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

    Nachhaltigkeitspolitik: Neuer Kontext für Entscheidungen unter Unsicherheit und Risiko

    Heinrichs, H., 2013, Unberechenbare Umwelt: Zum Umgang mit Unsicherheit und Nicht-Wissen. von Detten, R., Farber, F. & Bemmann, M. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 219-252 34 p.

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

  2. Published

    The Future We Want: A Global Expert Discussion on the Future of Rio+20 Efforts on Higher Education

    Rowland, P., Carteron, J., Denby, L., Klepper, A., Mader, C., Sjerps-Jones, H., Smith, K. & Tilbury, D., 01.02.2013, In: Sustainability: The Journal of Record. 6, 1, p. 42-47 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Pocket parks in a compact city: How do birds respond to increasing residential density?

    Ikin, K., Beaty, R. M., Lindenmayer, D. B., Knight, E. J., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 01.01.2013, In: Landscape Ecology. 28, 1, p. 45-56 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung im schulsichen Kontext

    Hauenschild, K. & Rode, H., 2013, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Aktuelle theoretische Konzepte und Beispiele praktischer Umsetzung. Pütz, N., Schweer, M. K. W. & Logemann, N. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: PL Acad. Research, p. 61-82 22 p. (Psychologie und Gesellschaft; vol. 11).

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

  5. Published

    Feministisch ökologische Ökonomik

    Hofmeister, S., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse & Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen, Berlin, Toronto: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 86-90 4 p.

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

  6. Published

    Caring for natures? Naturschutz aus der Perspektive des Vorsorgenden Wirtschaftens.

    Hofmeister, S. & Mölders, T., 2013, Wege Vorsorgenden Wirtschaftens. Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften, N. (ed.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie, p. 85-114 29 p.

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

  7. Published

    Exploring Corporate Practices in Management Accounting for Sustainability

    Bennett, M., Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 2013, London: Institute for Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW). 55 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Removal of dexamethasone from aqueous solution and hospital wastewater by electrocoagulation

    Arsand, D. R., Kümmerer, K. & Martins, A. F., 15.01.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 443, p. 351-357 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Sustainable Public Procurement: Mainstreaming Sustainability Criteria in Public Procurement in Developing Countries

    Roos, R., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 95 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Kompetenzmessung in der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Erste Ansätze

    Rode, H., 2013, Klimaschutz im Kontext: Die Rolle von Bildung und Partizipation auf dem Weg in eine klimafreundliche Gesellschaft. Zschiesche, M. (ed.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 117-134 18 p. (FONA - Sozialökologische Forschung).

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