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

    Welche Rolle können Commons in Transformationsprozessen zu Nachhaltigkeit spielen?

    von Winterfeld , U., Biesecker, A., Katz, C. & Best, B., 07.2012, Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, 50 p. (Impulse zur Wachstumswende; vol. 6).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published
  3. Published

    Multiple Glacial Refugia of the Low-Dispersal Ground Beetle Carabus irregularis: Molecular Data Support Predictions of Species Distribution Models

    Homburg, K., Drees, C., Gossner, M. M., Rakosy, L., Vrezec, A. & Aßmann, T., 04.04.2013, In: PLoS ONE. 8, 4, 12 p., e61185.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Allele elimination recalculated: nested subset analyses for molecular biogeographical data

    Habel, J. C., Ulrich, W. & Aßmann, T., 04.2013, In: Journal of Biogeography. 40, 4, p. 769-777 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Produktive Funktionen von Kollaps und Zerstörung für gesellschaftliche Transformationsprozesse in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit

    Newig, J. & Balsam, R., 29.04.2013, Soziale Innovation und Nachhaltigkeit: Perspektiven sozialen Wandels. Rückert-John, J. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 133-149 17 p. (Innovation und Gesellschaft).

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

  6. Published

    Ansätze einer Systematisierung von Energiegenossenschaften

    Holstenkamp, L., 03.2012, Lüneburg: Universität Lüneburg, Institut für Bank-, Finanz- und Rechnungswesen (IBFR), 47 p. (Arbeitspapierreihe Wirtschaft & Recht; no. 11).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    Germination performance of native and non-native Ulmus pumila populations

    Hirsch, H., Wypior, C., von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 14.12.2012, In: NeoBiota. 15, 15, p. 53-68 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Risikokommunikation zu unterirdischen Schadenspotenzialen durch Grundhochwasser

    Grunenberg, H., 20.12.2012, Unterirdische Schadenspotentiale durch Grundhochwasser in urbanen Lebensräumen. Sommer, T., Deilmann, C., Kreibich, H., Grunenberg, H., Bothmer, D. & Ullrich, K. (eds.). Dresden: Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrum, p. 89-137 48 p. (Gemeinsame Mitteilungen des Dresdner Grundwasserforschungszentrums e.V. und seiner Partner; no. 6).

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

  9. Published

    Environmental Protection of Foreign Firms in Germany: Does the country of origin matter?

    Weche Gelübcke, J. P. & Wedl, I., 04.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 39 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 267).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Bildungslandschaften für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2013, Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung: Jahrbuch 2013. F. U. F. N. E. (ed.). Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, p. 30-37 8 p.

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