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
Learning settings to face climate change
Burandt, S. & Barth, M., 01.05.2010, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 18, 7, p. 659-665 7 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Learning Processes in the Early Development of Sustainable Niches: The Case of Sustainable Fashion Entrepreneurs in Mexico
Rodriguez Aboytes, J. G. & Barth, M., 13.10.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 20, 26 p., 8434.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Learning processes for interpersonal competence development in project-based sustainability courses – insights from a comparative international study
Konrad, T., Wiek, A. & Barth, M., 22.02.2021, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 22, 3, p. 535-560 26 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Learning not only by doing - Erfahrungen eines interdisziplinären Forschungsverbundes am Beispiel CITY:mobil
Bergmann, M. & Jahn, T., 1999, Stadtökologische Forschung: Theorie und Anwendungen. Friedrichs, J. & Hollaender, K. (eds.). Berlin: Analytica Verlagsgesellschaft, Vol. 6. p. 251-275 25 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Learning in participatory environmental governance – its antecedents and effects. Findings from a case survey meta-analysis
Newig, J., Jager, N. W., Kochskämper, E. & Challies, E., 2019, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 21, 3, p. 213-227 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Learning in environmental governance: opportunities for translating theory to practice
Gerlak, A. K., Heikkila, T. & Newig, J., 02.09.2020, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 22, 5, p. 653-666 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Learning from the richness of diversity: development of an interdisciplinary, intercultural Master's programme on sustainability
Rieckmann, M., Michelsen, G., Lansu, A. & van Dam-Mieras, R., 2007, Crossing boundaries: innovative learning für sustainable development in higher education. Kraker, J. D. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 211-226 16 p. (Higher education for sustainability ; vol. 2).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Learning from Safe-by-Design for Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design: Mapping the Current Landscape of Safe-by-Design Reviews, Case Studies, and Frameworks
Sudheshwar, A., Apel, C., Kümmerer, K., Wang, Z., Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Valsami-Jones, E., Som, C. & Nowack, B., 01.01.2024, In: Environment international. 183, 13 p., 108305.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Learning from Indigenous Populations and Local Communities
Molnár, Z., Doormann, L., Reyes-García, V., Martín-López, B., Berkes, F. & Bodin, Ö., 20.09.2019, In: One Earth. 1, 1, p. 16-17 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
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Learning from Co-Founders of Grassroots Initiatives: Personal Resilience, Transition, and Behavioral Change – a Salutogenic Approach
Maschkowski, G., Schäpke, N., Grabs, J. & Langen, N., 05.2017, Resilience, Community Action and Social Transformation: People, Place, Practice, Power, Politics & Possibility in Transition. Henfrey, T. & Maschkowski, G. (eds.). 1 ed. Lisbon: Permanent Publications, p. 65-84 20 p. (The Community-Led Transformations Book Series; vol. 2).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research