Lars Ribbe is a professor for integrated land and water resources management and Dean of the Faculty of Spatial Development and Infrastructure Systems at the TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences). Holding a PhD in the field of Hydro-informatics (Friedrich Schiller University Jena) his current work in research and teaching is river basin assessment, modelling and management and he is specifically interested in developing knowledge systems helping decision makers to cope with prevailing water resources related challenges. He is actively involved in promoting a global network of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) master programs and lead of the Exceed project Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD).