External Collaborations
In order to further our testing and research, we conduct
joint research with a wide range of universities andcompanies, both inside and outside Shiga, in addition toaccepting outside researchers, and promoting diverse
collaborations and collaborative research with the Lake
Biwa Branch of the National Institute for EnvironmentalStudies (NIES).

Agreement for the establishment of the Lake Biwa
Branch of NIES

Human Resources Development
We share our knowledge and techniques, such as
water sampling in Lake Biwa, to pass on skills inenvironmental monitoring operations. We also seek tofoster talent to improve the quality of testing and researchthrough presentations at academic conferences andjournals in Japan and abroad, and exchanges amongresearchers.

Guidance on water sampling

International Contributions
We accept foreign trainees in water environmentand other related fields, provide research results,
and offer technical cooperation. We also contributeto the conservation of the world's lake environments
by presenting our results at international
conferences, such as the World Lake Conference
and the World Water Forum.

Presentation at the World Lake Conference

Dissemination of Results
Seminars, workshops and publications
We hold Lake Biwa Seminars, seminars where we
report on the latest results of our testing and researchand share them with the residents of Shiga. We also
widely disseminate th ose results b y dispatchingresearchers to workshops organized by schools, NPOs,and neighborhood associations. In addition, we publish
newsletters and other publications that introduce theresults in an easy-to-understand manner.

Lake Biwa Seminar

Publication of LBERI Booklet
In March 2020, LBERI published LBERI Booklet Vol.1, "TheScience of Lake Biwa: Water and Creatures", using the results ofour research and testing as the basis for its content.
In this ﬁrst issue, we answer familiar questions that you mayor may not know the answer to about the water and creaturesof Lake Biwa, such as which direction the water in Lake Biwa
ﬂows and what the life cycle of ﬁsh and aquatic plants is like.
We hope that this book will encourage people to think about
Lake Biwa and lead to activities to improve the environment.

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LBERI News

Facility Overview
N

4F

Lake Biwa Laboratories

3F

Research RoomResearch Room
Water and Biology Laboratories

Total area 6,066.48 m2
Building area 2,932.29 m2Total floor area 8,086.22 m2
Structure Reinforced concrete
Partial steel frame
4 floors plus 1 basement floor

2F

Environmental Meeting RoomEntrance
Information Library
OfficeEco-Foyer

Front entrance

Air and Water Laboratories

1F

Environmental Information Library

Lake Biwa Branch of NIES

The Environmental Information Librarycollects academic information, books andadministrative materials on the Lake Biwa
environment, and makes them available to thepublic.
The library is open Monday throughWednesday (except holidays) from 10a.m. to 4 p.m.

Chemical Laboratories

Main Research FacilitiesWater Quality Experimental
Research Vessel“Biwakaze”

Remotelyoperatedvehicle (ROV)

Length: 28 m
Gross tonnage: 71 tons
Capacity: 25 people
In service since: 2015

Main Databases and Survey Results■Water Quality Environmental Survey Information Database (Water Quality of Lake Biwa)■Plankton
Plankton survey result research (plankton in Lake Biwa)
Seta River plankton survey results■Atmospheric Air Pollution Monitoring and Measurement■Ecosystem Biodiversity Image Database04