As an important part of inland water system, lake provides a place for the human-nature interaction, and plays a major role in water supply, flood control, shipping, tourism, aquaculture and regional eco-safety protection. China is a country that can boast of its various, widely distributed lakes. However, the lakes are strongly disturbed by human activities in recent years, of which large shallow lake is a typical case. Research on lake science and environment aims at imminent requirements of China in reasonable exploitation of lake and catchment resources, and sustainable development of the country.

　　The State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment (SKLLSE), attached to Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), authorized by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China in 2007. It was established on the basis of the former key Laboratory of Lake Sediment and Environment (authorized by the CAS in 1991).

　　 The targets for SKLLSE are to establish a national research platform for lake science and environment research, to identify the major scientific issues on lake environment, to develop the theoretic system of modern lake science, to propose a methodology for improving lake environment and protecting water safety, and to enhance the academic growth of China on lake science.

　　There are 63 permanent staff members in SKLLSE, including 28 professors. SKLLSE owns over 50 large high-precision instruments and equipments, with 3 field stations for scientific research and observation.