The Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences is one of the ten federal scientific institutions that depend on the Federal Science Policy. It develops important scientific research activities, it carries out public service missions and it is open to all through the Museum of Natural Sciences.

At IRSNB, one person out of three is a scientist. The scientific staff mainly includes biologists, paleontologists and geologists, but also oceanographers, anthropologists, archaeologists as well as geographers, physicists, bioengineers or mathematicians, which makes it possible to conduct multidisciplinary research in the following areas:

• Biodiversity and the mechanisms of evolution of living beings
• Terrestrial, freshwater, or marine ecosystems
• The history of life, climate, human settlements
• The geology of Belgium and the modeling of the North Sea

The IRSNB provides scientific expertise in support of Belgium's international commitments relating to the protection of the environment. It develops tools and methods for monitoring natural, terrestrial or marine environments. It provides useful advice for the development of national and European policies for the protection and conservation of environments and biodiversity, and the use of natural resources.