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.
- Published
Understanding relational values in cultural landscapes in Romania and Germany
Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., Engler, J. O., Shumi, G. & Fischer, J., 10.2021, In: People and Nature. 3, 5, p. 1036-1046 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Understanding role models for change: a multilevel analysis of success factors of grassroots initiatives for sustainable consumption
Grabs, J., Langen, N., Maschkowski, G. & Schäpke, N., 15.10.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 134 , Part A, p. 98-111 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Understanding Sustainability Performance in Business Organizations: Implications for the Sustainability Service Industry
Imbrogiano, J.-P., 30.11.2022, London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 204 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research › peer-review
- Published
Understanding the diversity of values of “Nature’s contributions to people”: insights from the IPBES Assessment of Europe and Central Asia
Christie, M., Martín-López, B., Church, A., Siwicka, E., Szymonczyk, P. & Mena Sauterel, J., 02.09.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 5, p. 1267–1282 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Understanding the Greenhouse Effect by Embodiment: Analysing and Using Students' and Scientists' Conceptual Resources
Niebert, K. & Gropengießer, H., 22.01.2014, In: International Journal of Science Education. 36, 2, p. 277-303 27 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Understanding the modes of use and availability of critical metals-An expert-based scenario analysis for the case of indium
Weiser, A., Lang, D. J., Schomerus, T. & Stamp, A., 01.05.2015, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 94, p. 376-393 18 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
UNESCO Biosphere Reserves: Supporting Biocultural Diversity, Sustainability and Society: edited by Reed, M. and Price, M., Abingdon: Routledge, 2020. 342 pp
Hanspach, J., 2021, In: Society and Natural Resources. 34, 2, p. 269-270 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Critical reviews › Research
- Published
UNESCO Chair in Higher Education for Sustainable Development
Michelsen, G., Adomßent, M., Mader, M. & Sundermann, A., 2017, Scientific Research for Sustainable Development: UNESCO Chairs in Germany. Römer, K. (ed.). Bonn: German Commission for UNESCO, p. 65-70 6 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
UNESCO chairs for (higher) education for sustainable development
Michelsen, G. & Rieckmann, M., 2012, In: IAU Horizons. 18, 2, p. 16-17 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Transfer
- Published
Uneven distribution of phytodiversity in NE German dry grassland communities
Dengler, J., 01.01.2001, In: Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fur Okologie. 31, p. 28 1 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Conference abstract in journal › Research › peer-review