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

    Exploring cultural landscape narratives to understand challenges for collaboration and their implications for governance

    Schaal-Lagodzinski, T., König, B., Riechers, M., Heitepriem, N. & Leventon, J., 01.06.2024, In: Ecosystems and People. 20, 1, 16 p., 2320886.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The urgent need for designing greener drugs

    Brodin, T., Bertram, M. G., Arnold, K. E., Boxall, A. B. A., Brooks, B. W., Cerveny, D., Jörg, M., Kidd, K. A., Lertxundi, U., Martin, J. M., May, L. T., McCallum, E. S., Michelangeli, M., Tyler, C. R., Wong, B. B. M., Kümmerer, K. & Orive, G., 08.2024, In: Nature Sustainability. 7, 8, p. 949-951 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Determination and risk assessment of UV filters and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in wastewater from a wastewater treatment plant in Lüneburg, Germany

    Ajibola, A. S., Reich, M. & Kümmerer, K., 08.2024, In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 196, 8, 19 p., 725.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Welche Dienstleistungen benötigt die (große) Nachhaltigkeitstransformation

    Schaltegger, S., 2024, Sustainable Service Management: Band 2: Strategien und Umsetzung der Nachhaltigkeit. Bruhn, M. & Hadwich, K. (eds.). Springer Gabler, p. 239-252 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Entwicklung eines virtuellen Lernraums zum digitalen Kompetenzerwerb

    Abels, S., Sowinski, R., Hofer, E., Rodenhauser, A. & Stinken-Rösner, L., 10.06.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung 2023 . van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 938 - 941 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

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

  7. Published

    Schülerlabore als Ort der Lehrkräftefortbildung in der digitalen Welt

    Brusdeilins, M., Abels, S., Blumberg, E., Brückmann, M., Kiel, C., Meyer, D., Schwedler, S., Stinken-Rösner, L., Wenzel, A. & Ziegler, M., 10.06.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung 2023. van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 902 - 905 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

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

  8. Published

    Herausforderungen in der Planungsphase offenen Forschenden Lernens

    Fietkau, A., Hofer, E. & Abels, S., 10.06.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung 2023 . van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 718 - 721 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

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

  9. Published

    Adressierung von Mädchen an außerschulischen naturwissenschaftlichen Lernorten

    Groß, J. & Abels, S., 10.06.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik - Jahrestagung in Hamburg 2023. van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 678 - 681 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    Metaphern mehrsprachiger Schüler*innen zu abstrakten Phänomenen

    Sowinski, R. & Abels, S., 10.06.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung 2023 . van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 306 - 309 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

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