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

    Global assessment of the non-equilibrium concept in rangelands

    Wehrden, H. V., Hanspach, J., Kaczensky, P., Fischer, J. & Wesche, K., 03.2012, In: Ecological Applications. 22, 2, p. 393-399 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Impact of emission reductions between 1980 and 2020 on atmospheric benzo[a]pyrene concentrations over europe

    Bieser, J., Aulinger, A., Matthias, V. & Quante, M., 03.2012, In: Water, Air, and Soil Pollution. 223, 3, p. 1393-1414 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Nachhaltiges Ressourcen- und Stoffstrommanagement: Zwischen Gigatonnen und Mikrogramm

    Bringezu, S. & Kümmerer, K., 03.2012, In: GAIA. 21, 1, p. 69–72 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Weltseehandel und seine größten Häfen – Ein Marktüberblick

    Brinkmann, B., 03.2012, In: Beton- und Stahlbetonbau. 107, SUPPL. 1, p. 8-14 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    VERFAHREN ZUR BESTIMMUNG DER NEIGUNG ZUR VEROCKERUNG UND SYSTEM HIERFÜR

    Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 09.02.2012, IPC No. G01N 17/02, Patent No. WO2012016673A1, 01.08.2011

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  7. Published

    The bispecific SDF1-GPVI fusion protein preserves myocardial function after transient ischemia in mice.

    Ziegler, M., Elvers, M., Baumer, Y., Leder, C., Ochmann, C., Schönberger, T., Jürgens, T., Geisler, T., Schlosshauer, B., Lunov, O., Engelhardt, S., Simmet, T. & Gawaz, M., 07.02.2012, In: Circulation. 125, 5, p. 685-696 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Neigung zur Verockerung und System hierfür

    Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 02.02.2012, IPC No. G01N 33/18, Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, Patent No. DE102010033056A1, 02.08.2010

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  9. Published

    Nonylphenol polyethoxylate in hospital wastewater: A study of the subproducts of electrocoagulation

    Henriques, D. M., Kümmerer, K., Mayer, F. M., Vasconcelos, T. G. & Martins, A. F., 01.02.2012, In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering. 47, 3, p. 497-505 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Estimating the aquatic emissions and fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) into the river Rhine

    Paul, A., Scheringer, M., Hungerbühler, K., Loos, R., Jones, K. & Sweetman, A., 02.2012, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 14, 2, p. 524-530 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    α- and β-diversity in moth communities in salt marshes is driven by grazing management

    Rickert, C., Fichtner, A., van Klink, R. & Bakker, J. P., 02.2012, In: Biological Conservation. 146, 1, p. 24-31 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review