School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Biotische Eisenoxidation - Einfluss von Phosphat auf das Wachstum von Gallionella ferruginea
Eggerichs, T., Bauer, J., Opel, O. & Ruck, W., 2011, Wasser 2011: Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft ; Kurzreferate. GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, p. 187-191 5 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Biotic and abiotic degradation of S-metolachlor and its commercial product Mercantor Gold® in aqueous media
Gutowski, L., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 2013, Abstract Book: Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America 34 th Annual Meeting, Harmonizing Science Across Disciplines Nashville, Tennessee 17–21 November 2013. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, p. 167 1 p. (SETAC annual meeting; no. 34).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biotechnological production of organic acids from renewable resources
Pleissner, D., Dietz, D., Duuren, J., Wittmann, C., Yang, X., Lin, C. S. K. & Venus, J., 01.01.2019, Biorefineries. Wagemann, K. & Tippkötter, N. (eds.). CHAM: Springer Verlag, Vol. 166. p. 373-410 38 p. (Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology; vol. 166).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Biosphere reserves' management effectiveness-A systematic literature review and a research agenda
Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & von Wehrden, H., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 12, 31 p., 5497.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation
Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Bioremediation of Chlorinated Pesticides in Field-Contaminated Soils and Suitability of Tenax Solid-Phase Extraction as a Predictor of Its Effectiveness
Baczynski, T. P., Pleissner, D. & Krylow, M., 08.2012, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 40, 8, p. 864-869 6 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biorefineries in Germany
Alexandri, M., Demichelis, F., Fiore, S., Lübeck, M. & Pleißner, D., 2020, Waste Biorefinery: Integrating biorefineries for waste valorisation. Bhaskar, T., Rene, E. R., Pandey, A. & Tsang, D. C. W. (eds.). Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V., p. 601-629 29 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Biophysical variability and politico-economic singularity: Responses of livestock numbers in South Mongolian nomadic pastoralism
Engler, J. O., Wesche, K., Kaczensky, P., Dhakal, P., Chuluunkhuyag, O. & von Wehrden, H., 01.09.2021, In: Ecological Economics. 187, 13 p., 107073.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biomonitoring Hospital Effluents by the Allium cepa L. Test
Bagatini, M. D., Vasconcelos, T. G., Laughinghouse IV, H. D. & Martins, A. F., 05.2009, In: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. 82, 5, p. 590-592 3 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biomass derived ionic liquids: synthesis from natural organic acids, characterization, toxicity, biodegradation and use as solvents for catalytic hydrogenation processes
Ferlin, N., Courty, M., Gatard, S., Spulak, M., Quilty, B., Beadham, I. G., Ghavre, M., Haiß, A., Kümmerer, K., Gathergood, N. & Bouquillon, S., 29.07.2013, In: Tetrahedron. 69, 30, p. 6150 - 6161 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review