School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Medialization of science as a prerequisite of its legitimization and political relevance
Peters, H. P., Heinrichs, H., Jung, A., Kallfass, M. & Petersen, I., 2008, Communicating Science in Social Contexts: New Models, New Practices. Cheng, D., Claessens, M., Gascoigne, T., Metcalfe, J., Schiele, B. & Shi, S. (eds.). Dodrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 71-92 22 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Medialisierung der Wissenschaft und ihre Relevanz für das Verhältnis zur Politik
Peters, H.-P., Brossard, D., de Cheiveigne, S., Dunwoody, S., Heinrichs, H., Jung, A., Kallfass, M., Miller, S., Petersen, I., Tsuchida, S., Cain, A. & Paquez, A.-S., 2009, Medienorientierung biomedizinischer Forscher im internationalen Vergleich. Peters, H. P. (ed.). Jülich: Forschungszentrum, p. 9-46 38 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Medialisierung der Wissenschaft als Voraussetzung ihrer Legitimierung und politischen Relevanz
Peters, H. P., Heinrichs, H., Jung, A., Kallfass, M. & Petersen, I., 27.05.2008, Wissensproduktion und Wissenstransfer: Wissen im Spannungsfeld von Wissenschaft, Politik und Öffentlichkeit. Mayntz, R., Neidhardt, F., Weingart, P. & Wengenroth, U. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 269-292 24 p. (Science Studies).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Media communication, citizens and transnational risks: The case of climate change and coastal protection
Heinrichs, H. & Peters, H. P., 31.10.2006, Risk Society and the Culture of Precaution. Richter, I. K., Berking, S. & Müller-Schmid, R. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 229-253 25 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Mechanisms promoting tree species co-existence: Experimental evidence with saplings of subtropical forest ecosystems of China
Lang, A. C., Härdtle, W., Baruffol, M., Böhnke, M., Bruelheide, H., Schmid, B., Von Wehrden, H. & Von Oheimb, G., 10.2012, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 23, 5, p. 837-846 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Mechanisms of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) encroachment in dry heathland ecosystems with chronic nitrogen inputs
Friedrich, U., Oheimb, G., Dziedek, C., Selbmann, K., Härdtle, W. & Kriebitzsch, W.-U., 01.12.2011, In: Environmental Pollution. 159, 12, p. 3553-3559 7 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Meat substitutes: Resource demands and environmental footprints
Smetana, S., Ristic, D., Pleissner, D., Tuomisto, H. L., Parniakov, O. & Heinz, V., 01.03.2023, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 190, 12 p., 106831.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
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Measuring Young Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption Behavior: Development and Validation of the YCSCB Scale
Fischer, D., Böhme, T. & Geiger, S. M., 09.2017, In: Young Consumers. 18, 3, p. 312-326 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Measuring what matters in sustainable consumption: an integrative framework for the selection of relevant behaviors
Geiger, S., Fischer, D. & Schrader, U., 01.01.2018, In: Sustainable Development. 26, 1, p. 18–33 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Measuring the (Un-)Sustainability of Industrial Biomass Production and Use
Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 16.11.2012, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 3, 2, p. 109-133 25 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review