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

    Über Effizienz und Suffizienz hinaus: Zur methodischen Weiterentwicklung des Stoffstrommanagements mit Blick auf Nachhaltigkeit

    Hofmeister, S., 1999, In: Politische Ökologie. 62, p. 34-38 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Überzeugungen von angehenden Lehrkräften zum Philosophieren mit Kindern im inklusiven Sachunterricht: Potentiale und Herausforderungen für die Professionalisierung

    Sellin, K. & Michalik, K., 2019, Inklusion im Sachunterricht: Perspektiven der Forschung. Pech, D., Schomaker, C. & Simon, T. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, Vol. 10. p. 236-248 13 p. (Forschungen zur Didaktik des Sachunterrichts; vol. 10).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    UE4SD: Professionelle Unterstützung in Vorbereitung: Ein europaweites Projekt zur Bestandsaufnahme und Weiterentwicklung der Kompetenzbildung für Nachhaltigkeit unter Hochschullehrenden

    Mader, C., Mader, M., Michelsen, G. & Burandt, S., 2014, Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung Jahrbuch 2014: Krisen- und Transformationsszenarios. Frühkindpädagogik, Resilienz & Weltklimaprogramm. Sorgo, W. (ed.). Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, Vol. 2. p. 182-184 3 p. (Jahrbuch Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung ; vol. 2014).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransferpeer-review

  4. Published

    UE4SD - University Educators for Sustainable Development

    Michelsen, G., Mader, M., Mader, C. & Burandt, S., 2014, Hochschulen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Netzwerke fördern, Bewusstsein verbreiten. Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission e.V. (ed.). Bonn: Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission, p. 45 1 p.

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

  5. Published

    UK public perceptions of shale gas hydraulic fracturing: The role of audience, message and contextual factors on risk perceptions and policy support

    Whitmarsh, L., Nash, N., Upham, P., Lloyd, A., Verdon, J. P. & Kendall, J. M., 15.12.2015, In: Applied Energy. 160, p. 419-430 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Umgang mit Pestiziden und deren Transformationsprodukten bei der Regenwasserbewirtschaftung

    Olsson, O., Hensen, B., Kümmerer, K., Lange, J. & Jackisch, N., 20.03.2019, Gewässerschutz Wasser Abwasser: 52. Essener Tagung für Wasserwirtschaft. Pinnekamp, J. (ed.). Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Vol. 250. p. 24/1 - 24/8 8 p. (Gewässerschutz, Wasser, Abwasser ; vol. 250).

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

  7. Published

    UmRahmen & AufBrechen

    Hofmeister, S. & Böhme, D., 2008, Rolf Curt. Grafik Malerei. Curt, R. & Curt, R. (eds.). München: Deutscher Kunstverlag, p. 19-20 2 p.

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

  8. Published

    Umsatzsteigerung durch Nachhaltigkeit: Potenziale und Hürden für Hersteller von Nahrungsmitteln

    Steinbach, A., 2008, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 112 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Umwälzung der Erde: Konflikte um Ressourcen

    Altner, G. (Editor), Leitschuh, H. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor), Simonis, U. E. (Editor) & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (Editor), 2009, Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag. 248 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie ...)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Umwelt-Balanced Scorecard und Öko-Controlling

    Schaltegger, S., 2001, Hagen: FernUniversität in Hagen.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsEducation