Edward Asahel Birge (September 7, 1851 – June 9, 1950) was an American professor and administrator at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Van Hise died unexpectedly in 1918, and Birge was once again asked to serve as president of the university.

He was regarded as an efficient administrator but was criticized then and later for refusing to make substantial changes to the university to adapt to the increase in students in the wake of World War I.

[2] Birge and his close collaborator Chancey Juday were pioneers of North American limnology (the study of inland waters, such as rivers and lakes).

Together they founded an influential school of limnology on Lake Mendota, as a component of the University of Wisconsin.

[3] Birge retired from the administration in 1925 but continued his limnological research until the early 1940s, primarily in partnership with Juday.