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

    Transformation von Schule durch inklusiven Nawi-Unterricht

    List, F. & Abels, S., 01.2024, Frühe naturwissenschaftliche Bildung: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, Jahrestagung in Hamburg 2023. van Vorst, H. (ed.). Essen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik, p. 714-717 4 p. (Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; no. 50)(Tagungsband; vol. 44).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  2. Published

    Transformation verstehen lernen: Nachhaltigkeitsbildung und Data Literacy Education in der Studieneingangsphase

    Weiser, A., van Deest, J. & Barth, M., 26.09.2022, Digitale Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Herausforderungen und Perspektiven für die Hochschulbildung. Weselek, J., Kohler, F. & Siegmund, A. (eds.). Springer, p. 53-65 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  3. Published

    Transformation towards the sustainable management of peatlands: A characterisation of farmers in the Teufelsmoor, Germany

    Hünnebeck-Wells, A., Loos, J., Abel, S. & Nordt, A., 02.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 2, p. 346-359 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Transformationspfade für eine Kultur der Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen

    Fritz, H., Holst, J., Lang, D. J., Nölting, B., Parodi, O., Potthast, T. & Singer-Brodowski, M., 21.12.2022, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 31, 4, p. 254-256 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  5. Published

    Transformationsnarrative: Kurzgutachten

    Hartmann, E. & Heinrichs, H., 28.09.2022, Institut für Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung (INSUGO), 10 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 1).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  6. Published
  7. Published
  8. Published
  9. Published

    Transformation products in the water cycle and the unsolved problem of their proactive assessment: A combined in vitro/in silico approach

    Menz, J., Toolaram, A. P., Rastogi, T., Leder, C., Olsson, O., Kümmerer, K. & Schneider, M., 01.01.2017, In: Environmental international. 98, p. 171-180 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Transformation of Seafood Side-Streams and Residuals into Valuable Products

    Siddiqui, S. A., Schulte, H., Pleissner, D., Schönfelder, S., Kvangarsnes, K., Dauksas, E., Rustad, T., Cropotova, J., Heinz, V. & Smetana, S., 16.01.2023, In: Foods. 12, 2, 25 p., 422.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch