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

    Which function describes the species-area relationship best? A review and empirical evaluation

    Dengler, J., 01.04.2009, In: Journal of Biogeography. 36, 4, p. 728-744 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Species constancy depends on plot size - A problem for vegetation classification and how it can be solved

    Dengler, J., Löbel, S. & Dolnik, C., 08.2009, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 20, 4, p. 754-766 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Erratum: Formalised and non-formalised methods in resource management-knowledge and social learning in participatory processes: An introduction

    Newig, J., Haberl, H., Pahl-Wostl, C. & Rothman, D. S., 04.2009, In: Systemic Practice and Action Research. 22, 2, p. 125 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    EURODEMO - Improving the uptake of efficient soil and groundwater remediation technologies

    Spira, Y., Edwards, D., Henstock, J., Gaboriau, H., Merly, C., Müller, D., Birke, V. & Van Duijne, H., 2009, In: Land Contamination and Reclamation. 17, 3-4, p. 685-692 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Polyfluorinated compounds in the atmosphere of the Atlantic and Southern Oceans: Evidence for a global distribution

    Dreyer, A., Weinberg, I., Temme, C. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.09.2009, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 43, 17, p. 6507-6514 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Determination of octanol-air partition coefficients (KOA) of fluorotelomer acrylates, perfluoroalkyl sulfonamids, and perfluoroalkylsulfonamido ethanols

    Dreyer, A., Langer, V. & Ebinghaus, R., 11.2009, In: Journal of Chemical & Engineering Data. 54, 11, p. 3022-3025 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Trace metal dynamics in floodplain soils of the river Elbe: A review

    Schulz-Zunkel, C. & Krueger, F., 07.2009, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 38, 4, p. 1349-1362 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) in the marine atmosphere - investigations on their occurrence and distribution in coastal regions

    Jahnke, A., 2007, Geesthacht: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht , 99 p. (Wissen schaft nutzen; no. 8/2007).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  10. Published

    Mögliche Konsequenzen des Klimawandels für Pflanzenareale in Deutschland

    Pompe, S., Berger, S., Gian-Reto, W., Badeck, F., Hanspach, J., Sattler, S., Klotz, S. & Kühn, I., 2009, In: Natur und Landschaft. 84, 1, p. 2-7 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review