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

    Die unionsrechtliche Regulierung von Hafenauffangeinrichtungen für Schiffsabfälle durch die PRF-Richtlinie

    Schatz, V. & Wanner, L., 01.2025, In: Natur und Recht. 47, 1, p. 13-19 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Die UN-Dekade "Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung" als Plattform für das Thema biologische Vielfalt. Empirische Daten und Erfolgsfaktoren

    Adomßent, M., Stoltenberg, U. & Bittner, A., 2011, Frischer Wind und weite Horizonte: 30. Deutscher Naturschutztag 2010, DNT. Bundesverband Beruflicher Naturschutz, p. 28-41 14 p. (Jahrbuch für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege; vol. 58,3).

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

  3. Published

    Die Umweltinformationsgesetze der Länder im Vergleich

    Schomerus, T. & Tolkmitt, U., 2007, In: Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht. 26, 10, p. 1119 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Die Umwelt: Klima- und Umweltveränderungen während des Eiszeitalters

    Zöller, L., Urban, B. & Hambach, U., 2007, Homo heidelbergensis: Schlüsselfund der Menschheitsgeschichte. Wagner, G. A. & Bechstädt, T. (eds.). Stuttgart: Theiss Verlag, p. 84-113 30 p.

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

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Die tropischen Zyklone Idai und Fani im Jahr 2019 Naturgewalten im Indischen Ozean

    Samimi, C., Ghosh, A. & Fickert, T., 04.2020, In: Geographische Rundschau. 72, 4, p. 34-37 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die TOPAS-Initiative zur Verbesserung der Fortbildungssituation in europäischen Schutzgebieten

    Schreiner, J., 2004, Benefits beyond boundaries: Ergebnisse des 5. Weltschutzgebietskongresses in Durban und ihre Bedeutung für deutsche Schutzgebiete ; Dokumentation des Workshops vom 10. - 13. Februar 2004 am Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Internationale Naturschutzakademie Insel Vilm. Stolpe, G. & Fischer, W. (eds.). Bonn: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 91-98 8 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 112).

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

  8. Published

    Die Systematik der Umwelt: Leben, Reiz und Reaktion bei Uexküll und Plessner

    Schmieg, G., 2017, Das Leben im Menschen oder der Mensch im Leben?: Deutsch-Französische Genealogien zwischen Anthropologie und Anti-Humanismus. Ebke, T. & Zanfi, C. (eds.). Potsdam: Universitätsverlag Potsdam, p. 355-368 14 p.

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

  9. Published

    Die "Sustainable University" als informeller Lernkontext

    Adomßent, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. & Stoltenberg, U., 2009, Informelles Lernen und Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Beiträge aus Theorie und Praxis . Brodowski, M., Devers-Kanoglu, U., Overwien, B., Rohs, M., Salinger, S. & Walser, M. (eds.). Opladen [u.a.]: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 247-254 8 p.

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

  10. Published