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. 2017
  2. Published

    Servicios Ecosistémicos en Latinoamérica: De la investigación a la acción

    Laterra, P., Martín-López, B., Mastrángelo, M. & Garibaldi, L. A., 01.04.2017, In: Ecología Austral. 27, 1, p. 94-98 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Socio-technical change linking expectations and representations: Innovating thermal treatment of municipal solid waste

    Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.04.2017, In: Science and Public Policy. 44, 2, p. 211-224 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The relationship between plant species richness and soil pH vanishes with increasing aridity across Eurasian dry grasslands

    Palpurina, S., Wagner, V., von Wehrden, H., Hájek, M., Horsák, M., Brinkert, A., Hölzel, N., Wesche, K., Kamp, J., Hájková, P., Danihelka, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Preislerová, Z., Kočí, M., Kubešová, S., Cherosov, M., Ermakov, N., German, D., Gogoleva, P., Lashchinsky, N., Martynenko, V. & Chytrý, M., 01.04.2017, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 26, 4, p. 425-434 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The reproductive potential and importance of key management aspects for successful Calluna vulgaris rejuvenation on abandoned Continental heaths

    Henning, K., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & Tischew, S., 01.04.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 7, p. 2091-2100 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Achtsamkeit – woher und warum

    Frank, P., 03.04.2017

    Research output: other publicationsContributions to online encyclopediaEducation

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Governance change and governance learning in Europe: stakeholder participation in environmental policy implementation

    Challies, E., Newig, J., Kochskämper, E. & Jager, N. W., 03.04.2017, In: Policy and Society. 36, 2, p. 288-303 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Assessing sustainable biophysical human-nature connectedness at regional scales

    Dorninger, C., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & von Wehrden, H., 24.04.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 5, p. 1-11 11 p., 055001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Comparison of wood volume estimates of young trees from terrestrial laser scan data

    Kunz, M., Hess, C., Raumonen, P., Bienert, A., Hackenberg, J., Maas, H.-G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & von Oheimb, G., 30.04.2017, In: iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 10, 2, p. 451-458 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review