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

    Transdisciplinarity: A New Perspective for Partnership in Education? The Case of Sustainable Cultural Change in Educational Organizations

    Fischer, D., 2011, (Re)thinking Partnership in Education. Masson, P., Baumfield, V., Otrel-Cass, K. & Pilo, M. (eds.). Lille: The Book Edition, p. 154–194 40 p.

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

  2. Published

    Early succession arthropod community changes on experimental passion fruit plant patches along a land-use gradient in Ecuador

    Teodoro, A. V., Muñoz, A., Tscharntke, T., Klein, A. & Tylianakis, J., 30.01.2011, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 140, 1-2, p. 14-19 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Informationsansprüche im Atom- und Strahlenschutzrecht

    Schomerus, T., 2010, Salzgitter: Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz, 491 p. (Ressortforschungsberichte zur kerntechnischen Sicherheit und zum Strahlenschutz; no. 37/10).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  4. Published

    Buchbesprechung: Steffen B. Dagger, Energiepolitik & Lobbying

    Schomerus, T., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 14, 5, p. 475 - 476

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  5. Published

    Functional complementarity and specialisation: The role of biodiversity in plant–pollinatorinteractions

    Blüthgen, N. & Klein, A.-M., 06.2011, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 12, 4, p. 282-291 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit braucht Institutionen - zur Institutionalisierung von Nachhaltigkeitsräten

    Schomerus, T., 01.2011, In: Natur und Recht. 33, 1, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die Eigenverbrauchsregelung in § 33 Abs. 2 EEG nach der Photovoltaik-Novelle 2010

    Schomerus, T. & Scheel, B., 2010, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 14, 6, p. 559-563 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Kläranlagen als Quelle für polyfluorierte Verbindungen in der Atmosphäre

    Vierke, L., Ahrens, L., Shoeib, M., Harner, T., Palm, W.-U. & Ebinghaus, R., 2010, In: Umweltwissenschaften und Schadstoff-Forschung. 22, 4, p. 328-329 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Durchströmte Reinigungswände zur in situ-Behandlung von kontaminierten Grundwässern - Aufgaben, Ziele und Ergebnisse des BMBF -Förderschwerpunktes "RUBIN" 2000-2010

    Viegelahn, L., Burmeier, H., Mänz, J. S., Schlanges, I., Palm, W.-U., Ruck, W., Birke, V. & Schütt, C., 2009, Altlasten 2009: 10 Jahre BBodSchV in Deutschland ; Auswirkungen auf die Altlastenbewertung ; Spannungsfeld zwischen Gefahrenabwehr, Verhältnismäßigkeit und Investorenziel Altlastenfreiheit. Eggloffstein, T. & Burkhardt, G. (eds.). Karlsruhe: ICP-Eigenverlag Bauen und Umwelt, p. 111-118 8 p. (ICP-Eigenverlag Bauen und Umwelt; vol. 16).

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