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

    Temperature regimes and aphid density interactions differentially influence VOC emissions in Arabidopsis

    Truong, D. H., Delory, B. M., Vanderplanck, M., Brostaux, Y., Vandereycken, A., Heuskin, S., Delaplace, P., Francis, F. & Lognay, G., 08.2014, In: Arthropod-Plant Interactions : an international journal devoted to studies on interactions of insects, mites and other anthropods with plants. 8, 4, p. 317-327 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Plutella xylostella (L.) infestations at varying temperatures induce the emission of specific volatile blends by Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

    Truong, D. H., Delory, B. M., Brostaux, Y., Heuskin, S., Delaplace, P., Francis, F. & Lognay, G., 2014, In: Plant Signaling and Behavior. 9, 11, 10 p., e973816.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Energy in low carbon cities and social learning: A process for defining priority research questions with UK stakeholders

    Martin, C. J., Taylor, P. G., Upham, P., Ghiasi, G., Bale, C. S. E., James, H., Owen, A., Gale, W. F., Slack, R. J. & Helmer, S., 02.2014, In: Sustainable Cities and Society. 10, p. 149-160 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Using the Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix to synthesize biofuel and bioenergy impact assessment results: The example of medium scale bioenergy heat options

    Upham, P. & Smith, B., 15.02.2014, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 65, p. 261-269 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Influence of Different Biogenic Fuels on Base Oil Aging

    Singer, A., Ruck, W. & Krahl, J., 13.10.2014, In: SAE Technical Papers. 2014, 7 p., 2014-01-2788.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Estimation of risk measures on electricity markets with fat-tailed distributions

    Fianu, E. S. & Grossi, L., 09.2015, In: Journal of Energy Markets. 8, 3, p. 29-54 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Method for the determination of specific molecular markers of biomass burning in lake sediments

    Kirchgeorg, T., Schüpbach, S., Kehrwald, N., McWethy, D. B. & Barbante, C., 06.2014, In: Organic Geochemistry. 71, p. 1-6 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Understanding the modes of use and availability of critical metals-An expert-based scenario analysis for the case of indium

    Weiser, A., Lang, D. J., Schomerus, T. & Stamp, A., 01.05.2015, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 94, p. 376-393 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    § 63 Eignungsfeststellung

    Sanden, J., 2014, Beck'scher Online-Kommentar Umweltrecht. Giesberts, L. & Reinhardt, M. (eds.). Ed. 34 ed. München: C.H. Beck Verlag

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  10. Published

    § 62a Nationales Aktionsprogramm zum Schutz von Gewässern vor Nitrateinträgen aus Anlagen

    Sanden, J., 2014, Beck'scher Online-Kommentar Umweltrecht. Giesberts, L. & Reinhardt, M. (eds.). Ed. 34 ed. München: C.H. Beck Verlag

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch