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

    The self-sabotage of conservation: Reply to Manfredo et al.

    Ives, C. D. & Fischer, J., 06.12.2017, In: Conservation Biology. 31, 6, p. 1483 - 1485 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    The Second Half of the UN Decade Education for Sustainable Development in Germany: Topics, Trends and Gaps

    Holz, V., 2012, Education for Sustainable Development - European Approaches . Holz, V. & Stoltenberg, U. (eds.). 1 ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 7. p. 145-182 37 p. (Innovationen in den Hochschulen - Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 7).

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

  3. Published

    The Science and Practice of Landscape Stewardship, Claudia Bieling, Tobias Plieninger. Cambridge University Press (2017)

    Loos, J., 07.2018, In: Biological Conservation. 223, p. 181-183 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  4. Published

    The Schöningen Middle Pleistocene sequence: a broader perspective.

    van Kolfschoten, T., Kuijjer, K., Turner, C. & Urban, B., 2014, The Quaternary of the Urals: global trends and PAN-European Quaternary records: International conference INQUA-SEQS 2014. Borodin, A. V., Markova, E. A. & Strukova, T. V. (eds.). Ural Federal University, p. 59-61 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The Schöningen Middle Pleistocene sequence: Palaeoenvironment and dating

    Turner, C., Urban, B. & van Kolfschoten, T., 2014, The Quaternary of the Urals: global trends and PAN-European Quaternary records.: International conference INQUA-SEQS 2014. Borodin, A. V., Markova, E. A. & Strukova, T. V. (eds.). Ural Federal University, p. 172-174 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The same, but different: Pollen foraging in honeybee and bumblebee colonies.

    Leonhardt, S. & Blüthgen, N., 07.2012, In: Apidologie. 43, 4, p. 449-464 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The safe-and-sustainable-by-design concept: innovating towards a more sustainable future

    Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Apel, C., Nowack, B., Sudheshwar, A., Som, C., Huttunen-Saarivirta, E., Tenhunen-Lunkka, A., Scheper, J., Falk, A., Valsami-Jones, E., Rocca, C., Brennan, M., Igartua, A., Mendoza, G., Midander, K., Strömberg, E. & Kümmerer, K., 24.09.2024, In: Environmental Sustainability. 7, 3, p. 363-368 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The romanian grassland database (RGD): Historical background, current status and future perspectives

    Vassilev, K., Ruprecht, E., Alexiu, V., Becker, T., Beldean, M., Bita-Nicolae, C., Csergo, A. M., Dzhovanova, I., Filipova, E., Frink, J. P., Gafta, D., Georgieva, M., Germany, M. S., Goia, I., Gumus, M., Hennekens, S. M., Janišová, M., Knollová, I., Koleva, V., Kostadinova, S., Kuzmanovic, N., Loos, J., Mardari, C., Michl, T., Neblea, M. A., Nicoara, R. I., Novák, P., Öllerer, K., Onete, M., Palpurina, S., Paulini, I., Pedashenko, H., Puşcaş, M., Roman, A., Šibík, J., Sîrbu, C., Stancu, D. I., Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Szabó, A., Tomescu, C. V., Totev, E., Tsvetanov, B., Turtureanu, P. D., Vassileva, P., Velev, N. & Dengler, J., 01.03.2018, In: Phytocoenologia. 48, 1, p. 91-100 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The roles of the sharing economy in promoting sustainability communication and practices in China

    Tong, Z., Miao, H. & Saleh, M. S. M., 29.12.2022, Sustainability Communication across Asia: Fundamental Principles, Digital Strategies and Community Engagement. Saleh, M. S. M., Rahman, N. A. A. & Kasuma, S. A. A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 31-43 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    The role of universities in fostering urban and regional sustainability

    Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2013, Institutional and Social Innovation for Sustainable Urban Development. Mieg, H. A. & Töpfer, K. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 393 - 411 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review