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

    Chronic ecotoxic effects to Pseudomonas putida and Vibrio fischeri, and cytostatic and genotoxic effects to the hepatoma cell line (HepG2) of ofloxacin photo(cata)lytically treated solutions

    Vasquez, M., Garcia-Käufer, M., Hapeshi, E., Menz, J., Kostarelos, K., Fatta-Kassinos, D. & Kümmerer, K., 15.04.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 450-451, p. 356-365 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Choreographen der Gewalt

    Heitmeyer, W., Scherer, J. & Winands, M., 2010, Inter-cool 3.0: Jugend. Bild. Medien. Ein Kompendium zur aktuellen Jugendkulturforschung. Richard, B. & Krüger, H.-H. (eds.). Paderborn: Wilhelm Fink Verlag, p. 159-162 4 p.

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

  3. Published

    Children's emotional development: challenges in their relationships to parents, peers, and friends

    Salisch, M., 01.07.2001, In: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 25, 4, p. 310-319 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Chemistry of POPs in the Atmosphere

    Palm, W.-U., 2011, Persitent Pollution - Past, Present and Future: School of Environmental Research - organized by Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht. Quante, M., Ebinghaus, R. & Flöser, G. (eds.). Heidelberg: Springer, p. 141-176 36 p.

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

  5. Published

    Chemistry and materials science for a sustainable circular polymeric economy

    Zuin Zeidler, V. G. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2022, In: Nature Reviews Materials. 7, 2, p. 76-78 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Chemische Stoffe in der Umwelt

    Kümmerer, K. & Ruck, W., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 175-211 27 p.

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

  7. Published

    Chemikalien-Governance: Regulierung von KMU in der chemischen Industrie

    Tschochohei, H., 2007, Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen: Unternehmensnachfolge und Innovationspotenzial: Forschungsbeiträge. Schöning, S., Richter, J., Wetzel, H. & Nissen, D. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 241-262 22 p.

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

  8. Published

    Chemikalien-Governance: Chemikalienregulierung aus ökonomischer Perspektive

    Tschochohei, H., 2009, 1., Aufl. ed. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag. 228 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  9. Published

    Chemie für alle: Diversität anerkennen – Barrieren erkennen – Partizipation ermöglichen im Chemieunterricht

    Rott, L., Abels, S., Nehring, A. & Menthe, J., 2024, In: Naturwissenschaft im Unterricht - Chemie. 35, 204, p. 2-9 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    Chemical profiles of body surfaces and nests from six Bornean stingless bee species

    Leonhardt, S. D., Blüthgen, N. & Schmitt, T., 01.01.2011, In: Journal of Chemical Ecology. 37, 1, p. 98-104 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review