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
Land use legacy effects on woody vegetation in agricultural landscapes of south-western Ethiopia
Shumi, G., Schultner, J., Dorresteijn, I., Rodrigues, P., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.08.2018, In: Diversity and Distributions. 24, 8, p. 1136-1148 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land-use legacy and tree age in continuous woodlands: weak effects on overall ground beetle assemblages, but strong effects on two threatened species
Huelsmann, M., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Schuldt, A. & Assmann, T., 15.06.2019, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 23, 3, p. 623-633 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land use intensification causes the spatial contraction of woody-plant based ecosystem services in southwestern Ethiopia
Duguma, D. W., Law, E., Shumi, G., Schultner, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 12.2024, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 5, 1, 10 p., 263.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land use changes and ground dwelling beetle conservation in extensive grazing dehesa systems of north-west Spain
Garcia-Tejero, S., Taboada Palomares, A., Tarrega, R. & Salgado, J. M., 05.2013, In: Biological Conservation. 161, p. 58-66 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land-use change differentially affects endemic, forest andopen-land butterflies in Madagascar
Wurz, A., Grass, I., Lees, D. C., Rakotomalala, A. A. N. A., Sáfián, S., Martin, D. A., Osen, K., Loos, J., Benasoavina, E., Alexis, T. & Tscharntke, T., 01.09.2022, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 15, 5, p. 606-620 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land use change and the future of biodiversity
Hobohm, C., Beierkuhnlein, C., Börtitz, C., Clark, V. R., El Balti, N., Fichtner, A., Franklin, S., Gaens, T., Härdtle, W., Hansen, A. S., Janišová, M., Jansen, J., Lindner, M., Moro-Richter, M., Müller-Benedict, V., Ott, K., Reinmuth, K. C., van Rooijen, N. M., Sandberg, M., Schaminée, J. H. J., Tang, C. Q., Vahle, H.-C. & Vanderplank, S. E., 2021, Perspectives for Biodiversity and Ecosystems. Hobohm, C. (ed.). Cham: Springer, p. 451-483 33 p. (Environmental Challenges and Solutions).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land use affects dung beetle communities and their ecosystem service in forests and grasslands
Frank, K., Hülsmann, M., Aßmann, T., Schmitt, T. & Blüthgen, N., 01.06.2017, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 243, p. 114-122 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land Take and Soil Sealing—Drivers, Trends and Policy (Legal) Instruments: Insights from European Cities
Naumann, S., Frelih-Larsen, A., Prokop, G., Ittner, S., Reed, M., Mills, J., Morari, F., Verzandvoort, S., Albrecht, S., Bjuréus, A., Siebielec, G. & Miturski, T., 2019, International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2018. Ginzky, H., Dooley, E., Heuser, I. L., Kasimbazi, E., Markus, T. & Qin, T. (eds.). Cham: Springer Schweiz, p. 83-112 30 p. (International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy ; vol. 2018).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward
Fischer, J., Abson, D., Butsic, V., Chappell, M. J., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Smith, H. G. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, In: Conservation Letters. 7, 3, p. 149-157 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward
Fischer, J., Abson, D., Butsic, V., Chappell, M. J., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Smith, H. G. & von Wehrden, H., 2013, ASPECTS OF APPLIED BIOLOGY 121: Rethinking Agricultural Systems in the UK. AAB, p. 105-107 3 p. (Aspects of Applied Biology).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review