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

    Thesen zum Stellenwert und zu Potenzialen gerechtigkeitsbasierter Naturschutzkommunikation

    Adomßent, M., 2012, Gerechtigkeitsargumente – Chancen und Herausforderungen für die Naturschutzkommunikation. : Dokumentation eines interdisziplinären Workshops am 29. März 2012 im BfN. B. F. N. (ed.). Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 37-41 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  2. Published

    Education on the path to sustainability: Proposal of an indicator set to evaluate education for sustainable development

    Di Giulio, A., Ruesch Schweizer, C., Adomßent, M., Blaser, M., Bormann, I., Burandt, S., Fischbach, R., Kaufmann-Hayoz, R., Krikser, T., Künzli David, C., Michelsen, G., Rammel, C. & Streissler, A., 2012, Bern: University of Bern, Interdisciplinary Centre of General Ecology (IKAÖ), 68 p. (Allgemeine Ökologie zur Diskussion gestellt; no. 13).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Indikatoren für Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Adomßent, M., Bormann, I., Burandt, S., Fischbach, R. & Michelsen, G., 2012, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Beiträge der Bildungsforschung. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Vol. 39. p. 71-90 19 p. (Bildungsforschung; vol. 39).

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

  4. Published

    Hochschulbildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – eine Bestandsaufnahme: German higher education for sustainable development – a critical inventory

    Adomßent, M. & Henze, C., 2013, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Aktuelle theoretische Konzepte und Beispiele praktischer Umsetzung. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 159-181 23 p. (Psychologie und Gesellschaft).

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

  5. Published

    Exploring universities' transformative potential for sustainability-bound learning in changing landscapes of knowledge communication

    Adomßent, M., 06.2013, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 49, Juni, p. 11-24 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Seidl I. & Zahrnt A.: Postwachstumsgesellschaft. Konzepte für die Zukunft

    Hofmeister, S., 2011, In: Geographica Helvetica - Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Geographie. 66, 4, p. 290-291 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  7. Published

    Synergistic effects of non-Apis bees and honey bees for pollination services

    Brittain, C., Williams, N., Kremen, C. & Klein, A.-M., 07.03.2013, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 280, 1754, p. 2012-2767 7 p., 20122767.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit im öffentlichen Sektor: - Ein integrativer Ansatz -

    Trockel, S. & Heinrichs, H., 2012, Public Management im Paradigmenwechsel - Staat und Verwaltung im Spannungsfeld von New Public Management, Open Government und bürokratischer Restauration. Hilgers, D., Schauer, R. & Thom, N. (eds.). Linz: Trauner Verlag, p. 501-510 11 p.

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

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung in der öffentlichen Verwaltung

    Heinrichs, H., 20.03.2012, Jahrbuch Verwaltungsmodernisierung Deutschland 2012. Berlin: Wegweiser Berlin Research & Strategy, p. 108-109 2 p.

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