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

    River Elbe ecology: contributions to a large scale environmental project

    Urban, B., 2003, Coastal urban environment. Ramesh, R. (ed.). New Delhi: Capital Publishing, p. 67-88 22 p.

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

  2. Published

    River flow regime and snow cover of the Pamir Alay (Central Asia) in a changing climate

    Chevallier, P., Pouyaud, B., Mojaisky, M., Bolgov, M., Olsson, O., Bauer, M. & Froebrich, J., 08.2014, In: Hydrological Sciences Journal. 59, 8, p. 1491-1506 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Roadside disturbance promotes plant communities with arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in mountain regions worldwide

    Clavel, J., Lembrechts, J. J., Lenoir, J., Haider, S., McDougall, K., Nuñez, M. A., Alexander, J., Barros, A., Milbau, A., Seipel, T., Pauchard, A., Fuentes-Lillo, E., Ratier Backes, A., Dar, P., Reshi, Z. A., Aleksanyan, A., Zong, S., Arevalo Sierra, J. R., Aschero, V., Verbruggen, E. & Nijs, I., 07.2024, In: Ecography. 2024, 7, 14 p., e07051.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Robbanásveszélyes terek ellenörzése infravörös optikával

    Palocz-Andresen, M., 2008, In: Magyar Èpületgépészet. 57, 9, p. 3-6 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Rohstoffbedarfsplanung – Konzeptionelle Eckpunkte eines Instruments zur ressourcen- und flächensparenden Rohstoffgewinnung: Instrumente zur umweltverträglichen Steuerung der Rohstoffgewinnung – INSTRO; Abschlussbericht Teil 2

    Sanden, J., Schomerus, C.-T., Keimeyer, F., Gailhofer, P., Westphal, I. & Teßmer, D., 07.2019, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 226 p. (Texte; vol. 72)(Instrumente zur umweltverträglichen Steuerung der Rohstoffgewinnung – INSTRO; Abschlussbericht ; vol. 2).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  6. Published

    Role-Determined Information Needs of Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., Zvezdov, D., Tingey-Holyoak, J. & Hörisch, J., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). edition gesowip, p. 129-131 3 p.

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

  7. Published

    Role of images in constructing public opinion about environmental matters in Malaysia

    Saleh, M. S. M., Heinrichs, H. & Hasan, N. N. N., 01.01.2021, In: International Journal of Social Ecology and Sustainable Development. 12, 1, p. 115-130 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Role of psychology in sociotechnical transitions studies: Review in relation to consumption and technology acceptance

    Bögel, P. M. & Upham, P., 09.2018, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 28, p. 122-136 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Role of scavengers in providing non-material contributions to people

    Aguilera-Alcalá, N., Morales-Reyes, Z., Martín-López, B., Moleón, M. & Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., 01.10.2020, In: Ecological Indicators. 117, 11 p., 106643.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Rollenspiel im Seminar: Wie man theoretische Inhalte anhand einer simulierten Konferenz lebendig vermitteln kann

    Fischer, M., 2015, 14 p. Berlin : DUZ Verlags- und Medienhaus.

    Research output: other publicationsContributions to online encyclopediaTransfer