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

    Brominated flame retardants and Dechloranes in European and American eels from glass to silver life stages

    Sühring, R., Byer, J. D., Freese, M., Pohlmann, J. D., Wolschke, H., Möller, A., Hodson, P. V., Alaee, M., Hanel, R. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.12.2014, In: Chemosphere. 116, p. 104-111 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Brown bear activity in traditional wood-pastures in Southern Transylvania, Romania

    Röllig, M., Dorresteijn, I., von Wehrden, H., Hartel, T. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2014, In: Ursus. 25, 1, p. 44-52 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    "Brüche und Brücken": Übergänge im Kontext des Sachunterrichts

    Offen, S. (Editor), Barth, M. (Editor), Franz, U. (Editor) & Michalik, K. (Editor), 2020, Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt. 192 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 30)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Bryophytes and organic layers control uptake of airborne nitrogen in low-N environments

    Bähring, A., Fichtner, A., Friedrich, U., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 04.12.2017, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 8, 12 p., 2080.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Buchbesprechung: Lutz Mitto, Energierecht

    Schomerus, T., 15.10.2013, In: Zeitschrift für das gesamte Recht der Energiewirtschaft EnWZ. 2013, 10, p. X (Aktuell) 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  6. Published

    Buchbesprechung: Steffen B. Dagger, Energiepolitik & Lobbying

    Schomerus, T., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 14, 5, p. 475 - 476

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  7. Published

    Buchenwälder und Klimawandel

    Manthey, M., Leuschner, C. & Härdtle, W., 2007, In: Natur und Landschaft. 82, 9/10, p. 441-445 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Buche oder Eiche

    Twenhöven, L. & Härdtle, W., 2000, In: Unterricht Biologie. 253, p. 4-13 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Building a Coalition with Depoliticized Sustainability Discourse: The Case of a Transdisciplinary Transition Management Arena in Peru

    Noboa, E., Upham, P. J. & Heinrichs, H., 31.01.2019, In: Journal of Sustainable Development. 12, 1, p. 84-107 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Building actor-centric transformative capacity through city-university partnerships

    Keeler, L. W., Beaudoin, F., Wiek, A., John, B., Lerner, A. M., Beecroft, R., Tamm, K., Seebacher, A., Lang, D. J., Kay, B. & Forrest, N., 15.05.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 5, p. 529-538 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review