School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
Organisation profile
Sustainability has many facets. Inter- and transdisciplinary research and teaching characterize the School of Sustainability. Scientists in our research projects work together in the laboratory, on the heath, in the grassland, in the classroom, with the city administration, with farmers, with non-governmental organizations, with companies, with students in the lecture hall and of course at their desks.
Furthermore, we work with regional and national political actors, e.g. ministries, as well as international organizations, e.g. UNEP, UNESCO, EU. We are part of national and international bodies, e.g. sustainability advisory boards of companies, member of the German Sustainability Award, World Biodiversity Council (IPBES), in order to contribute to social change with scientific findings.
Main research areas
Vision
Sustainability science investigates on a theoretical, conceptual and empirical level how to promote sustainable development and how to find and implement effective solutions for current social and ecological challenges. The aim is to create a more sustainable future.
Sustainability researchers are called upon to take responsibility for their research, which is anchored in existing scientific knowledge and methods and serves to make the world a better place for everyone.
Mission
We promote change towards a sustainable future by developing theories, concepts and practices of inclusive education for sustainability, research, governance and management.
We acknowledge the diversity and dynamics of values, norms and behaviour and contribute with transdisciplinary methods to ensuring that tensions and differences between different disciplines, methods, topics and standards are fruitfully taken up and used with productive compromises and further developments towards sustainable development.
Principles
The School of Sustainability is guided by the normative concepts of ecological system integrity and social and economic justice.
Ecological system integrity refers to the safeguarding of life-support systems, as well as the maintenance of the well-being of life on Earth.
With social and economic justice we strive for a world in which all people can fulfil their potential without endangering system integrity and the well-being of others.
Information about the School
The School of Sustainability includes...
... ca. 25 professors
... ca. 100 research assistants
... ca. 1000 students in Bachelor and Master courses
In various inter- and transdisciplinary projects we are constantly researching and working together on changes and solutions for current challenges.
Where To Start? Exploring 1-Year-Students’ Preconceptions of Sustainable Development
Sundermann, A. (presenter)
23.08.2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentations (poster etc.) › Research
Which Research Approach Should I Employ In My Research Project? Developing Criteria-Based Guidance on Choosing the Most Appropriate Research Approach Among TD Case Study, Living Lab, Action Research, Urban Transition Lab, Real-World Lab, Applied Disciplinary Research, and others
Rose, M. (Speaker), Hilger, A. (Speaker), Wanner, M. (Speaker) & Dedeurwaerdere, T. (Speaker)
10.09.2019Activity: Talk or presentation › Conference Presentations › Research
Why and how do civil servants (not) use social science evidence to decide on participatory governance processes? A mixed-methods study on evidence-informed participatory governance in German states, counties and municipalities
Rose, M. (Speaker) & Newig, J. (Coauthor)
08.07.2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Conference Presentations › Research
Why companies do district heating – the business model perspective on network expansion and renewable sources of energy
Reinert, F. (Speaker), Clausen, J. (Speaker) & Hansen, E. G. (Speaker)
03.06.2014Activity: Talk or presentation › Conference Presentations › Research
Why did she act like this? The fundamental attribution error in Korea, Japan, Germany and the U.S.
Wucherpfennig, A.Z.-R. (Speaker), Sevincer, T. (Coauthor) & Kitayama, S. (Coauthor)
09.2010Activity: Talk or presentation › Conference Presentations › Research
Why Do School Teachers Engage with Sustainable Consumption? Exploring the Role of Personal, Group and Organizational Influence Factors
Fischer, D. (presenter) & Sundermann, A. (Coauthor)
25.08.2016Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentations (poster etc.) › Research
Why have a drink? Emotional, cognitive, and motivational mechanisms of acute alcohol consumption
Sevincer, T. (Speaker) & Oettingen, G. (Coauthor)
05.2012Activity: Talk or presentation › Conference Presentations › Research
Why is the rare dispersal mechanism hygrochasy so common around the world?
Pufal, G. (Speaker)
08.09.2011Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentations (poster etc.) › Research
Widerständigkeit wissenschaftlicher Strukturen gegenüber widerspenstigen Themen
Mölders, T. (Speaker)
26.05.2001Activity: Talk or presentation › Guest lectures › Transfer
Wie beeinflussen sekundäre Samenausbreitung und Samenfraß die erfolgreiche Etablierung von Wiesenkräutern?
Pufal, G. (Lecturer)
14.03.2012Activity: Talk or presentation › Guest lectures › Transfer