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

    Regional renewable energy approaches: An introduction to exploring legal barriers and opportunities

    Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom-up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 3-9 7 p.

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

  2. Published

    Regional renewable energy: A string of legal and financial challenges

    Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom-up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 281-316 36 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    An EU law perspective on the role of regional authorities in the field of renewable energy

    Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom-up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 10-32 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Konzept für die Fortentwicklung des deutschen Klimaschutzrechts

    Ekardt, F., Klinski, S. & Schomerus, T., 05.2015, Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie. 535 p. (Beiträge zur sozialwissenschaftlichen Nachhaltigkeitsforschung; vol. 17)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Thermal decomposition kinetic of salt hydrates for heat storage systems

    Fopah Lele, A., Kuznik, F., Rammelberg, H., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W., 15.09.2015, In: Applied Energy. 154, p. 447-458 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A review of urban ecosystem services: six key challenges for future research

    Lüderitz, C., Brink, E., Gralla, F., Hermelingmeier, V., Rau, A.-L., Abson, D., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Wamsler, C., Sasaki, R., Partelow, S., Meyer, M., Lisa, N. & Panzer, L., 01.08.2015, In: Ecosystem Services. 14, p. 98-112 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Numerical investigations of a thermochemical heat storage system during the discharging

    Fopah Lele, A., Hu, J., Kuznik, F., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W., 19.05.2015, ASME-ATI-UIT 2015 Conference on Thermal Energy Systems: Production, Storage, Utilization and the Environment: Heat and Mass transfer in porous media. Napoli: Unione Italiana Termofluidodinamica, 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Beech forests as a joint natural heritage of Europe - a synthesis

    Fichtner, A. & Knapp, H. D., 2011, Beech Forests - Joint Natural Heritage of Europe: Workshop at the International Academy for Nature Conservation Isle of Vilm October 19 - 22, 2010 . Andreas, F. & Knapp, H. D. (eds.). Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 7-8 2 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 297).

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

  10. Published

    Hydrology and flood probability of the monsoon-dominated Chindwin River in northern Myanmar

    Latt, Z. Z. & Wittenberg, H., 2015, In: Journal of Water and Climate Change. 6, 1, p. 144-160 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch