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

    Does gender matter in gaining advantage in scientific fields of sustainability in Germany? A bibliographical approach

    Katz, C. & Thiem, A., 2011, World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi ; Selected Papers. Calvo, A., Fornengo, G., Raus, R. & Zucco, F. (eds.). CIRSDe – Centro Interdisciplinare di Ricerche e Studi delle Donne, Vol. 1. p. 135-143 (World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi; vol. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    Bildung auf dem Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit: Vorschlag eines Indikatoren-Sets zur Beurteilung von Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung

    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., 2011, Bern: Interfakultäre Koordinationsstelle für Allgemeine Ökologie (IKAÖ), Universität Bern, 144 p. (Interfakultären Koordinationsstelle für Allgemeine Ökologie (IKAÖ); no. 12/2011).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  3. Published

    Eresus kollari (Araneae: Eresidae) calls for heathland management.

    Krause, R. H., Buse, J., Matern, A., Schröder, B., Härdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 12.2011, In: The Journal of Arachnology. 39, 3, p. 384–392 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Genetic erosion in habitat specialist shows need to protect large peat bogs

    Drees, C., Zumstein, P., Buck-Dobrick, T., Härdtle, W., Matern, A., Meyer, H., Oheimb, G. & Aßmann, T., 12.2011, In: Conservation Genetics. 12, 6, p. 1651-1656 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Exploring large vegetation databases to detect temporal trends in species occurrences

    Jandt, U., von Wehrden, H. & Bruelheide, H., 01.12.2011, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 22, 6, p. 957-972 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Tracking the origin of invasive Rosa rubiginosa populations in Argentina

    Hirsch, H., Zimmermann, H., Ritz, C., Wissemann, V., von Wehrden, H., Renison, D., Wesche, K., Welk, E. & Hensen, I., 01.05.2011, In: International Journal of Plant Sciences. 172, 4, p. 530-540 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Surveying Southern Mongolia: Application of multivariate classification methods in drylands with low diversity and long floristic gradients

    Wesche, K. & Von Wehrden, H., 01.10.2011, In: Applied Vegetation Science. 14, 4, p. 561-570 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Leben gestalten lernen - Kompetenzen: eine Fortbildungsreihe für den Elementarbereich ; natürlich lernen ; Lebengestaltenlernen

    Benoist, B. (Editor) & Hübner, K. (Editor), 2004, Hilpoltstein: Landesbund für Vogelschutz in Bayern . 200 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  9. Published

    Future Challenges of Higher Education in the Context of Sustainable Development from a European Point of View

    Michelsen, G., 2011, Higher Education for Sustainable Development: Looking Back and Moving Forward. Barth, M., Rieckmann, M. & Sanusi, Z. A. (eds.). 1 ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 59-76 18 p. (Higher Education for Sustainability; vol. 5).

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

  10. Published

    Chemical profiles of body surfaces and nests from six Bornean stingless bee species

    Leonhardt, S. D., Blüthgen, N. & Schmitt, T., 01.01.2011, In: Journal of Chemical Ecology. 37, 1, p. 98-104 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review