The Institute (ISB) originated from the Laboratory of Soil Biology, which has operated within the former Institute of Landscape Ecology, Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences, since 1979. The ISB was established on January 1st, 1986 to perform biological research in soil of both natural and human–affected environments. The ISB is concerned with basic theoretical questions necessary for soil regeneration and maintenance of soil fertility. The main research directories include studies of the structure and dynamics of soil organism communities in both natural and human-affected ecosystems, studies of the interactions amongst soil animals, microorganisms and abiotic part of soil environment, studies of soil microstructure, and studies of nutrient cycling, humus formation and transformation.