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

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung als regionales Projekt

    Stoltenberg, U., 2007, Tradition und Innovation: Region und Bildung in einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung. Stoltenberg, U. & Emmermann, C. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 80-92 13 p.

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

  2. Published

    Dispersal of vascular plants by game in northern Germany. Part II: Red deer (Cervus elaphus)

    von Oheimb, G., Schmidt, M., Kriebitzsch, W. & Ellenberg, H., 01.04.2005, In: European Journal of Forest Research. 124, 1, p. 55-65 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Uncertainty and sustainability in the management of rangelands

    Quaas, M. F., Baumgärtner, S., Becker, C., Frank, K. & Müller, B., 2008, Ecological economics: Vol. 2: Modeling coupled ecological-economic systems. Perrings, C. (ed.). Los Angeles, Calif. [u.a.]: SAGE Publications Inc., p. 229-260 32 p.

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

  4. Published

    Sustainable university – auf dem Weg zu einem universitären Agendaprozess

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), 2000, Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 252 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Nachhaltige Entwicklung - Konturen einer Verbindung

    Hofmeister, S. & Karsten, M.-E., 2003, Zwischentöne gestalten: Dialoge zur Verbindung von Geschlechterverhältnissen und Nachhaltigkeit. Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Karsten, M. E. (eds.). Bielefeld: Kleine Verlag, p. 9-37 29 p.

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

  6. Published

    Liste der im norddeutschen Tiefland typischen Waldgefäßpflanzen

    Schmidt, M., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U. & Ellenberg, H., 2002, Hamburg: Verlag Max Wiedebusch. 37 p. (Mitteilungen der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Forst- und Holzwirtschaft Hamburg)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  7. Published

    Die mittelpleistozäne Leck-Formation und ihre Bedeutung für die Klimastratigraphie Mitteleuropas, Teil 2: Palynologie

    Urban, B., 2008, Tagungsband und Exkursionsführer: 75. Tagung der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Norddeutscher Geologen. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Norddeutscher Geologen, p. 35 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Kalkausscheidungen an Sichtmauerwerk aus Beton-Vormauersteinen: ein bekanntes Phänomen, in der Praxis noch nicht optimal gelöst

    Quitmann, H.-D. & Schumann, I., 01.08.2004, In: Mauerwerk. 8, 4, p. 166-169 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Kulturelle Vielfalt und Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2007, Kulturelle Vielfalt - Unser gemeinsamer Reichtum. Deutsche UNESCO-Kommission, p. 241-246 6 p.

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

  10. Published

    Strategic environmental assessment for the utilization of offshore wind energy

    Schomerus, T., Runge, K., Nehls, G. & Toland, A., 2007, 2nd Scientific Conference on the Use of Offshore Wind Energy by the Federal Ministry for the Environment 20. and 21. February 2007 in Berlin: Conference Proceedings. Morkel, L., Toland, A., Wende, W. & Köppel, J. (eds.). Technische Universität Berlin, p. 73-81 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review