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

    Umgang mit Pestiziden und deren Transformationsprodukten bei der Regenwasserbewirtschaftung

    Olsson, O., Hensen, B., Kümmerer, K., Lange, J. & Jackisch, N., 20.03.2019, Gewässerschutz Wasser Abwasser: 52. Essener Tagung für Wasserwirtschaft. Pinnekamp, J. (ed.). Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V., Vol. 250. p. 24/1 - 24/8 8 p. (Gewässerschutz, Wasser, Abwasser ; vol. 250).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransfer

  2. Published

    All-affected, Non-identity and the Political Representation of Future Generations: Linking Intergenerational Justice with Democracy

    Rose, M., 19.03.2019, Intergenerational Equity: Environmental and Cultural Concerns. Cottier, T., Lalani, S. & Siziba, C. (eds.). Leiden, Boston: Brill Nijhoff Verlag, p. 32-51 20 p. (World Trade Institute Advanced Studies; vol. 4).

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

  3. Published

    Governance for Sustainability in Telecoupled Systems

    Challies, E., Newig, J. & Lenschow, A., 2019, Telecoupling: Exploring Land-Use Change in a Globalised World. Friis, C. & Nielsen, J. Ø. (eds.). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 177-197 21 p. (Palgrave Studies in Natural Resource Management).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Assessing Collaborative Conservation: A Case Survey of Output, Outcome, and Impact Measures Used in the Empirical Literature

    Koontz, T. M., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 02.04.2020, In: Society and Natural Resources. 33, 4, p. 442-461 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Clusters of water governance problems and their effects on policy delivery

    Kirschke, S., Franke, C., Newig, J. & Borchardt, D., 03.04.2019, In: Policy and Society. 38, 2, p. 255-277 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Die Forschungsbohrung Garding-2 – ein neues wichtiges Klima- und Paläoumwelt-Archiv an der Westküste Schleswig-Holsteins

    Grube, A., Frechen, M., Hesse, K., Proborukmi, M. S., Urban, B., Wonik, T. & Zhang, J., 01.01.2019, In: Natur- und Landeskunde Zeitschrift für Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg und Mecklenburg. 126, 1-3, p. 1-15 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Take the money and run? Implementation and disclosure of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects

    Hörisch, J., 20.06.2019, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 223, p. 127-135 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Dynamic norms drive sustainable consumption: Norm-based nudging helps café customers to avoid disposable to-go-cups

    Loschelder, D. D., Siepelmeyer, H., Fischer, D. & Rubel, J. A., 01.12.2019, In: Journal of Economic Psychology. 75, Part A, 102146.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Fragmented Landscape, Fragmented Knowledge: A Synthesis of Renosterveld Ecology and Conservation

    Topp, E. N. & Loos, J., 01.06.2019, In: Environmental Conservation. 46, 2, p. 171-179 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Perspectives on comprehensive sustainability-orientation in municipalities: Structuring existing approaches

    Kirst, E. & Lang, D. J., 16.02.2019, In: Sustainability. 11, 4, 21 p., 1040.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review