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

    On the stabilization of parallel-chord girders for timber constructions

    Eilering, S. & Hente, C., 06.2008, In: Bauingenieur. 83, JUNE, p. 288-296 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    On the theoretical concept of the potential natural vegetation and proposals for an up-to-date modification

    Härdtle, W., 01.09.1995, In: Folia Geobotanica. 30, 3, p. 263-276 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    On the way to greener ionic liquids: Identification of a fully mineralizable phenylalanine-based ionic liquid

    Haiß, A., Jordan, A., Westphal, J., Logunova, E., Gathergood, N. & Kümmerer, K., 2016, In: Green Chemistry . 18, 16, p. 4361-4373 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    On the Western Narrative of Empowerment Through ICT: A Comment to Amanda Atwood

    Leistert, O., 2016, In: spheres - Journal for Digital Cultures. 3, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Opening the black box: How social interaction contributes to entrepreneurial intentions among deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals

    Jasniak, M., Baierl, R. & Halberstadt, J., 10.2020, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. 41, 1, p. 74-95 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Open to Offers, but Resisting Requests: How the Framing of Anchors Affects Motivation and Negotiated Outcomes

    Majer, J. M., Trötschel, R., Galinsky, A. & Loschelder, D. D., 09.2020, In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 119, 3, p. 582-599 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Operationalising Competencies in Higher Education for Sustainable Development

    Wiek, A., Bernstein, M. J., Foley, R. W., Cohen, M., Forrest, N., Kuzdas, C., Kay, B. & Withycombe Keeler, L., 26.10.2015, Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development. Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. & Thomas, I. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 241-260 20 p. 16. (Routledge International Handbooks Series).

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

  8. Published

    Operationalising the leverage points perspective for empirical research

    Riechers, M., Fischer, J., Manlosa, A. O., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Sala, J. E., 01.08.2022, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 57, 101206.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Operationalizing ecosystem services for the mitigation of soil threats: A proposed framework

    Schwilch, G., Bernet, L., Fleskens, L., Giannakis, E., Leventon, J., Marañón, T., Mills, J., Short, C., Stolte, J., Van Delden, H. & Verzandvoort, S., 01.08.2016, In: Ecological Indicators. 67, p. 586-597 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Operations Systems of Container Terminals: A Compendious Overview

    Brinkmann, B., 2011, Handbook of Termina Planning. Böse, J. W. (ed.). 1 ed. New York: Springer, p. 25-39 15 p. (Operations Research/ Computer Science Interfaces Series; vol. 49, no. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review