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. 2015
  2. Published

    Putting Architecture in its Social Space: the Fields and Skills of Planning Maastricht

    Herberg, J., 01.01.2015, Architecture, Materiality and Society: Connecting Sociology of Architecture with Science and Technology Studies. Müller, A.-L. & Reichmann, W. (eds.). Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 166-197 32 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Soil carbon, multiple benefits

    Milne, E., Banwart, S. A., Noellemeyer, E., Abson, D., Ballabio, C., Bampa, F., Bationo, A., Batjes, N. H., Bernoux, M., Bhattacharyya, T., Black, H., Buschiazzo, D. E., Cai, Z., Cerri, C. E., Cheng, K., Compagnone, C., Conant, R., Coutinho, H. L. C., de Brogniez, D., Balieiro, F. D. C., Duffy, C., Feller, C., Fidalgo, E. C. C., da Silva, C. F., Funk, R., Gaudig, G., Gicheru, P. T., Goldhaber, M., Gottschalk, P., Goulet, F., Goverse, T., Grathwohl, P., Joosten, H., Kamoni, P. T., Kihara, J., Krawczynski, R., La Scala, N., Lemanceau, P., Li, L., Li, Z., Lugato, E., Maron, P. A., Martius, C., Melillo, J., Montanarella, L., Nikolaidis, N., Nziguheba, G., Pan, G., Pascual, U., Paustian, K., Piñeiro, G., Powlson, D., Quiroga, A., Richter, D., Sigwalt, A., Six, J., Smith, J., Smith, P., Stocking, M., Tanneberger, F., Termansen, M., van Noordwijk, M., van Wesemael, B., Vargas, R., Victoria, R. L., Waswa, B., Werner, D., Wichmann, S., Wichtmann, W., Zhang, X., Zhao, Y., Zheng, J. & Zheng, J., 01.01.2015, In: Environmental Development. 13, p. 33-38 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sports and Nature Conservation: Ten Theses on the Optimisation of Shared Communication

    Adomßent, M., 01.01.2015, In: Journal of Biodiversity, Bioprospecting and Development . 2, 3, 5 p., 153.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Towards a thick understanding of sustainability transitions - Linking transition management, capabilities and social practices

    Rauschmayer, F., Bauler, T. & Schäpke, N., 01.01.2015, In: Ecological Economics. 109, p. 211-221 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Developing robust field survey protocols in landscape ecology: a case study on birds, plants and butterflies

    Loos, J., Hanspach, J., von Wehrden, H., Beldean, M., Moga, C. I. & Fischer, J., 01.2015, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 24, 1, p. 33-46 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Fit for the Future? A New Approach in the Debate about What Makes Healthcare Systems Really Sustainable

    Fischer, M., 01.2015, In: Sustainability. 7, 1, p. 294-312 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Nuclear accidents call for transdisciplinary nuclear energy research

    Gralla, F., Abson, D., Møller, A. P., Lang, D. J., Vilsmaier, U., Sovacool, B. K. & von Wehrden, H., 01.2015, In: Sustainability Science. 10, 1, p. 179-183 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Plant diversity in a changing agricultural landscape mosaic in Southern Transylvania (Romania)

    Loos, J., Turtureanu, P. D., Wehrden, H. V., Hanspach, J., Dorresteijn, I., Frink, J. P. & Fischer, J., 01.2015, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 199, p. 350-357 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    §100 Allgemeine Übergangsbestimmungen

    Schomerus, C.-T., Maly, C. & Meister, M., 2015, Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz: Kommentar. Frenz, W., Müggenborg, H.-J., Cosack, T. & Ekardt, F. (eds.). 4. ed. Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 1893-1924 32 p. (Berliner Kommentare).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  11. Published

    §104 Weitere Übergangsbestimmungen

    Schomerus, C.-T., Maly, C. & Meister, M., 2015, Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz: Kommentar. Frenz, W., Müggenborg, H.-J., Cosack, T. & Ekardt, F. (eds.). 4. ed. Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 1975-1983 9 p. (Berliner Kommentare).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch