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. Published

    Learning for sustainable development in regional networks

    Dlouha, J., Barton, A., Huisingh, D. & Adomßent, M., 06.2013, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 49, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Learning for change: an educational contribution to sustainability science

    Michelsen, G. & Barth, M., 01.2013, In: Sustainability Science. 8, 1, p. 103-119 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Learning and Communicating Sustainability as a Participative Method. An integrative concept about learning and the construction of knowledge

    Stoltenberg, U., 2009, World in Transition. Sustainability Perspectives for Higher Education. Adomßent, M., Beringer, A. & Barth, M. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 146-150 5 p. (Higher education for sustainability; no. 4).

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

  4. Published

    Leaf trait variation within individuals mediates the relationship between tree species richness and productivity

    Proß, T., Haider, S., Auge, H. & Bruelheide, H., 01.02.2024, In: Oikos. 2024, 2, 14 p., e10255.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Leading Practice Publication: Professional development of university educators on Education for Sustainable Development in European countries

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), Kapitulcinova, D. (Editor), Dlouha, J. (Editor), Dlouhy, J. (Editor), Ryan, A. (Editor), Barton, A. (Editor), Tilbury, D. (Editor), Mula, I. (Editor), Benayas, J. (Editor), Alba, D. (Editor), Mally, K. V. (Editor), Mader, C. (Editor) & Mader, M. (Editor), 2015, Prague: Charles University, Prague. 134 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Leadership and Goal setting for Sustainable Innovation Projects in Large Businesses

    Weissbrod, I., 2019, Innovation for sustainability: Business transformations towards a better world. Bocken, N. M. P., Ritala, P., Albareda, L. & Verburg, R. (eds.). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 135-155 21 p. (Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    LC-HRMS Data Processing Strategy for Reliable Sample Comparison Exemplified by the Assessment of Water Treatment Processes

    Bader, T., Schulz, W., Kümmerer, K. & Winzenbacher, R., 19.12.2017, In: The Journal of Physical Chemistry C: Energy, Materials, and Catalysis. 89, 24, p. 13219-13226 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    La vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile – uno strumento innoativo di communicazione ambientale

    Stoltenberg, U., 2005, La sostenibilità si può fare: la "vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile": un progetto innovativo per la comunicazione e lo sviluppo della sostenibilità. Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 105-119 15 p.

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

  9. Published

    Laufkäferuntersuchungen in nordwestdeutschen Hudewäldern und Hudelandschaften

    Falke, B. & Aßmann, T., 2002, Laufkäfer im Wald. Filderstadt: Gesellschaft für Angewandte Carabidologie, p. 51-54 4 p. (Angewandte Carabidologie Supplement II; vol. Sup. 2001).

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

  10. Published

    Laufkäfer-Gemeinschaften (Coleoptera, Carabidae) xerothermer Sandrasen und ihre Abhängigkeit von Beweidungsmaßnahmen

    Lehmann, S., Persigehl, M., Rosenkranz, B., Falke, B., Aßmann, T. & Günther, J., 02.2005, Weidelandschaften und Wildnisgebiete: Vom Experiment zur Praxis. Finck, P., Härdtle, W., Redecker, B. & Rickken, U. (eds.). Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 119-128 10 p. (Schriftenreihe für Landschaftspflege und Naturschutz; vol. 78).

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