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

    Justice in environmental institutions - How do frameworks for institutional analysis consider ideas of justice?

    Stumpf, K. H., Hanger, S. & da Fonseca, I. F., 2012, Global Environmental Governance: Papers from the 2012 course. Vatn, A., Kjosavik, D., Kulindwa, K. & Vedeld, P. (eds.). Aas: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Vol. 2. p. 114-132 18 p. (Student Papers. Thor Heyerdahl Summer School in Environmental Governance.; vol. 2).

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

  2. Published

    Just a small bunch of flowers: The botanical knowledge of students and the positive effects of courses in plant identification at German universities

    Buck, T., Bruchmann, I., Zumstein, P. & Drees, C., 13.03.2019, In: PeerJ. 7, 3, 23 p., e6581.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Just another buzzword? A systematic literature review of knowledge-related concepts in sustainability science

    Apetrei, C. I., Caniglia, G., von Wehrden, H. & Lang, D. J., 01.05.2021, In: Global Environmental Change. 68, 33 p., 102222.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Jussi Parikka (2015) A Geology of Media, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. ISBN 978-0-8166-9552-2

    Schrickel, I., 2016, In: Culture Machine. Reviews, 2016, 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  5. Published

    Juristisches Gutachten über die Förderung der Vorbereitung zur Wiederverwendung von Elektro-Altgeräten im Sinne der zweiten Stufe der Abfallhierarchie

    Schomerus, T., Fabian, M., Fouquet, D. & Nysten, J. V., 05.2014, Dessau: Umweltbundesamt, 288 p. (Texte; vol. 36/2014).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  6. Published

    Jungholozäne Umweltentwicklung und Landnutzungsgeschichte im Hardautal, Ldkr. Uelzen (südliche Lüneberg Heide)

    Becker, K. & Urban, B., 11.2006, In: Telma. 36, p. 11-38 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Jugend und Nachhaltigkeit: eine Beziehung mit Zukunft?

    Godemann, J., 2006, In: Unesco heute. 53, 1, p. 66-69 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Jugend- und Justizpolitik in Hamburg

    Plewig, H.-J., 2008, In: Zeitschrift für Jugendkriminalrecht und Jugendhilfe. 19, 2, p. 180-183 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Jugendstrafrecht, Jugendhilfe, Kriminalpolitik: eine kommentierte Literaturauswahl

    Plewig, H.-J., 2005, In: Zeitschrift für Jugendkriminalrecht und Jugendhilfe. 16, 4, p. 415-422 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch