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. Published

    Meeting the challenges of global change: the significance of cultural questions to Education for Sustainable Development – theoretical approaches and practical experience

    Holz, V., 2010, Lifelong Learning and Active Citizenship: Proceedings of the twelfth Conference of the Children´s Identity and Citizenship in Europe. Cunningham, P. & Fretwell, N. (eds.). CiCe, p. 668-677 10 p.

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

  2. Published

    Meeting the Future: Zehnjahrestagung des Doktoranden-Netzwerks Nachhaltiges Wirtschaften

    Müller, M. & Schaltegger, S., 2008, Corporate Social Responsibility: Trend oder Modeerscheinung?. Müller, M. & Schaltegger, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 13-16 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Mehr als nur Begleitmusik: nachhaltige Entwicklung aus kulturwissenschaftlicher Perspektive

    Kuhn, K., 2005, In: Politische Ökologie. 94, Werte schöpfen, p. 78-79 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Mehr Fragen als Antworten: das Repowering nach dem EEG 2009

    Schomerus, T. & Stecher, M., 21.09.2009, In: Recht der Energiewirtschaft. p. 269-275 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Mehr Gender in den Greenstream?! Geschlechtergerechtigkeit im Natur- und Umweltschutz

    Katz, C., 2004, In: Rundbrief Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung. 3, p. 8-10 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Mehr Macht für eine nachhaltige Zukunft

    Heinrichs, H. & Laws, N., 2012, Berlin: WWF.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  7. Published

    Mehr Partizipation wagen? Wirkungen und Potenziale einer intensiven Einbindung von Stakeholdern in Unternehmen

    Windolph, S. E., Hörisch, J., Harms, D. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, In: Umweltwirtschaftsforum. 21, 1-2, p. 119-126 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Membranbioreaktoren als Vorbehandlung bei der Elimination von Arzneimittelrückständen und Krankheitserregern aus Abwasser von Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens

    Mousel, D., Bastian, D., Everding, W., Steube, T., Bäumlisberger, M., Herrmann, M. & Menz, J., 2015, Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens – Charakterisierung, Technologien, Kommunikation und Konzepte: Abschlussbericht des durch das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Vorhabens "Innovative Konzepte und Technologien für die separate Behandlung von Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens (Sauber+)". Pinnekamp, J., Palmoswki, L., Kümmerer, K. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Vol. 238. p. 135-156 (Gewässerschutz - Wasser - Abwasser; vol. 238).

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

  10. Published

    Memorandum: Verantwortlichkeit Deutschlands für die weltweite Erhaltung von Arten

    Gruttke, H., Ludwig, G., Schnittler, M., Binot-Hafke, M., Fritzlar, F., Kuhn, J., Aßmann, T., Brunken, H., Denz, O., Detzel, P., Henle, K., Kuhlmann, M., Laufer, H., Meinig, H., Müller-Motzfeld, G., Schütz, P., Voith, J., Welk, E. & Matern, A., 2004, Ermittlung der Verantwortlichkeit für die Erhaltung mitteleuropäischer Arten: Referate und Ergebnisse des Symposiums "Ermittlung der Verantwortlichkeit für die Weltweite Erhaltung von Tierarten mit Vorkommen in Mitteleuropa" auf der Insel Vilm vom 17. - 20. November 2003 . Gruttke, H. (ed.). Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 273-280 8 p. (Naturschutz und biologische Vielfalt; vol. 8).

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