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

    "Lehren" über Nachhaltigkeit und Naturschutz: ein Projektbericht

    Hofmeister, S., 2009, Naturschutz als politisches Handeln: Naturschutz als politisches Handeln. Eisel, U., Körner, S. & Wiersbinski, N. (eds.). Kassel university press, Vol. 3. p. 131-151 21 p. (Arbeitsberichte des Fachbereichs Architektur, Stadtplanung, Landschaftsplanung; no. 168).

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

  2. Published

    Morphological differentiations of tarsal structures in ground beetles living in reedbed hatitats (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Schürstedt, H., Rossbach, A. & Aßmann, T., 2000, Natural history and applied ecology of carabid beetles: Proceedings of the IX European Carabidiologists Meeting, Cosenza, Italy, 26-31 July, 1998. Casale, A., Brandmayr, P., Brandmayr, T. Z., Taglianti, A. V. & Lövei, G. (eds.). Sofia / Moscow: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 81-87 7 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica; vol. 19).

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

  3. Published

    Alles zu gleicher Zeit am gleichen Ort? Verdichtung von Raum und Zeit: das Ende der "Verinselung"

    Hofmeister, S., 2006, Zeitvielfalt: Wider das Diktat der Uhr. Geißler, K. A., Kümmerer, K. & Sabelis, I. (eds.). Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 97-112 16 p.

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

  4. Published

    Relationships between the vegetation and soil conditions in beech and beech-oak forests of northern Germany

    Hardtle, W., von Oheimb, G. & Westphal, C., 01.03.2005, In: Plant Ecology. 177, 1, p. 113-124 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Gläserne Energieversorgungsunternehmen? neue Pflichten nach dem geänderten Umweltinformationsrecht

    Schomerus, T., 01.01.2007, Europa - Verfassung, Arbeit, Umwelt: liber amicorum Hartwig Donner . Heilmann, J. & Schubert, J. (eds.). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 37-52 16 p.

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

  6. Published

    Zrównowazony rozwój regionalny: wyzwanie dla uniwersytetow

    Michelsen, G., 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. 33-48 16 p.

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

  7. Published

    Kompetenzen und Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G., 2007, Umweltbildung im Sport: Dokumentation des 14. Symposiums zur Nachhaltigen Entwicklung des Sports vom 07. - 08. Dezember 2006 in Bodenheim, Rhein. Neuerburg, H.-J. & Wilken, T. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Deutscher Olympischer Sportbund , p. 17-26 10 p.

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

  8. Published

    Nachhaltiges Unternehmertum im Handwerk: eine Frage der Weiterbildung?

    Herzig, C., 2004, In: Berufsbildung. 86/87, p. 62-64 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Lokale Agenda 21 und die "Eine Welt"

    Rieckmann, M., 2007, Handbuch Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation: Grundlagen und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Godemann, J. (eds.). 2 ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 768-778 11 p.

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

  10. Published

    Natures running wild: a social-ecological perspective on wilderness

    Hofmeister, S., 01.2009, In: Nature and Culture. 4, 3, p. 293-315 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review