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

    Medienökologien fürs Anthropozän

    Schrickel, I. & Stürmer, M., 04.2016, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 14, 1, p. 180-185 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    An experience-based learning framework: Activities for the initial development of sustainability competencies

    Caniglia, G., John, B., Kohler, M., Leonie, B., Wiek, A., Rojas, C., Laubichler, M. & Lang, D. J., 2016, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 17, 6, p. 827-852 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Cascades of green: A review of ecosystem-based adaptation in urban areas

    Brink, E., Aalders, T., Ádám, D., Feller, R., Henselek, Y., Hoffmann, A., Ibe, K., Matthey-Doret, A., Meyer, M., Negrut, N. L., Rau, A. L., Riewerts, B., von Schuckmann, L., Törnros, S., von Wehrden, H., Abson, D. J. & Wamsler, C., 01.01.2016, In: Global Environmental Change : Human and Policy Dimensions. 36, p. 111-123 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bridging corporate and academic contributions: Proceedings of the first WBCSD and EMAN joint international sustainability accounting symposium, Geneva, 2015

    Irwin, R. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2016, Geneva/Lüneburg: World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). 118 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    Marginal Calluna populations are more resistant to climate change, but not under high-nitrogen loads

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Belz, K., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.01.2016, In: Plant Ecology. 217, 1, p. 111-122 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Direct and Mn-Controlled Indirect Iron Oxidation by Leptothrix discophora SS-1 and Leptothrix cholodnii

    Eggerichs, T., Otte, T., Opel, O. & Ruck, W., 26.11.2015, In: Geomicrobiology Journal. 32, 10, p. 934-943 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Thermal synthesis of a thermochemical heat storage with heat exchanger optimization

    Fopah Lele, A., Kuznik, F., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W., 25.05.2016, In: Applied Thermal Engineering. 101, p. 669-677 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Reviving wood-pastures for biodiversity and people: A case study from western Estonia

    Roellig, M., Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Sammul, M., von Wehrden, H., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 2, p. 185-195 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Root-emitted volatile organic compounds: can they mediate belowground plant-plant interactions?

    Delory, B. M., Delaplace, P., Fauconnier, M. L. & du Jardin, P., 05.2016, In: Plant and Soil. 402, 1-2, p. 1-26 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch