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. Accepted/In press

    Inner Development Goals zur Erreichung der Sustainable Development Goals – Ein Self-Assessment als Reflexionsanlass zum Einsatz in transformativen Lernprozessen

    Hantke, H. & Lorch, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) Klimawandel und Bildung – Interdisziplinäre Grundlagen und didaktische Impulse. Pijetlovic, D. & von Au, J. (eds.). München

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

  2. Published

    Inner conflict resolution and self-empowerment as contribution for personal sustainability on the case of intentional community practices

    Veciana, S. & Ottmar, K., 19.03.2018, Personal Sustainability: Exploring the Far Side of Sustainable Development. Parodi, O. & Tamm, K. (eds.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 116-135 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    In Memoriam; Zum Tode von Hans Primas, 1928 bis 2014: Mut zur Ganzheit: Wie ist Naturverständnis möglich ohne Naturbeherrschung?

    Scheringer, M. & Jaeger, J., 2015, In: GAIA. 24, 1, p. 7 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Inland sand ecosystems: dynamics and restitution as a consequence of the use of different grazing systems

    Schwabe, A., Remy, D., Aßmann, T., Kratochwil, A., Mährlein, A., Nobis, M., Storm, C., Zehm, A., Schlemmer, H., Seuss, R., Bergmann, S., Eichberg, C., Menzel, U., Persigehl, M., Zimmermann, K. & Weinert, M., 01.01.2002, Pasture landscapes and nature conservation. Redecker, B., Härdtle, W., Finck, P., Riecken, U. & Schröder, E. (eds.). Springer, p. 239-252 14 p.

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

  5. Published

    Inklusive Unterrichtsgestaltung – Brüche und Brücken zwischen Sach- und Fachunterricht

    Abels, S., 2020, „Brüche und Brücken“ – Übergänge im Kontext des Sachunterrichts. Offen, S., Barth, M., Franz, U. & Michalik, K. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, p. 17-26 10 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 30).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransferpeer-review

  6. Published

    Inklusiver Sachunterricht intersektionell verstanden: Konzeptionelle Herausforderungen und Forschungsperspektiven

    Offen, S., 2016, Sachunterricht : zwischen Kompetenzorientierung, Persönlichkeitsentwicklung, Lebenswelt und Fachbezug. Giest, H., Goll, T. & Hartinger, A. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 192-201 10 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 26).

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

  7. Published

    Inklusive Gestaltung einer Einheit offenen Forschenden Lernens

    Hofer, E., 2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung : Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung 2023 . van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 110-113 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

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

  8. Published

    Inklusive Begabungsförderung im Chemieunterricht

    Abels, S. & Brauns, S., 2021, Inklusive Begabungsförderung in den Fachdidaktiken: Diskurse, Forschungslinien und Praxisbeispiele. Kiso, C. J. & Fränkel, S. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 111-123 13 p.

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

  9. Published

    Inklusive Basiskompetenzen in den Fachdidaktiken entwickeln

    Abels, S., Troll, B., Greve, S., Süßenbach, J. & Besser, M., 2018, Inklusion im Dialog : Fachdidaktik - Erziehungswissenschaft - Sonderpädagogik . Langner, A. (ed.). 1. ed. Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 232-239 8 p. (Perspektiven sonderpädagogischer Forschung).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    Inklusion und Naturwissenschaften systematisch verknüpfen

    Stinken-Rösner, L., Abels, S., Hundertmark, S., Menthe, J., Nehring, A. & Rott, L., 2021, Naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht und Lehrerbildung im Umbruch?: Online Jahrestagung 2020 der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik. Habig, S. (ed.). Duisburg: Universität Duisburg-Essen, p. 169-172 4 p. (Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP); vol. 41).

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