association's Senate recommended continued funding for IGB. This attests to the Institute's very positive development. The Senate thus agrees with the assessment of an international expert panel who conducted a comprehensive review of the Institute’s achievements. Particular emphasis was placed on the structural adjustments and scientific development of the IGB over the past seven years.

Dr Maria Magdalena Warter heads the new IGB research group, "Ecohydrological Processes in Urban Ecosystems", from January 2026. In this brief interview, she talks about factors that put urban water bodies under stress and explains why the beaver is is a typical Berliner.

Dagmar Frisch heads the new IGB research group "Evolutionary Ecology and Global Change". We asked her three questions: one about her work, one personal and one to allow her creativity to flourish.

IGB's full commitment to one of the most important German professional societies for water research: Two scientists from  IGB were elected as members  of the executive committee of the German Limnological Society (DGL), and Michael Hupfer will take over as president of the society in 2026. IGB will also host the next DGL annual conference in September 2026.

A river flows steadily, and a lake usually has a consistent water level. However, many of our rivers have been canalised, straightened and regulated for shipping. It's therefore no surprise that we take stable water levels for granted, even in lakes. However, fluctuating water levels are a natural occurrence: streams and rivers sometimes dry up or flood the surrounding land. This creates floodplains along their banks, which are valuable habitats that are constantly changing.

Lynn Goveart is studying how evolutionary and ecological processes affect aquatic organisms. The work of the IGB research group leader is now being additionally supported for five years by the Leibniz Programme for Women Professors. This is aimed at women in all disciplines who have an outstanding international track record.

Scientists from IGB present long-term monitoring data on water quality of Lake Stechlin in the journal Scientific Data. The team makes this data available to other researchers via IGB's data platform FRED.