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

    Naturschutz in Deutschland: Ziele, Herausforderungen, Lösungen

    Schreiner, J., 2005, Handbuch Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation: Grundlagen und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Godemann, J. (eds.). 1 ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 385-394 10 p.

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

  2. Published
  3. Published

    Higher education for sustainability: new challenges from a global perspective

    Adomßent, M. (Editor), Godemann, J. (Editor), Leicht, A. (Editor) & Busch, A. (Editor), 2006, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 271 p. (Higher education for sustainability; vol. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Was kostet die Erholung den Waldeigentümer?

    Kleiber, O. & Bilecen, E., 2003, Freizeitaktivitäten im Baselbieter Wald: Ökologische Auswirkungen und ökonomische Folgen. Baur, B. (ed.). Liestal: Verlag des Kantons Basel-Landschaft, p. 120-128 9 p. (Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte und Landeskunde des Kantons Basel-Landschaft; vol. 84).

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

  5. Published

    Long-term effects of historical heathland farming on soil properties of forest ecosystems

    von Oheimb, G., Haerdtle, W., Naumann, P. S., Westphal, C., Meyer, H. & Aßmann, T., 05.04.2008, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 255, 5-6, p. 1984-1993 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Der Einfluss von Umweltmanagementsystemen auf Umweltinnovationsaktivitäten in Unternehmen: empirische Evidenz und Schlussfolgerungen für Managementinstrumente

    Wagner, M., 2006, Innovationen für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung. Pfriem, R., Antes, R., Fichter, K., Müller, M., Paech, N., Seuring, S. & Siebenhüner, B. (eds.). Gabler Verlag, p. 433-450 18 p.

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

  7. Published

    Einsatz von diskreten und kontinuierlichen Simulationsansätzen in Stoffstromanalysen

    Möller, A. & Wohlgemuth, V., 2004, Simulation in Umwelt- und Geowissenschaften: Workshop Müncheberg 2004. Wittmann, J. & Wieland, R. (eds.). Hamburg: Shaker Verlag, p. 124-139 16 p.

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

  8. Published

    Waldwirtschaft: Genderaspekte eines kulturell männlichen Gestaltungsfeldes

    Katz, C., 2005, Frauen und kommunaler Umweltschutz, Frauenpolitik und Gender Mainstreaming für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Werkstattgespräch am 30. November 2005 im Rathaus Duisburg. Freer, D. (ed.). Düsseldorf: Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Kommunaler Frauenbüros, Gleichstellungsstellen NRW, p. 16 1 p.

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

  9. Published
  10. Published

    La vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile – uno strumento innoativo di communicazione ambientale

    Stoltenberg, U., 2005, La sostenibilità si può fare: la "vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile": un progetto innovativo per la comunicazione e lo sviluppo della sostenibilità. Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 105-119 15 p.

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