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
  2. Published

    Climate change as an element of sustainability communication

    Newig, J., 2011, Sustainability Communication: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Theoretical Foundations. Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Dordrecht, Heidelberg, London, New York: Springer Netherlands, p. 119-128 12 p.

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

  3. Published

    Anspruch und Wirklichkeit: Befördert Partizipation umweltpolitisch „gute“ Entscheidungen?

    Newig, J. & Fritsch, O., 2011, Demokratie und Umweltkrise: Brauchen wir mehr Mitbestimmung?. München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 206-211 6 p. (Wissenschaft und Umwelt Interdisziplinär; vol. 14).

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

  4. Published

    The case survey method and applications in political science

    Newig, J. & Fritsch, O., 2009, Washington: ASPA - American Political Science Association, 15 p. (APSA 2009 Toronto Meeting Paper.).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    Integrating Mobile Devices into AAL-Environments using Knowledge based Assistance Systems

    Welge, R., Kujath, A. & Opel, O., 2010, Proceedings of the World Telecommunications Congress WTC 2010: The infrastructure for the 21st century . OVE GIT & ITG (eds.). VDE Verlag GmbH, p. 103-108 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Generic functions of railway stations: A conceptual basis for the development of common system understanding and assessment criteria

    Zemp, S., Stauffacher, M., Lang, D. & Scholz, R. W., 03.2011, In: Transport Policy. 18, 2, p. 446-455 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Adomßent, M. & Michelsen, G., 2011, Nachhaltige Gesellschaft: Welche Rolle für Partizipation und Kooperation?. Heinrichs, H., Kuhn, K. & Newig, J. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 98-116 19 p.

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

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Saproxylic beetles: Their role and diversity in European woodland ecosystems. Proceedings of the 5th Symposium and Workshop on the Conservation of Saproxylic Beetles

    Buse, J., Alexander, K. N. A., Ranius, T. & Aßmann, T., 2009, Sofia/Moscow: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 236 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica; vol. 89)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Saproxylic beetles in the Gartow region of Lower Saxony, a hotspot of invertebrate diversity in north-western Germany

    Buse, J., Gürlich, S. & Aßmann, T., 2009, Saproxylic Beetles : Their role and diversity in European woodland and tree habitats; Proceedings of the 5th Symposium and Workshop on the Conservation of Saproxylic Beetles. Buse, J., Alexander, K. N. A., Ranius, T. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 77-103 27 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review