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

    Rural electrification efforts based on off-grid photovoltaic systems in the Andean Region: Comparative assessment of their sustainability

    Feron, S., Cordero, R. R. & Labbe, F., 11.10.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 10, 24 p., 1825.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The reciprocal iso-inhibition volume concept: A procedure for the evaluation in effect-directed analysis with thin-layer chromatography - using the thin-layer chromatography-luminescent bacteria assay as an example

    Schulz, W., Weiss, S. C., Weber, W. H. & Winzenbacher, R., 13.10.2017, In: Journal of Chromatography A. 1519, p. 121-130 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Participation for Effective Environmental Governance: Evidence from European Water Framework Directive Implementation

    Kochskämper, E. (Editor), Challies, E. (Editor), Jager, N. W. (Editor) & Newig, J. (Editor), 16.10.2017, London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 180 p. (Earthscan Studies in Water Resource Management)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Schreibwerkstatt MINT: Wissenschaftliches Schreiben in den Fachbereichen 1 bis 5 fördern und unterstützen

    Rodenhauser, A., 16.10.2017, Bremen : Universität Bremen.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsEducation

  6. Published

    Social entrepreneurship orientation: development of a measurement scale

    Kraus, S., Niemand, T., Halberstadt, J., Shaw, E. & Syrjä, P., 16.10.2017, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. 23, 6, p. 977-997 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Accuracy and bias of methods used for root length measurements in functional root research

    Delory, B., Weidlich, E. W. A., Meder, L., Lütje, A., Duijnen, R. V., Weidlich, R. & Temperton, V. M., 11.2017, In: Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 8, 11, p. 1594-1606 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Biodiversity and ecosystem functioning relations in European forests depend on environmental context.

    Ratcliffe, S., Wirth, C., Jucker, T., van der Plas, F., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Verheyen, K., Allan, E., Benavides, R., Bruelheide, H., Ohse, B., Paquette, A., Ampoorter, E., Bastias, C. C., Bauhus, J., Bonal, D., Bouriaud, O., Bussotti, F., Carnol, M., Castagneyrol, B., Checko, E., Dawud, S. M., de Wandeler, H., Domisch, T., Finér, L., Fischer, M., Fotelli, M., Gessler, A., Granier, A., Grossiord, C., Guyot, V., Haase, J., Hättenschwiler, S., Jactel, H., Jaroszewicz, B., Joly, F.-X., Kambach, S., Kolb, S., Koricheva, J., Liebergesell, M., Milligan, H., Müller, S., Muys, B., Nguyen, D., Nock, C., Pollastrini, M., Purschke, O., Radoglou, K., Rauland-Rasmussen, K., Roger, F., Ruiz-Benito, P., Seidl, R., Selvi, F., Seiferling, I., Stenlid, J., Valladares, F., Vesterdal, L. & Baeten, L., 11.2017, In: Ecology Letters. 20, 11, p. 1414-1426 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Der gestaltende Staat im Kontext gesellschaftlichen Wandels: Herausforderungen und Gestaltungsansätze für Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien und -politiken

    Heinrichs, H., 11.2017, Dessau: Umweltbundesamt, 58 p. (Texte; no. 107/2017)(Für Mensch & Umwelt).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  10. Published

    Editorial: Psychische gesundheit von chronisch kranken und/oder behinderten kindern und jugendlichen und Ihren familien

    Hampel, P. & Salisch, M., 11.2017, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 66, 9, p. 652–655 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  11. Published

    From trade-offs to synergies in food security and biodiversity conservation

    Hanspach, J., Abson, D. J., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 11.2017, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 15, 9, p. 489 - 494 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review