Institute for Water and Environmental Problems, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IWEP SB RAS) was founded on September 1, 1987 on the base of laboratories of Academy institutes involved in natural-resources and environment research.

Academician Oleg F.Vasiliev, Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, currently the Advisor at the Russian Academy of Sciences, was the first Director -Organizer of the Institute. Since 1995 Professor Yuri I.Vinokurov (Doctor of Geography) heads IWEP.

IWEP SB RAS is situated in Barnaul that is the administrative center of Altai Krai. In 1996 the Novosibirsk Branch of IWEP was established on the basis of Novosibirsk complex laboratory of IWEP and research fleet of SB RAS. In 2002 the Gorno-Altaisk Branch of IWEP started its work in Gorno-Altaisk (Republic of Altai). In 1999 the laboratory of geoecological and water problems was created jointly with the Research Center in Kemerovo.

IWEP is provided with research vessels on Novosibirsk Reservoir and Lake Teletskoye, Republic of Altai, and a fleet of cars including the specialized mobile laboratory for studying of atmosphere.