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. 2004
  2. Published
  3. Published

    Forest history, continuity, and dynamic naturalness

    Westphal, C., Härdtle, W. & Oheimb, G., 22.03.2004, Forest biodiversity: lessons from history for conservation. . Honnay, O., Verheyen, K., Bossuyt, B. & Hermy, M. (eds.). CABI, p. 205-220 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Fluctuations of carabid populations inhabiting an ancient woodland (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Gunther, J. & Assmann, T., 01.03.2004, In: Pedobiologia. 48, 2, p. 159-164 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Environmental Noise: Main Focus: Aircraft Noise

    Guerra González, J. (Editor), 03.2004, Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler: Europäische Akademie zur Erforschung von Folgen Wissenschaftlich-Technischer Entwicklungen. 122 p. (Graue Reihe; no. 36)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Sustainable Value Added: Measuring Corporate Contributions to Sustainability Beyond Eco-Efficiency

    Figge, F. & Hahn, T., 20.02.2004, In: Ecological Economics. 48, 2, p. 173-187 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Bioassay-directed chemical analysis utilizing LC-MS: a tool for identifying estrogenic compounds in water samples?

    Heisterkamp, I., Gandrass, J. & Ruck, W., 01.02.2004, In: Analytical & Bioanalytical Chemistry. 378, 3, p. 709-715 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Relationship between pH-values and nutrient availability in forest soils - the consequences for the use of ecograms in forest ecology

    Hardtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Friedel, A., Westphal, C. & Hartmut, M., 01.01.2004, In: Flora. 199, 2, p. 134-142 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sensitive, simultaneous determination of P, S, Cl, Br and I containing pesticides in environmental samples by GC hyphenated with collision-cell ICP-MS

    Pröfrock, D., Leonhard, P., Wilbur, S. & Prange, A., 01.01.2004, In: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 19, 5, p. 623-631 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Stochastic environmental policy, risk-taking, and growth: Discretion versus commitment

    Soretz, S., 01.01.2004, In: International Journal of Global Environmental Issues. 4, 1-3, p. 58-72 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review