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
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    Corrigendum to “Flexible electricity generation, grid exchange and storage for the transition to a 100% renewable energy system in Europe” [Renew. Energy 139 (2019) 80-101]

    Child, M., Kemfert, C., Bogdanov, D. & Breyer, C., 01.04.2021, In: Renewable Energy. 167, p. 960 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    Corridors as a tool for linking habitats – Shortcomings and perspectives for plant conservation

    Travers, E., Härdtle, W. & Matthies, D., 01.04.2021, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 60, 125974.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Correlation of trends in cashmere production and declines of large wild mammals: Response to Berger et al. 2013

    von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Chuluunkhuyag, O. & Fust, P., 02.2015, In: Conservation Biology. 29, 1, p. 286-289 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Correlation of six anthropogenic markers in wastewater, surface water, bank filtrate, and soil aquifer treatment

    Scheurer, M., Storck, F. R., Graf, C., Brauch, H.-J., Ruck, W., Lev, O. & Lange, F. T., 04.2011, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 13, 4, p. 966-973 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Correction to Neighbourhood stories: role of neighbour identity, spatial location and order of arrival in legume and non-legume initial interactions

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Faget, M. & Temperton, V. M., 01.03.2018, In: Plant and Soil. 424, 1-2, p. 183-185 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Correction to: A review of fire effects across South American ecosystems: the role of climate and time since fire (Fire Ecology, (2021), 17, 1, (11), 10.1186/s42408-021-00100-9)

    Giorgis, M. A., Zeballos, S. R., Carbone, L., Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Aguilar, R., Ferreras, A. E., Tecco, P. A., Kowaljow, E., Barri, F., Gurvich, D. E., Villagra, P. & Jaureguiberry, P., 01.12.2021, In: Fire Ecology. 17, 1, 1 p., 21.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research