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

    Reproductive biology and strategies of nine meloid beetles from Central Europe (Coleoptera: Meloidae)

    Lückmann, J. & Aßmann, T., 31.03.2006, In: Journal of Natural History. 39, 48, p. 4101-4125 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    (Re)productivity: a category for the critical analysis of bioeconomic approaches

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 12.2024, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 20, 1, 9 p., 2428465.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    (Re)Produktivität: nachhaltige Natur- und Geschlechterverhältnisse

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2008, In: Widerspruch. 28, 54, p. 111-125 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    (Re)Produktivität

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 07.11.2022, Handbuch Politische Ökologie: Theorien, Konflikte, Begriffe, Methoden. Daniela, G., Hackfort, S., Schmitt, T. & von Winterfeld, U. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 433-440 8 p. (Edition Politik; vol. 110).

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

  5. Published

    (Re)Produktivität: Adelheid Biesecker und Sabine Hofmeister.

    Hofmeister, S., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 129-136 7 p.

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

  6. Published

    (Re)Produktivität als ein sozial-ökologisches „Brückenkonzept“

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2015, Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven. Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Moths, K., Koch, L. & Hofmeister, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 77-95 15 p.

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

  7. Published

    (Re)Produktivität als Kategorie vorsorgenden Wirtschaftens

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2013, Wege Vorsorgenden Wirtschaftens. N. V. W. (ed.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, p. 137-158 21 p.

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

  8. Published

    (Re)Produktivität - der "blinde Fleck" im Diskurs zu nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Hofmeister, S. & Biesecker, A., 2003, Dimensionen einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft: Feministische Zugänge und Perspektiven: Dokumentation der Tagung vom 9. - 11. 11. 2002 in München. Erbe, B. (ed.). München: Forschungsgemeinschaft Anstiftung, p. 43-57 15 p.

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

  9. Published

    (Re)Produktivität: der "blinde Fleck" im Diskurs zu Nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2003, Zwischentöne gestalten: Dialoge zur Verbindung von Geschlechterverhältnissen und Nachhaltigkeit. Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Karsten, M. E. (eds.). Bielefeld: Kleine Verlag, p. 38-56 19 p.

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

  10. Published

    (Re)Produktivität – eine Vermittlungskategorie für Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften

    Biesecker, A., Hofmeister, S., Amri-Henkel, A., Breitenbach, S. & Saave-Harnack, A., 18.08.2019, Ökonomie des Versorgens: Feministisch-kritische Wirtschaftstheorien im deutschsprachigen Raum. Knobloch, U. (ed.). 1 ed. Weinheim: Juventa Verlag, p. 120-138 18 p. (Arbeitsgesellschaft im Wandel).

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