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

    Structural pattern of a near-natural beech forest (Fagus sylvatica) (Serrahn, North-east Germany)

    von Oheimb, G., Westphal, C., Tempel, H. & Hardtle, W., 01.07.2005, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 212, 1-3, p. 253-263 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Structuring and advancing solution-oriented research for sustainability: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Solutions-oriented research

    Lang, D. J. & Wiek, A., 01.01.2022, In: Ambio. 51, 1, p. 31-35 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Structuring multiple perspectives in environmental decision-making: flood protection in the middle Elbe river

    Kruse, S., 2008, Environmental argument and cultural difference: Locations, Fractures and Deliberations. Edmondson, R. & Rau, H. (eds.). Oxford [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 37-64 28 p.

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

  4. Published

    Struktur von Laufkäfer-Gemeinschaften (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in größtenteils beweideten Sandfluren des Emslandes

    Lehmann, S., Persigehl, M., Rosenkranz, B., Falke, B., Aßmann, T. & Günther, J., 2004, Beweidung und Restitution als Chancen für den Naturschutz?: SÖB, BMBF-Projekt: Sand-Ökosysteme im Binnenland: Dynamik und Restitution . Strohschneider, R. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 147-159 13 p. (NNA-Berichte; vol. 17, no. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    Student agency in a sustainability-oriented assessment process: exploring expansive learning in student-led rubric co-design

    King, J., Brundiers, K. & Fischer, D., 2024, In: Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 49, 6, p. 851-863 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Studentische Perspektiven auf die digitale Transformation der Hochschulen: Strukturen, Vernetzung und Partizipation

    Böckel, A., 08.06.2020, Zukunft Lernwelt Hochschule: Perspektiven und Optionen für eine Neuausrichtung. Stang, R. & Becker, A. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Saur, p. 140-146 7 p. (Lernwelten ).

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

  7. E-pub ahead of print

    Students’ Beliefs About Trigger Warnings

    Sevincer, A. T., Tenbrueggen, L. & Sokolis, M., 13.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Psychological Reports. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Students' conceptions about the sense of smell

    Dreyer, J. & Hofer, E., 2022, Project-based Education and other Student-activation Strategies and Issues in Science Education XIX.: Conference proceedings. Rusek, M. & Tóthová, M. (eds.). Prague: Charles University, p. 86-94 9 p. (Project-based education and other activating strategies in science education (PBE); vol. 19).

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

  9. Published

    Studying gay and straight males' implict gender attitudes to understand previously found gender differences in implicit in-group bias

    Emig, Y. & Jørgensen, Ø., 2017, In: Current Research in Social Psychology. 25, 8, p. 45-55 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published