Dr. Tockner has experience of both fundamental and applied scientific investigations of European multi-thread river systems. In particular, he has worked on several large Alpine river systems including the Tagliamento River, and has been involved in the scientific investigations underpinning restoration of parts of the Danube. He is the leader of the research group "Floodplain Ecology and Biodiversity" at the Swiss Federal Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (EAWAG) and is Lecturer at the Swiss Federal institute of Technology (ETH).