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

    Education on the path to sustainability: Proposal of an indicator set to evaluate education for sustainable development

    Di Giulio, A., Ruesch Schweizer, C., Adomßent, M., Blaser, M., Bormann, I., Burandt, S., Fischbach, R., Kaufmann-Hayoz, R., Krikser, T., Künzli David, C., Michelsen, G., Rammel, C. & Streissler, A., 2012, Bern: University of Bern, Interdisciplinary Centre of General Ecology (IKAÖ), 68 p. (Allgemeine Ökologie zur Diskussion gestellt; no. 13).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Education in green chemistry and in sustainable chemistry: perspectives towards sustainability

    Zuin, V. G., Eilks, I., Elschami, M. & Kümmerer, K., 21.02.2021, In: Green Chemistry . 23, 4, p. 1594-1608 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development Strategies in German Universities.

    Adomßent, M. & Michelsen, G., 2007, From Cosmetic Reform to Meaningful Integration: Implementing Education for Sustainable Development in Higher Education Institutes. : The state of affairs in six European countries.. Wals, A. E. J. (ed.). Amsterdam

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

  4. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development in Preschool Institutions

    Rieckmann, M., 2005, Proceedings of the 3rd World Environmental Education Congress: Education Paths towards Sustainability. Salomone, M. (ed.). International Environmental Education Network, 7 p.

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

  5. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development – European Approaches

    Stoltenberg, U. (Editor) & Holz, V. (Editor), 2012, 1 ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 203 p. (Higher education for sustainability; vol. 7)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development after 2014: Results, Perspectives and Visions

    Michelsen, G., 2016, Education in a Globalized World: Teaching Right Livelihood. Christoforatou, E. (ed.). Immenhausen: Prolog-Verlag, p. 31-39 9 p. (Theory and Practice of School Pedagogy; vol. 30).

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

  7. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development

    Sewilam, H., McCormack, O., Osório-Peters, S. & Mader, M., 2013, New Life Sciences : linking science to society: BioVisionAlexandria 2012. Serageldin, I., Yahia, M., El-Faham, M. & El-Wakil, M. (eds.). Bibliotheca Alexandrina, p. 197 - 206 10 p.

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

  8. Published

    Education for Sustainable Development: Status Quo and Perspectives

    Michelsen, G., 2014, International Yearbook for Research in Arts Education. O'Farrell, L., Schonmann, S. & Wagner, E. (eds.). Münster, New York: Waxmann Verlag, Vol. 2. p. 121-130 10 p.

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

  9. Published

    Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness Training: Development of a Consumption-Specific Intervention

    Stanszus, L., Fischer, D., Böhme, T., Frank, P., Fritzsche, J., Geiger, S., Harfensteller, J., Grossman, P. & Schrader, U., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 5-21 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness: Active Methodology Toolkit 9

    Fritzsche, J., Fischer, D., Böhme, T. & Grossman, P., 2018, Elverum: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. 44 p. (Images and Objects - Active Learning Methodology; vol. 9)(Responsible and sustainable living)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation