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

    Impact of prescribed burning on a heathland inhabiting spider community

    Krause, R. H. & Assmann, T., 01.04.2016, In: Arachnologische Mitteilungen. 2016, 51, p. 57-63 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Habitat management on multiple spatial scales can enhance bee pollination and crop yield in tropical homegardens

    Motzke, I., Klein, A. M., Saleh, S., Tscharntke, T. & Wanger, T. C., 01.05.2016, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 223, p. 144-151 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Barley (Hordeum distichon L.) roots synthesise volatile aldehydes with a strong age-dependent pattern and release (E)-non-2-enal and (E,Z)-nona-2,6-dienal after mechanical injury

    Delory, B. M., Delaplace, P., du Jardin, P. & Fauconnier, M. L., 01.07.2016, In: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 104, p. 134-145 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sustainability Ethics

    Oermann, N. O. & Weinert, A., 2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 175-192 18 p.

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

  5. Published

    Regionale StadtLandschaften

    Hofmeister, S. & Klee, A., 30.04.2015, In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung. 73, 2, p. 77-78 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  6. Published

    New Sediment Cores Reveal Environmental Changes Driven by Tectonic Processes at Ancient Helike, Greece

    Engel, M., Jacobson, K., Boldt, K., Frenzel, P., Katsonopoulou, D., Soter, S., Alvarez Zarikian, C. A. & Brückner, H., 01.03.2016, In: Geoarchaeology. 31, 2, p. 140-155 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    What determines PCB concentrations in soils in rural and urban areas? Insights from a multi-media fate model for Switzerland as a case study

    Glüge, J., Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 15.04.2016, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 550, p. 1152-1162 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Die Energiewende gestalten lernen durch Reallabore

    Heilmann, S., 2015, In: Magazin der Akademie für Raumforschung und Landesplanung. 45, 2, p. 25-29 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Besser, weniger, anders – auf guten Wegen zur Nachhaltigkeit?

    Biesecker, A., Hofmeister, S. & von Winterfeld , U., 04.2016, In: Das Argument. 315, p. 82-90 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Exploring the Capacity of Water Framework Directive Indices to Assess Ecosystem Services in Fluvial and Riparian Systems: Towards a Second Implementation Phase

    Vidal-Abarca, M. R., Santos-Martín, F., Martín-López, B., Sánchez-Montoya, M. M. & Suárez Alonso, M. L., 01.06.2016, In: Environmental Management. 57, 6, p. 1139-1152 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review