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

    Air-sea exchange fluxes of synthetic polycyclic musks in the North Sea and the Arctic

    Xie, Z., Ebinghaus, R., Temme, C., Heemken, O. & Ruck, W., 15.08.2007, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 41, 16, p. 5654-5659 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Air concentrations and particlegas partitioning of polyfluoroalkyl compounds at a wastewater treatment plant

    Vierke, L., Ahrens, L., Shoeib, M., Reiner, E. J., Guo, R., Palm, W.-U., Ebinghaus, R. & Harner, T., 01.01.2011, In: Environmental Chemistry. 8, 4, p. 363-371 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Airbnb and rental markets: Evidence from Berlin

    Duso, T., Michelsen, C., Schaefer, M. & Tran, K. D., 01.05.2024, In: Regional Science and Urban Economics. 106, 31 p., 104007.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A Inserção da Dimensão Ambiental na Formação de Professores de Química

    Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2011, Atomo. 182 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  5. Published

    A holistic approach to studying social-ecological systems and its application to Southern Transylvania

    Hanspach, J., Hartel, T., Milcu, A. I., Mikulcak, F., Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., von Wehrden, H., Kuemmerle, T., Abson, D., Kovács-Hostyánszki, A., Báldi, A. & Fischer, J., 18.11.2014, In: Ecology and Society. 19, 4, 27 p., 32.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A high-resolution approach for the spatiotemporal analysis of forest canopy space using terrestrial laser scanning data

    Hess, C., Härdtle, W., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A. & von Oheimb, G., 07.2018, In: Ecology and Evolution. 8, 13, p. 6800-6811 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A highly endangered species on the edge: distribution, habitat use and outlook for Colias myrmidone in newly established Natura 2000 areas in Romania

    Loos, J., Vizauer, T.-C., Kastal, A., Davies, M., Hedrich, H. & Dolek, M., 01.03.2020, In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. 22, 3, p. 2399-2414 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A health economic outcome evaluation of an internet-based mobile-supported stress management intervention for employees

    Ebert, D. D., Kählke, F., Buntrock, C., Berking, M., Smit, F., Heber, E., Baumeister, H., Funk, B., Riper, H. & Lehr, D., 02.2018, In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. 44, 2, p. 171-182 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Agroforestry species of the Bolivian Andes: an integrated assessment of ecological, economic and socio-cultural plant values

    Brandt, R., Zimmermann, H., Hensen, I., Mariscal Castro, J. C. & Rist, S., 09.2012, In: Agroforestry Systems. 86, 1, p. 1-16 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Agro-ecosystem services and dis-services in almond orchards are differentially influenced by the surrounding landscape

    Schäckermann, J., Pufal, G., Mandelik, Y. & Klein, A. M., 01.09.2015, In: Ecological Entomology. 40, S1, p. 12-21 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review