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. 2010
  2. Published

    "Ein Schatz, den ich in mir trage". Globales Lernen durch Auslandserfahrungen im Rahmen entwicklungspolitischer Bildungsprogramme

    Richter, S., 2010, In: Forum Jugendarbeit international. p. 303-319 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Entwicklung emotionaler Kompetenzen im Vorschulalter

    Janke, B. & von Salisch, M., 2010, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 59, 7, p. 509-512 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  4. Published

    Environmental Sociology: European perspectives and interdisciplinary challenges

    Gross, M. (Editor) & Heinrichs, H. (Editor), 2010, Dordrecht u.a.: Springer. 361 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  5. Published

    Erfolgsfaktoren und Indikatoren für erfolgreiches Wasserressourcenmanagement

    Evers, M., Lange, L. & Ramünke, M., 2010, Nachhaltige Wasserwirtschaft durch Integration von Hydrologie, Gewässerschutz und Ökonomie : Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 25./26. März 2010 an der Technischen Universität Braunschweig. Meon, G. (ed.). Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, p. 161-168 8 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung; vol. 29).

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

  6. Published

    Gesellschaftliche Naturverhältnisse zwischen Krise und Vision: eine Fallstudie im Biosphärenreservat Mittelelbe

    Mölders, T., 2010, München: oekom verlag GmbH. 315 p. (Hochschulschriften zur Nachhaltigkeit; vol. 49)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Globalisierung und die Verantwortung des Einzelnen: Protestantische Perspektiven

    Oermann, N. O., 2010, Damit Ihr Hoffnung habt: Das Buch zum Ökumenischen Kirchentag 2010. Catenhusen , W.-M., Großmann , T., Lechner, S. & Sattler, D. (eds.). Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, p. 165-169 5 p.

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

  9. Published

    Groundwater intrusion into leaky sewer systems

    Wittenberg, H. & Aksoy, H., 2010, In: Water Science and Technology. 62, 1, p. 92-98 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Handbuch Biodiversitätsmanagement: ein Leitfaden für die betriebliche Praxis

    Schaltegger, S. & Beständig, U., 2010, Stand Juni 2010 ed. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. 64 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  11. Published

    Hochschule und Nachhaltigkeit: Eine kritische Bestandsaufnahme

    Adomßent, M., 2010, In: ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik. 33, 4, p. 33-34 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review