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. 2013
  2. Published

    Einführung: Forschungs- und Handlungsfelder der Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften und -politik

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 153-159 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesEducationpeer-review

  3. Published

    Einführung: Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung – ein Konzept – eine Aufgabe – ein Prozess

    Stoltenberg, U., 2013, Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Praxis des Sachunterrichts in der Grundschule. Stoltenberg, U. (ed.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 1. p. 9-11 3 p.

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

  4. Published

    Einleitung: Geschlechterverhältnisse in der nachhaltigen Entwicklung

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 17-30 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherEducation

  5. Published

    Einleitung: Das Projekt "Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum" (BINK)

    Michelsen, G., 2013, Nachhaltig konsumieren lernen: Ergebnisse aus dem Projekt BINK "Bildungsinstitutionen nachhaltiger Konsum". Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). 1. ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 11-22 11 p. (Innovationen in den Hochschulen: Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 11).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Emerging pollutants: of old compounds and new ones, of micrograms and tonnes, from the past to the future

    Kümmerer, K., 2013, 14th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment: ICCE 2013, Barcelona, June 25 - 28, 2013; Book of abstracts. European Association of Chemical and Molecular Sciences (EuCheMS) / Division of Chemistry and the Environment (DCE), p. 42 1 p.

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

  8. Published

    Empathie und Solidarität mit Um- und Nachwelt: Politische Bildung und nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G., 2013, Wissen und Können: Wege zum professionellen Handeln in der politischen Bildung. Hufer, K.-P., Länge, T. W., Menke, B., Overwien, B. & Schudoma, L. (eds.). Schwalbach / Ts.: Wochenschau-Verlag, p. 217-219 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Empfehlungen für die marktbezogene Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation großer Reiseveranstalter: Untersucht am Beispiel der Kuoni Reisen AG, Schweiz

    Pieper, E., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 154 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Energiewende als Gemeinschaftswerk? Stand und Perspektiven zur Einbindung der Jugend

    Burandt, S., Fischer, D., Grunenberg, H. & Heinrichs, H., 2013, Verändern durch Wissen: Chancen und Herausforderungen demokratischer Beteiligung: von Stuttgart 21 bis zur Energiewende. Töpfer, K., Volkert, D. & Mans, U. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 114–130 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Entwicklungspolitische Bildungsarbeit in Theorie und Praxis

    Fischer, J. & Richter, S., 2013, Einführung in die Entwicklungspolitik. Ihne, H. & Wilhelm, J. (eds.). Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, p. 227-243 17 p. (Schriftenreihe; vol. 1338).

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