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

    Impact of the tsunami on the coastal ecosystems of the Andaman Islands, India

    Ramchandran, R., Ramachandran, P., Senthilkumar, B. & Urban, B., 2011, The Indian Ocean Tsunami: The Global Response to a Natural Disaster. Karan, P. P. & Subbiah, S. P. (eds.). The University Press of Kentucky, p. 113-126 14 p.

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

  2. Published

    Impact of sod-cutting and choppering on nutrient budgets of dry heathlands

    Niemeyer, M., Niemeyer, T., Fottner, S., Haerdtle, W. & Mohamed, A., 01.01.2007, In: Biological Conservation. 134, 3, p. 344-353 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Impact of sheep grazing on nutrient budgets of dry heathlands

    Fottner, S., Härdtle, W., Niemeyer, M., Niemeyer, T., von Oheimb, G., Meyer, H. & Mockenhaupt, M., 12.2007, In: Applied Vegetation Science. 10, 3, p. 391-398 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Impact of rhizobacterial volatiles on Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv. growth and response to abiotic stresses

    Baudson, C., Mendaluk - Saunier de Cazenave, M., Blondiaux, A., Delory, B., du Jardin, P. & Delaplace, P., 21.06.2013, 1st International Brachypodium Conference: Abstract book. Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia, p. S6.3 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Impact of prescribed burning on a heathland inhabiting spider community

    Krause, R. H. & Assmann, T., 01.04.2016, In: Arachnologische Mitteilungen. 2016, 51, p. 57-63 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Impact of participation on sustainable water management planning: Comparative analysis of eight cases

    Kochskämper, E., Jager, N. W., Newig, J. & Challies, E., 2018, Participation for Effective Environmental Governance: Evidence from European Water Framework Directive Implementation. Kochskämper, E., Challies, E., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 117-148 32 p. (Earthscan Studies in Water Resource Management).

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

  8. Published

    Impact of monsoon-driven surface ocean processes on a coral off Port Blair on the Andaman Islands and their link to North Atlantic climate variations

    Rixen, T., Ramachandran, P., Lehnhoff, L., Dasbach, D., Gaye, B., Urban, B., Ramachandran, R. & Ittekkot, V., 01.01.2011, In: Global and Planetary Change. 75, 1-2, p. 1-13 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. E-pub ahead of print

    Impact of land transformation, management and governance on subjective wellbeing across social–ecological systems

    Santillán-Carvantes, P., Tauro, A., Balvanera, P., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C. & Martín-López, B., 12.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainability Science. 15 p., 119369.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Impact of land cover homogenization on the Corncrake (Crex crex) in traditional farmland

    Dorresteijn, I., Teixeira, L., von Wehrden, H., Loos, J., Hanspach, J., Stein, J. A. R. & Fischer, J., 04.10.2015, In: Landscape Ecology. 30, 8, p. 1483-1495 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review