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

    Reviving wood-pastures for biodiversity and people: A case study from western Estonia

    Roellig, M., Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Sammul, M., von Wehrden, H., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 2, p. 185-195 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Rezension: Philip Wallmeier, 2021, Rückzug als Widerstand. Dissidente Lebensformen in der globalen Politik

    Möller, S., 01.12.2022, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 37, 4, p. 53-54 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  3. Published

    Rhizosphere microbiome modulated effects of biochar on ryegrass 15N uptake and rhizodeposited 13C allocation in soil

    Fu, Y., Kumar, A., Chen, L., Jiang, Y., Ling, N., Wang, R., Pan, Q., Singh, B. P., Redmile-Gordon, M., Luan, L., Li, Q., Shi, Q., Reid, B. J., Fang, Y., Kuzyakov, Y., Luo, Y. & Xu, J., 06.2021, In: Plant and Soil. 463, 1-2, p. 359-377 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Riparian Atlantic Forest restoration: water table depth and planting spacing affected the growth of planted trees

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Curcio, G. R. & Uhlmann, A., 2017, Linking Science and Practise for a Better World: Book of Abstracts; VII World Conference on Ecological Restoration. Durigan, G. (ed.). Sociedad Ibero Americana y der Caribe de Restauracion Ecologica, p. 41 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Risikokommunikation zu unterirdischen Schadenspotenzialen durch Grundhochwasser

    Grunenberg, H., 20.12.2012, Unterirdische Schadenspotentiale durch Grundhochwasser in urbanen Lebensräumen. Sommer, T., Deilmann, C., Kreibich, H., Grunenberg, H., Bothmer, D. & Ullrich, K. (eds.). Dresden: Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum, p. 89-137 48 p. (Gemeinsame Mitteilungen des Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrums e.V. und seiner Partner; no. 6).

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

  6. Published

    Riskante Übergänge: Politische Bildung in der Berufsorientierung unter prekären Bedingungen

    Offen, S., 2015, Des eigenen Glückes Schmied_in!? : Geschlechterreflektierende Perspektiven auf berufliche Orientierungen und Lebensplanungen von Jugendlichen.. Micus-Loos, C. & Plößer, M. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 99-113 15 p.

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

  7. Published

    Risk Communication about Global Climate Change in the German Mass Media

    Peters, H. P., Heinrichs, H. & Hae-Ryong, S., 2006, In: Journal of ELSI Studies. 4, 1, p. 1-23 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Risk preferences under heterogeneous environmental risk

    Olbrich, R., Quaas, M. F., Haensler, A. & Baumgärtner, S., 2011, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 37 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 208).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Risk preferences under heterogeneous environmental risk

    Olbrich, R., Quaas, M. F., Haensler, A. & Baumgärtner, S., 25.07.2010, World Risk and Insurance Economics Congress . International Association for the Study of Insurance Economics, p. 10/76 1 p. (Etudes et Dossiers; no. 369).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    Risk preferences under heterogeneous environmental risk

    Olbrich, R., Baumgärtner, S., Quaas, M. F. & Haensler, A., 07.09.2010, Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2010 (Kiel): Ökonomie der Familie . Verein für Socialpolitik, 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review