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. 2014
  2. Published

    Electrooxidation Combined with Ozonation in Hospital Laundry Effluents Treatment

    Lutterbeck, C. A., de Oliveira Schwaickhardt, R., Straatmann, A., Kist, L. T., Lobo, E. A. & Machado, Ê. L., 05.2014, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 42, 5, p. 601-608 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Forschung für nachhaltige entwicklungen

    Grießhammer, R., Bergmann, M. & Betker, F., 05.2014, In: GAIA. 23, 2, p. 129 - 131 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Functional and phylogenetic diversity of woody plants drive herbivory in a highly diverse forest

    Schuldt, A., Aßmann, T., Bruelheide, H., Durka, W., Eichenberg, D., Härdtle, W., Kröber, W., Michalski, S. G. & Purschke, O., 05.2014, In: New Phytologist. 202, 3, p. 864-873 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Germany – Europe –World 2042: A Transformative Longitudinal Study

    Bergmann, M., Burandt, S., Heinrichs, H., Kümmerer, K. & Lang, D. J., 05.2014, In: GAIA. 23, 2, p. 132-134 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Habitat suitability models in conservation planning – a short introduction

    Dieker, P., Taboada Palomares, A. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, Jewels in the Mist: A synopsis on the highly endangered butterfly species the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle. Habel, J. C., Meyer, M. & Schmitt, T. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 57-65 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Jugendliche im Web 2.0: Risiken und Chancen

    von Salisch, M., 05.2014, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 63, 5, p. 338-342 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Juristisches Gutachten über die Förderung der Vorbereitung zur Wiederverwendung von Elektro-Altgeräten im Sinne der zweiten Stufe der Abfallhierarchie

    Schomerus, T., Fabian, M., Fouquet, D. & Nysten, J. V., 05.2014, Dessau: Umweltbundesamt, 288 p. (Texte; vol. 36/2014).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  9. Published

    Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward

    Fischer, J., Abson, D., Butsic, V., Chappell, M. J., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Smith, H. G. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, In: Conservation Letters. 7, 3, p. 149-157 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Place, case and process: Applying ecology to sustainable development

    Fischer, J., Sherren, K. & Hanspach, J., 05.2014, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 15, 3, p. 187-193 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Pollination of two oil-producing plant species: Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) double-cropping in Germany

    Groeneveld, J. H. & Klein, A.-M., 05.2014, In: Global Change Biology : Bioenergy. 6, 3, p. 242-251 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review