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

    Dynamic Capabilities in Sustainable Supply Chain Management

    Beske, P., 2013, Kassel: Kassel university press. 130 p. (Supply Chain Management; vol. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  2. Published

    Durchströmte Reinigungswände zur in situ-Behandlung von kontaminierten Grundwässern - Aufgaben, Ziele und Ergebnisse des BMBF -Förderschwerpunktes "RUBIN" 2000-2010

    Viegelahn, L., Burmeier, H., Mänz, J. S., Schlanges, I., Palm, W.-U., Ruck, W., Birke, V. & Schütt, C., 2009, Altlasten 2009: 10 Jahre BBodSchV in Deutschland ; Auswirkungen auf die Altlastenbewertung ; Spannungsfeld zwischen Gefahrenabwehr, Verhältnismäßigkeit und Investorenziel Altlastenfreiheit. Eggloffstein, T. & Burkhardt, G. (eds.). Karlsruhe: ICP-Eigenverlag Bauen und Umwelt, p. 111-118 8 p. (ICP-Eigenverlag Bauen und Umwelt; vol. 16).

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

  3. Published

    Durch Benchmarking lernen: "Sustainable university" im internationalen Vergleich

    Beringer, A., 2008, "Sustainable University": nachhaltige Entwicklung als Strategie und Ziel von Hochschulentwicklung. Michelsen, G., Adomßent, M. & Godemann, J. (eds.). [Frankfurt/Main]: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 150-164 15 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen: nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 10).

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

  4. Published

    Duldungsverfügungen im Bodenschutz- und Altlastenrecht, insbesondere bei der Altlastenerkundung und-sanierung

    Sanden, J., 09.2015, In: Natur und Recht. 37, 9, p. 606-614 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Dryudella paulinae spec. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Morocco

    Jacobs, H.-J. & Grabener, S., 30.06.2017, In: Contributions To Entomology. 67, 1, p. 111 - 115 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Dry grassland communities on southern Öland: Phytosociology, ecology, and diversity

    Löbel, S. & Dengler, J., 01.01.2007, In: Acta Phytogeographica Suecica. 88, p. 13-31 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Drought effects on root and needle terpenoid content of a coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance

    Kleiber, A., Duan, Q., Jansen, K., Junker, L. V., Kammerer, B., Rennenberg, H., Ensminger, I., Gessler, A. & Kreuzwieser, J., 01.12.2017, In: Tree Physiology. 37, 12, p. 1648-1658 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Droege, Peter; Knieling, Jörg (Hrsg.) (2017): Regenerative Räume. Leitbilder und Praktiken nachhaltiger Raumentwicklung

    Heilmann, S., 30.06.2018, In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung. 76, 3, p. 271-273 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  9. Published

    Driving factors for the regional implementation of renewable energy: - a multiple case study on the German energy transition

    Lutz, L. M., Fischer, L.-B., Newig, J. & Lang, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Energy Policy. 105, p. 136-147 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Drivers of productivity and its temporal stability in a tropical tree diversity experiment

    Schnabel, F., Schwarz, J. A., Danescu, A., Fichtner, A., Nock, C., Bauhus, J. & Potvin, C., 01.12.2019, In: Global Change Biology. 25, 12, p. 4257-4272 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review