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

    Managing the grazing landscape: insights for agricultural adaptation from a mid-drought photo-elicitation study in the Australian sheep-wheat belt

    Sherren, K., Fischer, J. & Fazey, I., 02.2012, In: Agricultural Systems. 106, 1, p. 72-83 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published
  5. Published

    Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges

    Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Bergmann, M., Stauffacher, M., Martens, P., Moll, P., Swilling, M. & Thomas, C. J., 02.2012, In: Sustainability Science. 7, SUPPL. 1, p. 25-43 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The effect of storage medium on the elution of monomers from composite materials

    Polydorou, O., Huberty, C., Wolkewitz, M., Bolek, R., Hellwig, E. & Kümmerer, K., 27.01.2012, In: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. 100B, 1, p. 68-74 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Trends for snow cover and river flows in the Pamirs (Central Asia)

    Chevallier, P., Pouyaud, B., Moja¨ısky, M., Bolgov, M., Olsson, O., Bauer, M. & Froebrich, J., 03.01.2012, In: Hydrology and Earth Systems Sciences Discussion. 9, p. 29–64 36 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Aquatic habitat use by amphibians with specific reference to Rana temporaria at high elevations (Retezat Mountains National Park, Romania)

    Cogǎlniceanu, D., Bǎncilǎ, R., Plǎiaşu, R., Samoilǎ, C. & Hartel, T., 01.01.2012, In: International Journal of Limnology. 48, 4, p. 355-362 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Deficits in EU and US mandatory environmental information disclosure: Legal, comparative legal and economic facets of pollutant release invent.

    Bünger, D., 01.01.2012, Berlin: Springer. 487 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Ecosystem services in Agricultural landscapes

    Smukler, S. M., Philpott, S. M., Jackson, L. E., Klein, A.-M., DeClerck, F., Winowiecki, L. & Palm, C. A., 01.01.2012, Integrating Ecology and Poverty Reduction: Ecological Dimensions. Ingram, J. C., Clerck, F. A. D. & Rio, C. R. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer, p. 17-51 35 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  11. Published

    Environmental Dimension in Chemistry Teacher Education

    Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2012, Campinas: Atomo. 174 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook