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

    Making REDD+ pay: Shifting rationales and tactics of private finance and the governance of avoided deforestation in Indonesia’

    Dixon, R. & Challies, E., 01.04.2015, In: Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 56, 1, p. 6-20 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Does forest continuity enhance the resilience of trees to environmental change?

    Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Eckstein, D., Engelke, H.-H., Hehnke, T., Wagner, B. & Fichtner, A., 10.12.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 12, 18 p., 0113507.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Pflege von Heidelandschaften

    Härdtle, W. & Oheimb, G., 10.09.2014, Re-Naturierung: Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur. 1 ed. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 56-61 6 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2015).

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

  4. Published

    Schutz von Buchenwäldern in einem System von Naturwäldern

    Hehnke, T., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Kaiser, T. & Scherfose, V., 2014, Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 1-127, 127 p. (BfN-Skripten; no. 380).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  5. Published

    Landscape context influences chytrid fungus distribution in an endangered European amphibian

    Scheele, B. C., Driscoll, D. A., Fischer, J., Fletcher, A. W., Hanspach, J., Vörös, J. & Hartel, T., 01.10.2015, In: Animal Conservation. 18, 5, p. 480-488 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Envisioning the Future of Water Governance: A Survey of Central Arizona Water Decision Makers

    White, D. D., Withycombe Keeler, L., Wiek, A. & Larson, K. L., 17.11.2015, In: Environmental Practice. 17, 1, p. 25-35 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Exemplarisch lernen an der "Lüneburger Heide": Mit Komplexität und Vielperspektivität umgehen lernen

    Stoltenberg, U. (Editor), Preisigke, J. (Editor), Drexhage, J. (Editor) & Lienau, R. (Editor), 12.2014, 1. ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 201 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule: Lüneburger Beiträge; vol. 3)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesEducation

  8. Published

    Geschlechterperspektive in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung – Eine Einschätzung des Präsidenten des Wuppertal Instituts: Interview von Christine Katz mit Uwe Schneidewind

    Katz, C., 2015, Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven. Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Koch, L., Moths, K. & Hofmeister, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 273-280 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitskompetenz und Gender: Anforderungen und Hindernisse für Spitzen- und Nachwuchskräfte in nachhaltigkeitsorientierten Tätigkeitsbereichen

    Thiem, A. & Katz, C., 2015, Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven. Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Koch, L., Moths, K. & Hofmeister, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 231-255 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Die Geschlechterperspektive in der Naturgestaltung – Was bringt sie für das Handlungsfeld Wald?

    Katz, C., 2015, Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven. Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Moths, K., Koch, L. & Hofmeister, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 147-158 12 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch