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

    Extreme Climate Events as Opportunities for Radical Open Citizenship

    John, B. & Kagan, S., 2014, In: Open Citizenship. 5, 1, p. 60-75 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Extent, perception and mitigation of damage due to high groundwater levels in the city of Dresden, Germany

    Kreibich, H., Thieken, A. H., Grunenberg, H., Ullrich, K. & Sommer, T., 27.07.2009, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences . 9, 4, p. 1247-1258 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Extension of Biodiesel Aging Mechanism–the Role and Influence of Methyl Oleate and the Contribution of Alcohols Through the Use of Solketal

    Türck, J., Schmitt, F., Anthofer, L., Türck, R., Ruck, W. & Krahl, J., 08.09.2023, In: ChemSusChem. 16, 17, 10 p., e202300263.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Exposure of the Irish population to PBDEs in food: consideration of parameter uncertainty and variability for risk assessment

    Trudel, D., Tlustos, C., von Goetz, N., Scheringer, M., Reichert, P. & Hungerbühler, K., 07.2011, In: Food additives & contaminants. Part A, Chemistry, analysis, control, exposure & risk assessment. 28, 7, p. 943-955 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Exposure of Bromus hordeaceus to fossil- and plant-based micro- and nanoplastics: Impacts and plant-plastic interactions vary depending on polymer type and growth phase

    Alonso-Crespo, I. M. & Mateos-Cárdenas, A., 01.11.2024, In: Chemosphere. 368, 11 p., 143715.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Exploring universities' transformative potential for sustainability-bound learning in changing landscapes of knowledge communication

    Adomßent, M., 06.2013, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 49, Juni, p. 11-24 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Exploring the “works with nature” pillar of food sovereignty: a review of empirical cases in academic literature

    Benavides-Frias, C., Ortiz Przychodzka, S., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Oteros-Rozas, E., Burke, L. & Hanspach, J., 2024, In: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 48, 3, p. 332-356 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Exploring the role of intentions and expectations in continuing professional development in sustainability education

    Casanova, C. R., King, J. A. & Fischer, D., 01.07.2023, In: Teaching and Teacher Education. 128, 104115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Exploring the potential role of priority effects for ecological restoration

    Temperton, V. M., Nelson, C. & Weidlich, E. W. A., 25.08.2016, 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER Europe): The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, abstract volume. Kollmann, J. & Hermann, J.-M. (eds.). Technische Universität München, p. 108 1 p.

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