The Swiss Federal Institute for Environmental Science and Technology - EAWAG - is one of four research institutes associated with the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology (ETH). EAWAG is a multidisciplinary center well versed in the environmental sciences, studying the environment and its relationship to human activities. We at EAWAG advocate an environmentally compatible usage of natural resources. Our primary concerns are water quality and aquatic systems, both surface and subsurface - and their importance to humans and to nature. Our institute employs around 350 people. There are three main EAWAG sites: our headquarters at Dubendorf, near Zurich; the Limnological Research Center at Kastanienbaum on Lake Lucerne; and a facility for conducting civil engineering studies on waste water purification and water treatment at Zurich-Altstetten. We carry out basic research on environmental problems and protection measures. We develop concepts and technologies aimed at furthering a sustainable relationship with nature. In this way we combine research activities and practical consulting, thus bridging the gap between science and its application. We at EAWAG place a strong emphasis on education. We actively support teaching at universities and other educational institutions both here and abroad. A wide range of courses is offered for the further education of specialists in environmental protection.