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

    Participación ciudadana y sostenibilidad: Algunas reflexiones necesarias desde el análisis de casos y contextos diferenciados

    Rieckmann, M., 2008, Sostenibilidad en los espacios rurales: Proyectos europeos, herramientas participativas, experiencias municipales y territoriales en España. Martínez Puche, A., Salas Arqueros, J. P., Sánchez Navas, J. & Cortés Samper, C. (eds.). Alicante: Universidad Alicante, p. 213-225 13 p.

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

  3. Published

    Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRBs) for Ground Water Remediation at Contaminated Former Manufactured Gasworks Plants (MGPs) and Related Sites: Design Features, Performances achieved, and Outlook

    Burmeier, H., Schlanges, I., Palm, W.-U., Ruck, W., Birke, V. & Schütt, C., 2008, Gasworks Europe : edevelopment, site management and contaminant issues of former MGP's and other tar oil polluted sites (proceedings of MGP 2008 conference). Werner, P., Bilitewski, B. & Hüsers, N. (eds.). Forum für Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten, p. 123 1 p. (Beiträge zu Abfallwirtschaft, Altlasten; vol. 56).

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

  4. Published
  5. Published
  6. Published

    Ports

    Brinkmann, B. (Editor), 2008, In: Die Küste. 74, p. 347-416 70 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Potential of mobility services: Results of a user-oriented survey in Germany

    Grischkat, S., Böhler, S., Hunecke, M. & Haustein, S., 2008, Passenger Intermodality: Current Frameworks, trends and perspectives. Gronau, W. (ed.). Mannheim: Verlag MetaGIS Infosysteme, Vol. 1. p. 91-104 13 p.

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

  8. Published

    Praxis-Wörterbuch Umwelt, Naturschutz, Nachhaltigkeit: Deutsch-Englisch

    Schreiner, J. & Hutter, C.-P., 2008, 2. ed. Stuttgart: Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft. 729 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  9. Published

    Préserver les ressources par une gestion durable

    Schaltegger, S., 2008, In: La Vie économique. 81, 9, p. 45 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Produktbezogene Carbon Footprints in ERP-Systemen

    Funk, B., Möller, A. & Niemeyer, P., 2008, Konzepte, Anwendungen, Realisierungen und Entwicklungstendenzen betrieblicher Umweltinformationssysteme (BUIS). Wohlgemuth, V. (ed.). Aachen: Shaker Verlag, p. 67-76 10 p.

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

  11. Published

    Programa de Maestría Internacional ‘Sustainable Development and Management’: Volumen 1: Manual para el Programa de Maestría

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 312 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch