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

    Rätselhafte Röhren in der Landschaft

    Walmsley, D., 2020, In: Naturschutz und Naturparke. 248, p. 12-15 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Tree species richness modulates water supply in the local tree neighbourhood: evidence from wood δ13C signatures in a large-scale forest experiment

    Jansen, K., von Oheimb, G., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 10.03.2021, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 288, 1946, 8 p., 3100.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Inklusion und Naturwissenschaften systematisch verknüpfen

    Stinken-Rösner, L., Abels, S., Hundertmark, S., Menthe, J., Nehring, A. & Rott, L., 2021, Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht und Lehrerbildung im Umbruch?: Online Jahrestagung 2020 der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik. Habig, S. (ed.). Duisburg: Universität Duisburg-Essen, p. 169-172 4 p. (Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP); vol. 41).

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

  5. Published

    Biochar decreased rhizodeposits stabilization via opposite effects on bacteria and fungi: diminished fungi-promoted aggregation and enhanced bacterial mineralization

    Chen, Z., Kumar, A., Fu, Y., Singh, B. P., Ge, T., Tu, H., Luo, Y. & Xu, J., 05.2021, In: Biology and Fertility of Soils. 57, 4, p. 533-546 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Governance Challenges at the Interface of Food Security and Biodiversity Conservation: A Multi-Level Case Study from Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Leventon, J., Jager, N. W., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Senbeta, F., Bergsten, A. & Fischer, J., 04.2021, In: Environmental Management. 67, 4, p. 717-730 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Die Feststellung der energiepolitischen und energiewirtschaftlichen Notwendigkeit des Tagebaus Garzweiler II nach § 48 Kohleverstromungsbeendigungsgesetz (KVBG) – rechtspolitisch verfehlt und verfassungswidrig?

    Schomerus, T., 2021, Kohleausstiegsgesetz: Inhalt und Folgen. Frenz, W. & Preuße, A. (eds.). Clausthal-Zellerfeld: GDMB Gesellschaft der Metallurgen und Bergleute e.V., Vol. 149. p. 109-127 19 p. (Schriftenreihe der GDMB Gesellschaft der Metallurgen und Bergleute e.V.; vol. 149).

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

  9. Published

    Aesthetic Expertise for Sustainable Development: Envisioning Artful Scientific Policy Advice

    Heinrichs, H., 10.02.2021, In: World. 2, 1, p. 92-104 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    Reprint of: Tree-tree interactions and crown complementarity: the role of functional diversity and branch traits for canopy packing

    Hildebrand, M., Perles-Garcia, M. D., Kunz, M., Härdtle, W., von Oheimb, G. & Fichtner, A., 01.09.2021, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 55, p. 53-63 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review