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

    Gutes Leben vor Ort

    Heinrichs, H. (Editor), Kirst, E. (Editor) & Plawitzki, J. (Editor), 09.01.2017, Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag. 253 p. (Initiativen zum Umweltschutz; vol. 90)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    Sustainability and Education

    Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D., 01.01.2017, Sustainable Development Policy: A European Perspective. von Hauff, M. & Kuhnke, C. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 135-158 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D., 2016, Handbuch Umweltethik. Ott, K., Dierks, J. & Voget-Kleschin, L. (eds.). Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, p. 330-334 5 p.

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

  4. Published

    Measuring what matters in sustainable consumption: an integrative framework for the selection of relevant behaviors

    Geiger, S., Fischer, D. & Schrader, U., 01.01.2018, In: Sustainable Development. 26, 1, p. 18–33 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Nachhaltiger Konsum

    Fischer, D. & von Hauff, M., 01.2017, Wiesbaden: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung. 56 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit; no. 3)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Engaging Teacher Educators with the Sustainability Agenda: A Case Study of a Pilot Professional Development Program from Ethiopia

    Amado, A., Dalelo, A., Adomßent, M. & Fischer, D., 2017, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 18, 5, p. 715-737 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Taking stock–Three years of addressing societal challenges on community level through action research: Pilot specific synthesis report

    Wittmayer, J. M., Mock, M., van Steenbergen, F., Baasch, S., Omann, I. & Schäpke, N., 2013, Berlin, 51 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Ecosystem functions as indicators for heathland responses to nitrogen fertilisation

    Bähring, A., Fichtner, A., Ibe, K., Schütze, G., Temperton, V. M., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.01.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 72, p. 185-193 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Exploring the potential role of priority effects for ecological restoration

    Temperton, V. M., Nelson, C. & Weidlich, E. W. A., 25.08.2016, 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER Europe): The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, abstract volume. Kollmann, J. & Hermann, J.-M. (eds.). Technische Universität München, p. 108 1 p.

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

  10. Published

    Priority effects influence plant traits and biomass in a grassland field experiment

    Weidlich, E. W. A. & Temperton, V. M., 25.08.2016, Best practice in restoration: The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration Abstract Volume, August 22–26, 2016, Freising, Germany. Technische Universität München, p. 259 1 p.

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