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. 2020
  2. Published

    Videobasierte Kompetenzforschung im inklusiven naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht.

    Brauns, S., Egger, D., Sellin, K. & Abels, S., 2020, Naturwissenschaftliche Kompetenzen in der Gesellschaft von morgen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik Jahrestagung in Wien 2019. Habig , S. (ed.). Duisburg-Essen: Universität Duisburg-Essen, p. 724-727 4 p. (Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP) ; vol. 40).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Wie man sich vor UV-Strahlung schützt. Eine fachliche Aufbereitung eines Alltagsthemas.

    Plotz, T. & Hofer, E., 2020, In: PLUS LUCIS. 2/2020, p. 20-24 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  5. Published

    Wie partizipativ sind Bottom-up-Transformationen?

    David, M., Schönborn, S. & Bleicher, A., 2020, Dezentral, partizipativ und kommunikativ: Zukunft der Energiewende. Kamlage, J.-H. & Engler, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Nordhausen: Verlag Traugott Bautz GmbH, p. 177-203 26 p.

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

  6. Published

    Zahlen statt nur Worte: Was nachhaltiges Controlling bewirken kann

    Schaltegger, S. & Michalski, A. M., 2020, In: IM+io. 02, p. 70-73 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Continuous pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation of organic residues for the production of biochemicals

    Peinemann, J. C. & Pleißner, D., 01.2020, In: Bioresource Technology. 295, 8 p., 122256.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Contributions of place-based social-ecological research to address global sustainability challenges

    Martín-López, B., Balvanera, P., Manson, R., Mwampamba, T. H. & Norström, A., 01.01.2020, In: Global Sustainability. 3, 4 p., e21.

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

  10. Published

    Degradation and elimination of anticancer drugs by water and wastewater treatment - toxicity and biodegradability before and after the treatment

    Lutterbeck, C. A., Machado, Ê. L. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2020, Fate and Effects of Anticancer Drugs in the Environment. Heath, E., Isidori, M., Kosjek, T. & Filipic, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 139-168 30 p.

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

  11. Published

    Development perspectives for the application of autonomous, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in wildlife conservation

    Fust, P. & Loos, J., 01.01.2020, In: Biological Conservation. 241, 4 p., 108380.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review