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.

  1. 2012
  2. Published

    Large trees are keystone structures in urban parks

    Stagoll, K., Lindenmayer, D. B., Knight, E., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 04.2012, In: Conservation Letters. 5, 2, p. 115-122 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Modeling and predicting aquatic aerobic biodegradation: a review from a user’s perspective.

    Rücker, C. & Kümmerer, K., 04.2012, In: Green Chemistry . 14, 4, p. 875-887 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Nitrogen deposition increases susceptibility to drought - experimental evidence with the perennial grass Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench

    Friedrich, U., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Schleßelmann, K., Weber, M. S. & Härdtle, W., 04.2012, In: Plant and Soil. 353, 1-2, p. 59-71 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services

    von Wehrden, H., Fischer, J., Brandt, P., Wagner, V., Kümmerer, K., Kuemmerle, T., Nagel, A., Olsson, O. & Hostert, P., 01.04.2012, In: Conservation Letters. 5, 2, p. 81-89 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Impact of tree saplings on the kinetic energy of rainfall: The importance of stand density, species identity and tree architecture in subtropical forests in China

    Geißler, C., Lang, A. C., Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Baruffol, M. & Scholten, T., 15.04.2012, In: Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. 156, p. 31-40 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Academic staff development as a catalyst for curriculum change towards education for sustainable development: an output perspective

    Barth, M. & Rieckmann, M., 05.2012, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 26, p. 28-36 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Crown plasticity and neighborhood interactions of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in an old-growth forest

    Schröter, M., Härdtle, W. & Oheimb, G., 05.2012, In: European Journal of Forest Research. 131, 3, p. 787-798 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Der Fischotter (Lutra Lutra) in Schleswig-Holstein - Signatur einer rückwandernden, bedrohten Wirbeltierart und Konsequenzen für den Naturschutz

    Grünwald-Schwark, V., Zachos, F. E., Honnen, A.-C., Borkenhagen, P., Krüger, F., Wagner, J., Drews, A., Krekemeyer, A., Schmüser, H., Fichtner, A., Behl, S., Schmölcke, U., Kirschnick-Schmidt, H. & Sommer, R. S., 05.2012, In: Natur und Landschaft. 87, 5, p. 201-207 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Integration der Ressourceneffizienz in die Ökodesign Richtlinie: Regelungsrahmen und Regelungsmöglichkeiten - Bestandsaufnahme

    Schomerus, C.-T. & Spengler, L., 05.2012, Hamburg: ÖKOPOL Institut für Ökologie und Politik GmbH, 52 p. (Arbeitspapier; no. FKZ 3708 95 300 ).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

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