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

    Leverage points for sustainability transformation

    Abson, D. J., Fischer, J., Leventon, J., Newig, J., Schomerus, T., Vilsmaier, U., von Wehrden, H., Abernethy, P., Ives, C. D., Jager, N. W. & Lang, D. J., 01.02.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 1, p. 30-39 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Crying wolf: Limitations of predator–prey studies need not preclude their salient messages

    Ritchie, E. G., Schultner, J., Nimmo, D. G., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Kehoe, L. & Dorresteijn, I., 13.07.2016, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 283, 1834, 1 p., 20161244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Windenergiedrachen – Rechtsfragen bei Installation und Betrieb

    Meister, M., Maly, C. & Schomerus, C.-T., 2016, In: Energierecht : ER Zeitschrift für die gesamte Energierechtspraxis. 5, 04, p. 160-167 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Verwertung von Reststoffen aus der Kaffeeproduktion als Kohlenstoffquellen in der fermentativen Milchsäureproduktion

    Pleißner, D., Neu, A.-K. & Venus, J., 2016, Pflanzen für die Bioökonomie – Welche Herausforderungen ergeben sich für die Qualität nachwachsender Rohstoffe?: 50. Vortragstagung 14.-15. März 2016 Julius Kühn-Institut Bundesforschungsinstitut für Kulturpflanzen in Berlin-Dahlem : Abstracts. Julius Kühn-Institut, p. 35 1 p. (Berichte aus dem Julius Kühn-Institut; vol. 183).

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

  5. Published

    Sowing density: A neglected factor fundamentally affecting root distribution and biomass allocation of field grown spring barley (Hordeum Vulgare L.)

    Hecht, V. L., Nagel, K. A., Rascher, U., Postma, J. A. & Temperton, V. M., 28.06.2016, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 7, 14 p., 00944.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A comparison of feasible methods for microalgal biomass determinations during tertiary wastewater treatment

    Su, Y., Mennerich, A. & Urban, B., 01.09.2016, In: Ecological Engineering. 94, p. 532-536 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Conservation of Pollinators in Traditional Agricultural Landscapes: New Challenges in Transylvania (Romania) Posed by EU Accession and Recommendations for Future Research

    Kovács-Hostyánszki, A., Földesi, R., Mózes, E., Szirák, Á., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J. & Báldi, A., 10.06.2016, In: PLoS ONE. 11, 6, 20 p., e0151650.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Hochschuldidaktische Weiterbildung als Katalysator von Organisationsentwicklung - Einsichten aus einem Weiterbildungsprogramm Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung an der Universidad Técnica del Norte (Ecuador)

    Barth, M. & Rieckmann, M., 2016, Professionalisierung der Hochschuldidaktik . Merkt, M., Wetzel, C. & Schaper, N. (eds.). Bielefeld: WBV Bertelsmann Verlag, p. 302-311 9 p. ( Blickpunkt Hochschuldidaktik; vol. 127).

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

  9. Published

    Einleitung: Eine Summer School zur empirischen Forschung zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Barth, M. & Rieckmann, M., 2016, Empirische Forschung zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Themen, Methoden und Trends: Summer School "Empirische Forschung zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Themen, Methoden und Trends" vom 21.-29. Juli 2014 an der Universität Vechta. Barth, M. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 9-15 6 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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

  10. Published

    Forschung in der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Entstehung und Verortung eines Forschungszweiges

    Barth, M., 2016, Empirische Forschung zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Themen, Methoden und Trends: Summer School "Empirische Forschung zur Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Themen, Methoden und Trends" vom 21.-29. Juli 2014 an der Universität Vechta. Barth, M. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Opladen, Berlin, Toronto: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 37-50 13 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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