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

    Relict species research: Some concluding remarks

    Habel, J. C., Schmitt, T. & Aßmann, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and Conservation Biology. Habel, J. C. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer, p. 441-442 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Population genetics and ecological niche modelling reveal high fragmentation and potential future extinction of the endangered relict butterfly Lycaena helle

    Habel, J. C., Augenstein, B., Meyer, M., Nève, G., Rödder, D. & Aßmann, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and Conservation Biology. Habel, J. C. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer, p. 417-439 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Organisationalen Wandel fördern: Interventionen zur Verankerung nachhaltiger Entwicklung in der Hochschule

    Albrecht, P., Burandt, S. & Schaltegger, S., 2008, "Sustainable University": Nachhaltige Entwicklung als Strategie und Ziel von Hochschulentwicklung. Michelsen, G., Adomßent, M. & Godemann, J. (eds.). Frankfurt a.M.: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 95-109 15 p.

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

  4. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit durch New Governance: Ein ordonomisches Konzept für strategisches Management

    Pies, I., Beckmann, M. & Hielscher, S., 2012, In: Die Betriebswirtschaft. 72, 4, p. 325-342 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Anpassungsstrategien zum Klimawandel touristischer Pilotdestinationen in Küsten- und Mittelgebirgsregionen

    Matzarakis, A., Möller, A., Kreilkamp, E., Carstensen, I., Bartels, C., Burandt, S. & Endler, C., 2009, Klimaschutz und Anpassung an die Klimafolgen: Strategien, Maßnahmen und Anwendungsbeispiele. Mahammadzadeh, M., Biebeler, H. & Bardt, H. (eds.). 1 ed. Köln: Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft , p. 253-262 10 p.

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

  6. Published

    Strategies for developing and running e-courses for the VCSE

    Barth, M., Burandt, S., Pizzera, J. & Görsdorf, E., 2009, Virtual Campus for a Sustainable Europe: VCSE Best Practice Guidebook. Sartzetakis, E. (ed.). University of Macedonia, p. 35-44 9 p.

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

  7. Published

    Effects of an Educational Scenario Exercise on Participants' Competencies of Systemic Thinking

    Burandt, S., 2011, In: Journal of Social Science. 7, 1, p. 51-62 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Review: Refugial areas and postglacial colonisations in the Western Palaearctic

    Habel, J. C., Drees, C., Aßmann, T. & Schmitt, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and Conservation Biology. Assmann, T. & Habel, J. C. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer, p. 189-197 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Relict species: Phylogeography and conservation biology

    Habel, J. C. & Aßmann, T. (Editor), 2010, Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer. 449 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  10. Published

    Review: The dark side of relict species biology: Cave animals as ancient lineages

    Aßmann, T., Casale, A., Drees, C., Habel, J. C., Schuldt, A. & Matern, A., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and conservation biology. Habel, J. C. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer, p. 91-103 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review