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

    Schutz der biologischen Vielfalt

    Figge, F., 2002, In: Biologen heute. 461, p. 24 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Schutzgebiete Deutschlands im Klimawandel: Risiken und Handlungsoptionen

    Vohland, K. (Editor), Badeck, F., Böhning-Gaese, K., Ellwanger, G., Hanspach, J., Ibisch, P. L., Klotz, S., Kreft, S., Kühn, I., Schröder, E., Trautmann, S. & Cramer, W., 2013, Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag. 233 p. (Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt; vol. 129)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Schutzgebiete im Klimawandel – Risiken für Schutzgüter

    Vohland, K., Badeck, F., Böhning-Gaese, K., Hanspach, J., Klotz, S., Kühn, I., Laube, I., Schwager, M., Trautmann, S. & Cramer, W., 05.2011, In: Natur und Landschaft. 86, 5, p. 204-213 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Schutz, Nutzung und nachhaltige Gestaltung – Geschlechteraspekte im Umgang mit Natur

    Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 269-276 8 p.

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

  5. Published

    Schutz und Entwicklung von Waldlandschaften: Ansprüche des Naturschutzes und deren Umsetzbarkeit im Rahmen verschiedener Waldbauverfahren

    Härdtle, W. & Westphal, C., 2000, Perspektiven der Umweltwissenschaften. Brandt, E. (ed.). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 169-187 19 p.

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

  6. Published

    Schutz von Buchenwäldern in einem System von Naturwäldern

    Hehnke, T., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Kaiser, T. & Scherfose, V., 2014, Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 1-127, 127 p. (BfN-Skripten; no. 380).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  7. Published

    Schutzwürdigkeit und Schutzperspektive der Stromtal-Wiesen an der unteren Mittelelbe: Ein vegetationskundlicher Beitrag zur Leitbildentwicklung

    Redecker, B., 2001, Nümbrecht-Elsenroth: Galunder verlag. 164 p. (Archiv naturwissenschaftlicher Dissertationen; vol. 13)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Science Communication as a Collective Intelligence Endeavor: A Manifesto and Examples for Implementation

    Holford, D., Fasce, A., Wulf, M., Kause, A., Tapper, K., Demko, M., Lewandowski, S., Hahn, U., Abels, C. M., Ahmed, A.-R., Sameer, A., Boender, S. T., Bruns, H., Fischer, H., Gilde, C., Hanel, P. H. P., Herzog, S. M., Lehmann, S., Nurse, M. S., Orr, C., Pescetelli, N., Petrescu, M., Sa, S., Schmid, P., Sirota, M. & Wulf, M., 08.2023, In: Science Communication. 45, 4, p. 539-554 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Science on ecosystems and people to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

    Schröter, M., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Albert, C., Hill, R., Krause, T., Loos, J., Mannetti, L. M., Martín-López, B., Neelakantan, A., Parrotta, J. A., Quintas-Soriano, C., Abson, D. J., Alkemade, R., Amelung, B., Baptiste, B., Barrios, E., Djoudi, H., Drakou, E. G., Durance, I., García Llorente, M., Geneletti, D., Harmáčková, Z. V., Jacobs, S., Kaiser, N. N., Kingsley, J., Klain, S., Martínez-Harms, M. J., Murali, R., O’Farrell, P., Pandit, R., Pereira, L., Rana, S., Riechers, M., Rusch, G. M., Sala, J. E., Schulp, C. J. E., Sitas, N., Subramanian, S. M., Villasante, S. & van Oudenhoven, A., 2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 10 p., 2220913.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research