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

    Belowground top-down and aboveground bottom-up effects structure multitrophic community relationships in a biodiverse forest

    Schuldt, A., Bruelheide, H., Buscot, F., Assmann, T., Erfmeier, A., Klein, A.-M., Ma, K., Scholten, T., Staab, M., Wirth, C., Zhang, J. & Wubet, T., 01.12.2017, In: Scientific Reports. 7, 1, 9 p., 4222.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Benefits of Ecological Engineering Practices

    Brüll, A., Bohemen, H. V., Costanza, R. & Mitsch, W. J., 2011, In: Procedia Environmental Sciences. 9, p. 16-20 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Benign by design: Benign by Design

    Kümmerer, K., 14.03.2016, Green and Sustainable Medicinal Chemistry: Methods, Tools and Strategies for the 21st Century Pharmaceutical Industry. Summerton, L., Sneddon, H. F., Jones, L. C. & Clark, J. H. (eds.). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 73-81 9 p. (RSC Green Chemistry; vol. 2016-January, no. 46).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    „Ben, möchtest du auch abstimmen?“: Partizipationsprozesse in Klassenräten heterogener Lerngruppen aus interaktionistischer Perspektive

    Meyn, J., 2023, Partizipation, Wissen und Kommunikation im sonderpädagogischen Diskurs. Marek, G., Wolfram, K., Christian, L., Vera, O. & Stephan, S. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 118-127 10 p. (Perspektiven sonderpädagogischer Forschung).

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

  5. Published

    Beratungsarbeit im "Zwischen": Professionalisierungswege der Weiterbildungsberatung für Frauen

    Mayer, M., 2011, Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich. 375 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Berechnung von Eisengehalten und Verockerungspotential von Schluckbrunnen mithilfe von Temperatur-, Redoxpotential-, pH-Wert-, Leitfähigkeits- und Sauerstoffsättigungsdaten

    Opel, O. & Novio Liñares, J. A., 2007, Der Geothermiekongress 2007 - Energie für alle Fälle: 29.-31.10.2007 in Bochum. Tagungsband. CD-ROM. Geeste: Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.

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

  7. Published

    Berechnung von Eisen(III)hydroxid-Bildungsraten aus Redoxpotentialmessungem - Vergleich mit Untersuchungen zum Eisen-Schwefel-Redoxsystem in den thermischen Energiespeicheranlagen der Parlamentsbauten am Berliner Spreebogen

    Opel, O., Otte, T., Eggerichs, T. & Ruck, W., 2011, Wasser 2011: Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft ; Kurzreferate. GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, p. 221-225 5 p.

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

  8. Published

    Berichterstattung im Lichte der Herausforderungen unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit

    Schaltegger, S. & Herzig, C., 2008, Internetbasierte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung: maßgeschneiderte Stakeholder-Kommunikation mit IT . Isenmann, R., Marx Gömez, J. & Amelung, M. (eds.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 51-64 14 p.

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

  9. Published

    Berücksichtigung von Ökosystemleistungen in privatwirtschaftlichen Entscheidungen

    Schaltegger, S., Beständig, U. & Wuczkowski, M., 2016, Ökosystemleistungen in ländlichen Räumen: Grundlage für menschliches Wohlergehen und nachhaltige wirtschaftliche Entwicklung. von Haaren, C. & Albert, C. (eds.). Hannover, Leipzig: Naturkapital Deutschland - TEEB DE, p. 308-325 18 p.

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

  10. Published

    Berufliche Handlungsanforderungen im Fokus der Hochschuldidaktik eines inklusiven Sachunterrichts

    Offen, S., 2018, Handeln im Sachunterricht: Jahresband GDSU 2017. Hartinger, A., Heinrich-Dönges, A., Franz, U., Giest, H. & Reinhoffer, B. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 215-222 8 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 28).

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