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

    Die gesellschaften der Bidentetea tripartitae Tx. et al. ex von Rochow 1951 in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern mit anmerkungen zur synsystematik und nomenklatur der klasse

    Kiesslich, M., Dengler, J. & Berg, C., 01.05.2003, In: Feddes Repertorium. 114, 1-2, p. 91-139 49 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Characterization and ranking of biodiversity hotspots: centres of species richness and endemism

    Hobohm, C., 01.02.2003, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 12, 2, p. 279-287 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Nachhaltige Orientierungen bei Akteuren sozialer Bewegungen. Lokale Initiativen als Möglichkeitsraum lebenslangen Lernens im Kontext einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung

    Molitor, H., 2003, Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag. 234 p. (Studien zur Erwachsenenbildung; vol. 20)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  4. Published

    Verantwortlichkeiten und Haftung beim Umgang mit Bauschutt: Untersucht vor dem Hintergrund der Abfallorganisation im Landkreis Lüneburg

    Faulhaber, R., 2003, Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag. 223 p. (Europäische Hochschulschriften: Reihe 2, Rechtswissenschaft; vol. 3611)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    Umweltkommunikation im Lokalteil von Tageszeitungen: eine Untersuchung zur Kritik am Umweltjournalismus

    Braun, M.-L., 2003, Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag. 205 p. (Europäische Hochschulschriften: Reihe 40, Kommunikationswissenschaft und Publizistik; vol. 80)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Gemeinschaftliche Eigeninitiative im Bereich der Daseinsvorsorge : abfallrechtliche Subsidiarität als Anregung und Muster für die Förderung neuer, ziviler Organisationsformen bei der Erledigung öffentlicher Aufgaben

    Meyer, J., 2003, Berlin: Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. 303 p. (Umweltrecht und Umweltpolitik; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  7. Published

    Anforderungen an die Stilllegung und Nachsorge von Deponien im europäischen Kontext

    Kempkes, J.-H., 2003, Berlin: Tenea Verlag für Medien. 254 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published
  9. Published
  10. Published

    Permeable reactive barrier technologies for groundwater remediation in Germany: Recent progress and new developments

    Burmeier, H., Rosenau, D. & Birke, V., 2003, In: Fresenius Environmental Bulletin. 12, 6, p. 623-628 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review