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

    Solution for spillway chute aeration through bottom aerators

    Fuhrhop, H., Schulz, H. E. & Wittenberg, H., 30.09.2014, In: International Journal of Computational Methods and Experimental Measurements. 2, 3, p. 298-312 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Solutions Manual. A Resource for Course Leaders: Contemporary Environmental Accounting. Issues, Concepts and Practice

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 2001, Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Solvable problems or problematic solvability? Problem conceptualization in transdisciplinary sustainability research and a possible epistemological contribution

    Meyer, E., 03.2020, In: GAIA. 29, 1, p. 34-39 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sommer, Sonne - Ozonalarm? Perspektiven für eine umweltgerechte Mobilität in der Stadt

    Bergmann, M. & Loose, W., 1996, Freiburg: Öko-Institut. 235 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    Sorgefall Familienrecht: Ursachen und Folgen grundgesetzwidriger Praxis auf der Basis regelmäßigen Missbrauchs des Kindeswohlbegriffs

    Guerra González, J., 27.03.2012, Berlin: LIT Verlag. 144 p. (Schriften zum Zivilrecht; vol. 21)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Sorption and thermal characterization of composite materials based on chlorides for thermal energy storage

    Korhammer, K., Druske, M.-M., Fopah Lele, A., Rammelberg, H., Wegscheider, N., Opel, O., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W., 15.01.2016, In: Applied Energy. 162, p. 1462-1472 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Sostenibilità e processi di sviluppo regionali: chance per la relazione tra universitä e territorio

    Michelsen, G., 2005, La sostenibilità si può fare: la "vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile": un progetto innovativo per la comunicazione e lo sviluppo della sostenibilità. Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 204-210 7 p.

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

  8. Published

    Sources and pathways of biocides and their transformation products in urban storm water infrastructure of a 2 ha urban district

    Linke, F., Olsson, O., Preusser, F., Kümmerer, K., Schnarr, L., Bork, M. & Lange, J., 20.08.2021, In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 25, 8, p. 4495-4512 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Sources of nitrogen heterocyclic PAHs (N-HETs) along a riverine course

    Siemers, A.-K., Palm, W.-U., Faubel, C., Mänz, J. S., Steffen, D. & Ruck, W., 15.07.2017, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 590-591, p. 69-79 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sources of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in the North Sea, Baltic Sea and Norwegian Sea: Evidence from their spatial distribution in surface water

    Ahrens, L., Gerwinski, W., Theobald, N. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.02.2010, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 60, 2, p. 255-260 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review