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

    Wassergefährdende Stoffe und Europäisches Chemikalienrecht

    Sanden, J., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für Wasserrecht. 49, 1, p. 32-53 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Die Anpassung und Kündigung öffentlich-rechtlicher Verträge am Beispiel des Altlastensanierungsvertrags

    Sanden, J., 2009, In: Neue Zeitschrift für Verwaltungsrecht. 28, 8, p. 491-496 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Ein Meer voller Plastik: Kunststoffe als Thema im Sachunterricht

    Barth, M. & Barth, K., 2012, In: Grundschule Sachunterricht. 56, 4, p. 18-25 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  4. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit in die Schule gebracht: Befunde aus einer empirischen Studie

    Barth, M., 2013, Nachhaltig konsumieren lernen: Ergebnisse aus dem Projekt BINK. Michelsen, G. & D. F. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 11. p. 105-129 24 p. (Innovationen in den Hochschulen: Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 11).

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

  5. Published

    Education for Sustainability, Graduate Capabilities, Professional Employment: How they all connect

    Thomas, I., Barth, M. & Day, T., 07.2013, In: Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 29, 1, p. 33-51 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  6. Published

    Many roads lead to sustainability: A process-oriented analysis of change in higher education

    Barth, M., 04.2013, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 14, 2, p. 160-175 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  7. Published

    Special Issue 'Communication for and about Sustainability'

    Barth, M. (Editor) & Michelsen, G. (Editor), 2013, MDPI AG. (Sustainability; vol. 2013, no. 05)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  8. Published

    Implementing Sustainability in Higher Education: Learning in an Age of Transformation

    Barth, M., 2015, London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 220 p. (Routledge studies in sustainable development)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsEducationpeer-review

  9. Published

    Key Competencies: Reconciling Means and Ends in Education for Sustainable Consumption

    Fischer, D. & Barth, M., 01.01.2015, Schools for Health and Sustainability: Theory, Research and Practice. Simovska, V. & Mannix McNamara, P. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 41-60 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Die Prinzipien des Umweltgesetzbuchs: eine kritische Betrachtung aus rechtstheoretischer Sicht

    Sanden, J., 2009, In: ZUR - Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht. 1, p. 3-9 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review