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

    The means determine the end: Pursuing integrated valuation in practice

    Jacobs, S., Martín-López, B., Barton, D. N., Dunford, R., Harrison, P. A., Kelemen, E., Saarikoski, H., Termansen, M., García-Llorente, M., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Kopperoinen, L., Luque, S., Palomo, I., Priess, J. A., Rusch, G. M., Tenerelli, P., Turkelboom, F., Demeyer, R., Hauck, J., Keune, H. & Smith, R., 04.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 515-528 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Kontroverse Praktiken einer öffentlichen Kontroverse: Schließungen von Aushandlungsräumen in der Agro-Gentechnik-Debatte in Polen

    Sulmowski, J. A., 05.2017, 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 364 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Bildung und Kommunikation als integraler Bestandteil der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie?

    Stoltenberg, U. & Fischer, D., 07.2017, Die Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie: Wegweiser für eine Politik der Nachhaltigkeit. Michelsen, G. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung, p. 123–139 17 p. (forum hlz).

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

  4. Published

    Material utilization of organic residues

    Peinemann, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.02.2018, In: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 184, 2, p. 733-745 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Innovative Höchstspannungsfreileitungssysteme - technische, landschaftsbildliche, ökologische und rechtliche Aspekte

    Lutz, L. M., Reutter, L., Butzeck, C., Runge, K. & Schomerus, C.-T., 01.05.2018, In: Natur und Landschaft. 93, 5, p. 201-207 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Catalysing Change in Higher Education for Sustainable Development: A review of professional development initiatives for university educators; Editorial

    Mulà, I., Tilbury, D., Ryan, A., Mader, M., Dlouhá, J., Mader, C., Benayas, J., Dlouhý, J. & Alba, D., 2017, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 18, 5, p. 798-820 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Feeding ecology of the Andean fox in southern Ecuador: Wild ungulates being the main prey

    Guntiñas, M., Lozano, J., Cisneros, R., Narváez, C. & Armijos, J., 19.07.2017, In: Contributions to Zoology. 86, 2, p. 169-180 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    We Need Qualitative Progress to Address the Food-Biodiversity Nexus: A Reply to Seppelt et al.

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N. F., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 09.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 9, p. 632-633 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Training sessions fostering transdisciplinary collaboration for sustainable development: Albania and Kosovo case studies

    Meyer, J., Mader, M., Zimmermann, F. & Çabiri, K., 2017, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 18, 5, p. 738-757 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review