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. 2008
  2. Published

    Gewalthaltige Bildschirmspiele: Auswahl und Wirkung am Anfang der Computerspielkarriere

    Salisch, M., Kristen, A. & Oppl, C., 2008, Clash of Realities 2008: Spielen in digitalen Welten. Kaminski, W. & Lorber, M. (eds.). München: KoPäd Verlag, p. 119-132 14 p.

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

  3. Published

    Globale Armut und regionaler Wohlstand – zwei Gegensätze?

    Mölders, T., 2008, Nachhaltig Vorsorgen: Dokumentation des 33. Kongresses Frauen in Naturwissenschaft und Technik. T. N. U. M. N. I. F. E. V. (ed.). Technik, Naturwissenschaft und Mathematik nachhaltig in Frauenhand (TechNaM), Vol. 33. p. 43-45 2 p.

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

  4. Published

    Grenzüberschreitung und Integration: Die formative Evaluation transdisziplinärer Forschung und ihre Kriterien

    Bergmann, M. & Schramm, E., 2008, Transdisziplinäre Forschung: integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten. Bergmann, M. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Frankfurt a. M./New York: Campus Verlag, p. 149-175 16 p.

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

  5. Published

    Grundlagen der Weiterentwicklung von rechtlichen Instrumenten zur Ressourcenschonung: Forschungsbericht 363 01 130, UBA-FB 001051

    Roßnagel, A. & Sanden, J., 2008, Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, 175 p. (Berichte; no. 2/2007).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  6. Published

    Heredity of the elytral colour in adults of Poecilus lepidus Leske (Col., Carabidae): (Col., Carabidae)

    Paarmann, W., Rohe, W., Lüchtrath, I., Aßmann, T. & Mossakowski, D., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a new synthesis amongst taxonomic, ecological and biogeographical approaches in carabidology. Penev, L., Erwin, T. & Assmann, T. (eds.). 1. ed. Pensoft Publishers Ltd., Vol. 75. p. 183-194 12 p. (Pensoft series faunistica ; vol. 75).

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

  7. Published

    Hochschulen und Nachhaltigkeit: neue Herausforderungen für Lehren, Lernen und Forschen

    Michelsen, G., 2008, Einstieg in Nachhaltige Entwicklung. Amelung, N. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main [u.a.]: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 135-151 17 p.

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

  8. Published

    Identifikation kritischer Punkte am Hybridkraftwerk Offshore aus umweltplanerischer Sicht

    Runge, K., 2008, Netzintegration von Offshore-Großwindanlagen - Grundlast von der Nordsee. Dietz, P. (ed.). Clausthal-Zellerfeld: Papierflieger Verlag, p. 209-246 38 p.

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

  9. Published

    Impact and Importance of Heterocyclics in Remediation: adsorption on activated carbon

    Mänz, J. S., Naumann, E., Palm, W.-U. & Ruck, W., 2008, Gasworks Europe: Forum fuer Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten e.V.. Werner, P., Bilitewski, B. & Hüsers, N. (eds.). GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, Vol. 56. p. 276 1 p. (Beiträge zur Abfallwirtschaft, Altlasten; vol. 56).

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

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Influence of clouds on the photochemical degradation in aqueous phase - I: Suitability of metamitron as actinometer

    Palm, W.-U., Meyer-Grünefeld, M. & Ruck, W., 2008, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, FG in der GDCh: Tagungsband der Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft Trier. GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, p. 190-194 5 p.

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