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. 2018
  2. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Nähe oder soziologische Distanz? Responsibilisierung einer Polemik

    Herberg, J. A., 14.02.2018, Reflexive Responsibilisierung: Verantwortung für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Buschmann, N., Henkel, A., Hochmann, L. & Lüdtke, N. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 81-104 24 p.

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

  3. Published

    Representation of dissolved organic carbon in the JULES land surface model (vn4.4-JULES-DOCM)

    Nakhavali, M., Friedlingstein, P., Lauerwald, R., Tang, J., Chadburn, S., Camino-Serrano, M., Guenet, B., Harper, A., Walmsley, D., Peichl, M. & Gielen, B., 12.02.2018, In: Geoscientific Model Development. 11, 2, p. 593-609 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Environmental management accounting and its effects on carbon management and disclosure quality

    Qian, W., Hörisch, J. & Schaltegger, S., 10.02.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 174, 1, p. 1608-1619 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sustainability competencies in teacher education: Making teacher education count in everyday school practice

    Bürgener, L. & Barth, M., 10.02.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 174, January 2018, p. 821 - 826 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  6. Published

    The tiger beetles (Coleoptera, Cicindelidae) of the southern Levant and adjacent territories: From cybertaxonomy to conservation biology

    Assmann, T., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Gebert, J., Drees, C., Friedman, A. L. L., Khoury, F., Marcus, T., Orbach, E., Renan, I., Schmidt, C. & Zumstein, P., 05.02.2018, In: ZooKeys. 2018, 734, p. 43-103 61 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The means determine the end: Pursuing integrated valuation in practice

    Jacobs, S., Martín-López, B., Barton, D. N., Dunford, R., Harrison, P. A., Kelemen, E., Saarikoski, H., Termansen, M., García-Llorente, M., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Kopperoinen, L., Luque, S., Palomo, I., Priess, J. A., Rusch, G. M., Tenerelli, P., Turkelboom, F., Demeyer, R., Hauck, J., Keune, H. & Smith, R., 04.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 515-528 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Abundance of large old trees in wood-pastures of Transylvania (Romania)

    Hartel, T., Hanspach, J., Moga, C. I., Holban, L., Szapanyos, Á., Tamás, R., Hováth, C. & Réti, K. O., 01.02.2018, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 613-614, p. 263-270 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A review of ecological gradient research in the Tropics: identifying research gaps, future directions, and conservation priorities

    Muenchow, J., Dieker, P., Kluge, J., Kessler, M. & von Wehrden, H., 01.02.2018, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 27, 2, p. 273-285 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    (Dis) integrated valuation: Assessing the information gaps in ecosystem service appraisals for governance support

    Barton, D. N., Kelemen, E., Dick, J., Martin-Lopez, B., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Jacobs, S., Hendriks, C. M. A., Termansen, M., García- Llorente, M., Primmer, E., Dunford, R., Harrison, P. A., Turkelboom, F., Saarikoski, H., van Dijk, J., Rusch, G. M., Palomo, I., Yli-Pelkonen, V. J., Carvalho, L., Baró, F., Langemeyer, J., van der Wal, J. T., Mederly, P., Priess, J. A., Luque, S., Berry, P., Santos, R., Odee, D., Pastur, G. M., García Blanco, G., Saarela, S.-R., Silaghi, D., Pataki, G., Masi, F., Vădineanu, A., Mukhopadhyay, R. & Lapola, D. M., 01.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 529-541 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Editorial overview: Green and sustainable chemistry conference 2017

    Liu, Z. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2018, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, Special Issue: 2, 2018, p. A1-A2 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research