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

    Berufseinstieg von Diplom-Wirtschaftsjuristen (FH)

    Schomerus, T., 2001, In: Juristische Schulung. 41, 12, p. 1244 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Besatzungskinder

    Golly, N., 2009, Encyclopedia of Blacks in European History and Culture. Martone, E. (ed.). Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Publishing Group, Vol. 1.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Besondere Aspekte mittelflüchtiger und schwer abbaubarer organischer Spurenstoffe

    Palm, W.-U., 2003, In: Mitteilungen der Fachgruppe Umweltchemie und Ökotoxikologie. 9, 2, p. 12,23 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Besonderheiten der Evaluation transdisziplinärer Forschung und der Stellenwert von Kompetenz

    Godemann, J., 2007, Evaluation inter- und transdisziplinärer Forschung: Humanökologie und Nachhaltigkeitsforschung auf dem Prüfstand. Stoll-Kleemann, S. & Pohl, C. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 123-136 14 p. (Edition Humanökologie : Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Humanökologie ; vol. 5).

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

  6. Published

    Besser, weniger, anders – auf guten Wegen zur Nachhaltigkeit?

    Biesecker, A., Hofmeister, S. & von Winterfeld , U., 04.2016, In: Das Argument. 315, p. 82-90 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Bestimmung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln im Stammablaufwasser von Buchen (Fagus Sylvatica L.)

    Bernhardt, A., Palm, W.-U. & Ruck, W., 2002, In: Vom Wasser. 98, p. 29-36 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Best practice for bio-waste collection as a prerequisite for high-quality compost

    Friege, H. & Eger, Y., 01.01.2022, In: Waste Management and Research. 40, 1, p. 104-110 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Beta diversity of plant species in human-transformed landscapes: Control of community assembly by regional productivity and historical connectivity

    Conradi, T., Temperton, V. M. & Kollmann, J., 01.02.2017, In: Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 24, p. 1-10 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review