School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Light availability and land-use history drive biodiversity and functional changes in forest herb layer communities
Depauw, L., Perring, M. P., Landuyt, D., Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., De Lombaerde, E., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Closset-Kopp, D., Czerepko, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Gawryś, R., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Liepiņa, I., Macek, M., Máliš, F., Schmidt, W., Smart, S. M., Ujházy, K., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.07.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 4, p. 1411-1425 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Like! You saved #energy today. Fostering Energy Efficiency in Buildings – The implementation of social media patterns as symbols in Building Management Systems‘ Graphical User Interfaces using Peirce’s semeiosis as a communication concept
Tribel, A., Opel, O. & Geffken, J., 2014, EnviroInfo 2014: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENY. Gómez, J. M., Sonnenschein, M., Vogel, U., Winter, A., Rapp, B. & Giesen, N. (eds.). Oldenburg: Universität Oldenburg, Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem, p. 597-604 8 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
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Limited effectiveness of EU policies to conserve an endangered species in high nature value farmland in Romania
Loos, J., Gallersdörfer, J., Hartel, T., Dolek, M. & Sutcliffe, L., 10.2021, In: Ecology and Society. 26, 3, 11 p., 3.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Limited knowledge flow among stakeholders of critically endangered renosterveld in South Africa
Burghardt, S., Topp, E. N., Esler, K. J. & Loos, J., 10.2021, In: Ecology and Society. 26, 3, 17 p., 17.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking bird species traits to vegetation characteristics in a future urban development zone: Implications for urban planning
Ikin, K., Lindenmayer, D. B., Fischer, J., Manning, A. D. & Knight, E., 12.2012, In: Urban Ecosystems. 15, 4, p. 961-977 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking concepts of change and ecosystem services research: A systematic review
Rau, A.-L., Bickel, M. W., Hilser, S., Jenkins, S., McCrory, G., Pfefferle, N., Rathgens, J., Roitsch, D., Schroth, T. N., Stålhammar, S., Villada, D., Weiser, A., Wamsler, C., Krause, T. & Wehrden, H., 01.12.2018, In: Change and Adaptation in Socio-Ecological Systems. 4, 1, p. 33-45 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking Environmental Management Accounting: A Reflection on (Missing) Links to Sustainability and Planetary Boundaries
Schaltegger, S., 02.01.2018, In: Social and Environmental Accountability Journal. 38, 1, p. 19-29 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking genetics and ecology: reconstructing the history of relict populations of an endangered semi-aquatic beetle
Matern, A., Drees, C., Vogler, A. P. & Aßmann, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and conservation biology. Habel, J. C. & Aßmann, T. (eds.). Berlin ; Heidelberg: Springer, p. 253-265 13 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Linking large-scale and small-scale distribution patterns of steppe plant species—An example using fourth-corner analysis
Treiber, J., von Wehrden, H., Zimmermann, H., Welk, E., Jäger, E. J., Ronnenberg, K. & Wesche, K., 01.02.2020, In: Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 263, 8 p., 151553.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking modes of research to their scientific and societal outcomes. Evidence from 81 sustainability-oriented research projects
Newig, J., Jahn, S. V., Lang, D. J., Kahle, J. & Bergmann, M., 01.11.2019, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 101, p. 147-155 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review