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

    Angehende Lehrpersonen der Primar- und Sekundarstufe gestalten inklusiven naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht – eine Videostudie mit dem Kategoriensystem inklusiver naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht (KinU)

    Brauns, S. & Abels, S., 2024, Videographische Forschung zu inklusivem Unterricht: Erziehungswissenschaftliche und fachdidaktische Perspektiven. Wilm, G., Koßmann, R., Böse, S., Fabel-Lamla, M. & Meyer-Jain, C. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 210-227 18 p.

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

  2. Published

    Angebot und Allokation von „Entrepreneurship“: William Baumol und das Wechselverhältnis von Institutionen und Entrepreneuren

    Beckmann, M., 2011, William Baumols Marktheorie unternehmerischer Innovation. Pies, I. & Leschke , M. (eds.). Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck GmbH and Co. KG, p. 218-224 7 p. (Konzepte der Gesellschaftstheorie; vol. 17).

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

  3. Published

    Angebot an und Nachfrage nach Umweltleistungen in einem marktanalogen Agrarumweltprogramm - Ergebnisse einer Projektstudie

    Groth, M. & Bertke, E., 2009, In: Zeitschrift für angewandte Umweltforschung. 19, p. 160-172 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Anforderungen eines sozial-ökologischen Stoffstrommanagments an technische Ver- und Entsorgungssysteme

    Hofmeister, S., 2011, Zukunftsfähige Infrastruktur und Raumentwicklung: Handlungserfordernisse für Ver- und Entsorgungssysteme. Tietz, H.-P. & Hühner, T. (eds.). Hannover: Verlag der ARL , p. 176-190 14 p. (Forschungs- und Sitzungsberichte der ARL; no. 235).

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

  5. Published

    Anforderungen an ein digitales Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement für Existenzgründer

    Ducki, A., Boß, L., Behrendt, D. & Janneck, M., 2018, Digitales Betriebliches Gesundheitsmanagement. Matusiewicz, D. & Kaiser, L. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden, p. 369-385 17 p.

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

  6. Published

    Anforderungen an die Stilllegung und Nachsorge von Deponien im europäischen Kontext

    Kempkes, J.-H., 2003, Berlin: Tenea Verlag für Medien. 254 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  7. Published

    An experience-based learning framework: Activities for the initial development of sustainability competencies

    Caniglia, G., John, B., Kohler, M., Leonie, B., Wiek, A., Rojas, C., Laubichler, M. & Lang, D. J., 2016, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 17, 6, p. 827-852 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A new world for old landscapes: Land-use intensification and bird conservation in a traditional farming landscape

    Dorresteijn, I., Nimmo, D. G., Loos, J., Hanspach, J., Moga, C. I., David, A., Ernst, L. M. & Fischer, J., 01.12.2018, In: North-Western Journal of Zoology. 14, 2, p. 199-207 9 p., e171605.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A new vision of sustainable management in mining and post-mining landscapes

    Apaéstegui Campos, J., Barbosa, P. M., Brandão, L., de Azevedo, A. C., Casanova, M., Cord, A., Gerner, N., Giese, E. C., Händel, F., Jager, N. W., Jessen, G. L., Lepenies, R., Marchezini, V., Pujoni, D., Salma, A., Sánchez, A. S., Schierz, A., Stemke, M., Ussath, M., Val, P., Whaley-Martin, K., Yamamoto, F. Y. & Zorzal-Almeida, S., 2019, Halle: Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina e.V., 28 p. (Science policy report).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  10. Published

    A new valuation school: Integrating diverse values of nature in resource and land use decisions

    Jacobs, S., Dendoncker, N., Martín-López, B., Barton, D. N., Gomez-Baggethun, E., Boeraeve, F., McGrath, F. L., Vierikko, K., Geneletti, D., Sevecke, K. J., Pipart, N., Primmer, E., Mederly, P., Schmidt, S., Aragão, A., Baral, H., Bark, R. H., Briceno, T., Brogna, D., Cabral, P., De Vreese, R., Liquete, C., Mueller, H., Peh, K. S. H., Phelan, A., Rincón, A. R., Rogers, S. H., Turkelboom, F., Van Reeth, W., van Zanten, B. T., Wam, H. K. & Washbourn, C. L., 01.12.2016, In: Ecosystem Services. 22, Part B, p. 213-220 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review