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

    Kaianlagen deutscher Containerterminals

    Brinkmann, B., 2007, In: Bauingenieur. 82, 7/8, p. 311-317 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Maintenance Measures for Open Landscapes

    Müller, J., 2003, Ecosystems and Sustainable Development IV: Vol. 2. Tiezzi, E., Brebbia, C. A. & Uso, J. L. (eds.). WIT Press, Vol. 19. p. 893-902 10 p. (Advances in Ecological Sciences).

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

  3. Published

    Landschaftsplanung und Strategische Umweltprüfung

    Haaren, C. V., Hoppenstedt, A., Scholles, F., Werk, K., Runge, K. & Winkelbrandt, A., 2000, In: UVP-Report. 14, 1, p. 44-47 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Strategische Umweltprüfung für die Offshore-Windenergienutzung

    Schomerus, T., Runge, K. & Nehls, G., 2007, 2. Wissenschaftstage des Bundesumweltministeriums zur Offshore-Windenergienutzung am 20. und 21. Februar 2007 in Berlin: Tagungband. Wende, W., Köppel, J., Morkel, L. & Toland, A. (eds.). Berlin: Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin, p. 78-87 10 p.

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

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Selbständigkeit gefragt: Greenteamkonzept auf dem Prüfstand

    Godemann, J., Michelsen, G., Degenhardt, L. & Molitor, H., 2001, In: Umwelt & Bildung. 3, 1, p. 30-31 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Nichtwissen und Resilienz in der lokalen Klimaanpassung: Widersprüche zwischen theoriegeleiteten Handlungsempfehlungen und empirischen Befunden am Beispiel des Sommerhochwassers 2002

    Kuhlicke, C. & Kruse, S., 09.2009, In: GAIA. 18, 3, p. 247-254 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Das Umweltinformationsgesetz Nordrhein-Westfalen

    Schomerus, T. & Tolkmitt, U., 2008, In: Nordrhein-Westfälische Verwaltungsblätter. 22, 5, p. 165 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit und regionale Entwicklungsprozesse: Chancen für das Verhältnis von Hochschule und Region

    Michelsen, G., 2005, Nachhaltigkeit ist machbar: das "Schaufenster für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung" als innovatives Projekt zur Kommunikation und Entwicklung von Nachhaltigkeit. Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 197-203 7 p.

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

  10. Published

    What is sustainability economics?

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M., 15.01.2010, In: Ecological Economics. 69, 3, p. 445-450 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch