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

    Steuerung nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Newig, J. & Voß, J.-P., 2010, Nachhaltigkeit regieren: Eine Bilanz zu Governance-Prinzipien und -Praktiken. Steurer, R. & Trattnigg, R. (eds.). Müchen: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 239-257 19 p.

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

  2. Published

    Biodegradability of organic nanoparticles in the aqueous environment

    Kümmerer, K., Menz, J., Schubert, T. & Thielemans, W., 03.2011, In: Chemosphere. 82, 10, p. 1387-1392 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Occurrence and distribution of triclosan in the German Bight (North Sea)

    Xie, Z., Ebinghaus, R., Floeser, G., Caba, A. & Ruck, W., 01.12.2008, In: Environmental Pollution. 156, 3, p. 1190-1195 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Impacts of offshore wind farms on sediment structure and the water column during construction, and changes in bottom topography during the operation phase

    Ahrendt, K. & Schmidt, A. S., 2010, Analyzing Coastal and Marine Changes: Offshore Wind Farming as a Case Study: Zukunft Küste - Coastal Futures, Synthesis Report. Lange, M., Burkhard, B., Garthe, S., Gee, K., Kannen, A., Lenhart, H. & Windhorst, W. (eds.). Geesthacht: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht , p. 55-62 8 p. (LOICZ Research & Studies; vol. 36).

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

  5. Published

    Ecological Impact Assessment

    Lenhart, H., Ahrendt, K., Burkhard, B., Garthe, S., Gloe, D., Kühn, W., Mendel, B., Nerge, P., Opitz, S. & Schmidt, A. S., 2010, Analyzing Coastal and Marine Changes: Offshore Wind Farming as a Case Study: Zukunft Küste - Coastal Futures, Synthesis Report. Lange, M., Burkhard, B., Garthe, S., Gee, K., Kannen, A., Lenhart, H. & Windhorst, W. (eds.). Geesthacht: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht , p. 52-54 3 p. (LOICZ Research & Studies; vol. 36).

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

  6. Published

    Integrative Bewertung der Auswirkungen touristischer Nutzungen auf die Bereitstellung der Ecosystem Services auf der Insel Sylt

    Schmidt, A., 2009, In: Coastline Reports. 13, p. 105-118 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Higher Education for Sustainable Development. Students' Perspectives on an Innovative Approach to Educational Change

    Barth, M. & Timm, J.-M., 01.01.2011, In: Journal of Social Science. 7, 1, p. 13-23 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Calibration of the Chemcatcher ® passive sampler for monitoring selected polar and semi-polar pesticides in surface water

    Gunold, R., Schäfer, R. B., Paschke, A., Schüermann, G. & Liess, M., 01.09.2008, In: Environmental Pollution. 155, 1, p. 52-60 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    NH4+ ad-/desorption in sequencing batch reactors: simulation, laboratory and full-scale studies

    Schwitalla, P., Mennerich, A., Austermann-Haun, U., Müller, A., Gruber-Dorninger, C., Daims, H., Holm, N. C. & Rönner-Holm, S. G. E., 01.08.2008, In: Water Science and Technology. 58, 2, p. 345-350 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Macroecological patterns of spider species richness across Europe

    Finch, O.-D., Blick, T. & Schuldt, A., 11.2008, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 17, 12, p. 2849-2868 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review