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. 2012
  2. Published

    Human behavior and sustainability

    Fischer, J., Dyball, R., Fazey, I., Gross, C., Dovers, S., Ehrlich, P. R., Brulle, R., Christensen, C. & Borden, R., 04.2012, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10, 3, p. 153-160 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Is conceptual vagueness an asset? Arguments from philosophy of science applied to the concept of resilience

    Strunz, S., 04.2012, In: Ecological Economics. 76, p. 112-118 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Large trees are keystone structures in urban parks

    Stagoll, K., Lindenmayer, D. B., Knight, E., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 04.2012, In: Conservation Letters. 5, 2, p. 115-122 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Modeling and predicting aquatic aerobic biodegradation: a review from a user’s perspective.

    Rücker, C. & Kümmerer, K., 04.2012, In: Green Chemistry . 14, 4, p. 875-887 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Nitrogen deposition increases susceptibility to drought - experimental evidence with the perennial grass Molinia caerulea (L.) Moench

    Friedrich, U., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Schleßelmann, K., Weber, M. S. & Härdtle, W., 04.2012, In: Plant and Soil. 353, 1-2, p. 59-71 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Sorgefall Familienrecht: Ursachen und Folgen grundgesetzwidriger Praxis auf der Basis regelmäßigen Missbrauchs des Kindeswohlbegriffs

    Guerra González, J., 27.03.2012, Berlin: LIT Verlag. 144 p. (Schriften zum Zivilrecht; vol. 21)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published

    Dynamische Modellierung der Sorption von Substanzen in einem hydrologischen Einzugsgebietsmodell anhand des Beispiels Phosphor

    Gassmann, M. & Olsson, O., 22.03.2012, Wasser ohne Grenzen: Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 22./23. März 2012 an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Weiler, M. (ed.). 1 ed. Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, 6 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung; vol. 31.12).

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

  9. Published

    Psychophysiological Correlates of Flow-Experience

    Peifer, C., 21.03.2012, Advances in Flow-Research. Engeser, S. (ed.). New York: Springer, p. 139-164 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Brominated flame retardants and dechlorane plus in the marine atmosphere from Southeast Asia toward Antarctica

    Möller, A., Xie, Z., Cai, M., Sturm, R. & Ebinghaus, R., 20.03.2012, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 46, 6, p. 3141-3148 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung in der öffentlichen Verwaltung

    Heinrichs, H., 20.03.2012, Jahrbuch Verwaltungsmodernisierung Deutschland 2012. Berlin: Wegweiser Berlin Research & Strategy, p. 108-109 2 p.

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