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

    Shock as a black box 2. Effects of adiabatic deceleration and convection included

    Kallenrode, M.-B., 01.11.2001, In: JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SPACE PHYSICS. 106, A11, p. 24989-25003 15 p., 2001JA900083.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Zurich, Switzerland: Atmospheric Concentrations and Emissions

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 18.08.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 16, p. 9778 - 9786 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Should Alexander von Humboldt Be Part of Contemporary Geography Education?

    Hoffmann, T., 01.01.2022, Alexander von Humboldt: Multiperspective Approaches. Falk, G. C., Strecker, M. R. & Schneider, S. (eds.). Springer International Publishing AG, p. 137-153 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Shrub cover declined as Indigenous populations expanded across southeast Australia

    Mariani, M., Wills, A., Herbert, A., Adeleye, M., Florin, S. A., Cadd, H., Connor, S., Kershaw, P., Theuerkauf, M., Stevenson, J., Fletcher, M. S., Mooney, S., Bowman, D. & Haberle, S., 01.11.2024, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 386, 6721, p. 567-573 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Shrub management is the principal driver of differing population sizes between native and invasive populations of Rosa rubiginosa L

    Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Renison, D., Wesche, K., Welk, E., Damascos, M. A. & Hensen, I., 10.2012, In: Biological Invasions. 14, 10, p. 2141-2157 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Sight or scent: lemur sensory reliance in detecting food quality varies with feeding ecology.

    Rushmore, J., Leonhardt, S. & Drea, C. M., 03.08.2012, In: PLoS ONE. 7, 8, 11 p., e41558.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Signalarten - ein praxisnaher Beitrag zur Erfassung der Naturnähe und Biodiversität in Wäldern

    Fichtner, A. & Lüderitz, M., 09.2013, In: Natur und Landschaft. 88, 9/10, p. 392-399 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Similar performance in central and range-edge populations of a Eurasian steppe grass under different climate and soil pH regimes

    Wagner, V., von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Fedulin, A., Sidorova, T. & Hensen, I., 06.2011, In: Ecography. 34, 3, p. 498-506 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Similar yield benefits of hybrid, conventional, and organic tomato and sweet pepper varieties under well-watered and drought-stressed conditions

    Ficiciyan, A. M., Loos, J. & Tscharntke, T., 19.02.2021, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 5, 11 p., 628537.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review