School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
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Transdisziplinäre Forschung
Vilsmaier, U. & Lang, D., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum, p. 87-113 27 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Transdisziplinäre Forschung mit transformativem Anspruch Zehn Jahre NaWis: Rückblick und Vorausschau
Lang, D. J., Renn, O., Rehm, A. & Ernst, A., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 51-53 3 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
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Transdisziplinäre Integration in der Universität
Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G., 2008, Transdisziplinäre Forschung: integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten. Bergmann, M. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag, p. 177-199 23 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Transdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften
Adomßent, M. & Michelsen, G., 2011, Nachhaltige Gesellschaft: Welche Rolle für Partizipation und Kooperation?. Heinrichs, H., Kuhn, K. & Newig, J. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 98-116 19 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Transdisziplinäre Nähe oder soziologische Distanz? Responsibilisierung einer Polemik
Herberg, J. A., 14.02.2018, Reflexive Responsibilisierung: Verantwortung für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Buschmann, N., Henkel, A., Hochmann, L. & Lüdtke, N. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 81-104 24 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Transdisziplinarität praktizieren
Hartard, S., Heilmann, C. & Hofmeister, S., 2005, Ökologische Ökonomie: eine neue Wissenschaft? . Plöger, P. & Lang, E. (eds.). Karlsruhe: Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie, p. 52-56 5 p. (Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie: Beiträge und Berichte; vol. 5).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
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Transdiziplinäre Zusammenarbeit für nachhaltige Flächennutzung: Verständnis fördern, Szenarien entwicklen, Synergien finden
Pfendtner-Heise, J., Krebs, A. & von Wehrden, H., 11.2024, 9 p.Research output: other publications › Contributions to online encyclopedia › Transfer
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Transferability of approaches to sustainable development at universities as a challenge
Adomßent, M., Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G., 25.09.2007, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 8, 4, p. 385-402 18 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
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Transferring an Analytical Technique from Ecology to the Sport Sciences
Woods, C. T., Robertson, S., Collier, N. F., Swinbourne, A. L. & Leicht, A. S., 01.03.2018, In: Sports Medicine. 48, 3, p. 725-732 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Transferring biodiversity-ecosystem function research to the management of ‘real-world’ ecosystems
Manning, P., Loos, J., Barnes, A. D., Batáry, P., Bianchi, F. J. J. A., Buchmann, N., De Deyn, G. B., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Fischer, M., Fründ, J., Grass, I., Isselstein, J., Jochum, M., Klein, A. M., Klingenberg, E. O. F., Landis, D. A., Lepš, J., Lindborg, R., Meyer, S. T., Temperton, V. M., Westphal, C. & Tscharntke, T., 01.01.2019, Mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem function. Eisenhauer, N., Bohan, D. A. & Dumbrell, A. J. (eds.). London: Academic Press Inc., p. 323-356 34 p. (Advances in Ecological Research; vol. 61).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review