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

    Key landscape features in the provision of ecosystem services: Insights for management

    Schmidt, K., Martín-López, B., Phillips, P. M., Julius, E., Makan, N. & Walz, A., 01.03.2019, In: Land Use Policy. 82, p. 353-366 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Das Reallabor als Forschungsprozess und -infrastruktur für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Konzepte, Herausforderungen und Empfehlungen

    Rose, M., Wanner, M. & Hilger, A., 12.2019, 2 ed., Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, 32 p. (Wuppertal Paper; no. 196).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Zukünftige Generationen in der heutigen Demokratie: Theorie und Praxis der Proxy-Repräsentation

    Rose, M., 2018, Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 584 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Nahtstellen nachhaltigen globalen Lernens - Philosophieren als (neue) Aufgabe von Unterricht

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 24.06.2019, Bildung und Erziehung im Kontext globaler Transformationen. Clemens, I., Hornberg, S. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 125-140 16 p.

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

  6. Published

    Zukunftsfähige Bildung. Unterricht als Bewältigung von Herausforderungen im Sinne einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 02.2019, Jahrbuch für Allgemeine Didaktik 2018.: Unterrichten wir das "Richtige"? Die Frage nach zeitgemäßen Inhalten in der Schule. Zierer, K. (ed.). Baltmannsweiler: Schneider Verlag Hohengehren, p. 65-74 9 p.

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

  7. Published

    "Global competence" - der neue Fokusbereich in PISA 2018. Ein holpriger Start

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Niemann, D., 2019, In: ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik. 42, 3, p. 29-36 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Combining mechanics and electrostatics: Quantitative measurement of a balloons electrical charge

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 03.2019, In: Physics Education. 54, 2, 023004.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  9. Published

    Schätzen – Aber wie?

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 26.02.2019, Naturwissenschaftliche Bildung als Grundlage für berufliche und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe: GDCP Jahrestagung in Kiel. Maurer, C. (ed.). Regensburg: Universität Regensburg, p. 93-96 4 p.

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

  10. Published

    Leadership and Goal setting for Sustainable Innovation Projects in Large Businesses

    Weissbrod, I., 2019, Innovation for sustainability: Business transformations towards a better world. Bocken, N. M. P., Ritala, P., Albareda, L. & Verburg, R. (eds.). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 135-155 21 p. (Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth).

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