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

    Microsatellites and allozymes as the genetic memory of habitat fragmentation and defragmentation in populations of the ground beetle Carabus auronitens (Col., Carabidae)

    Drees, C., Matern, A., Rasplus, J.-Y., Terlutter, H., Aßmann, T. & Weber, F., 01.10.2008, In: Journal of Biogeography. 35, 10, p. 1937-1949 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Pleistocene pollen records from Schöningen, North Germany

    Urban, B., 2006, 150 years of Neanderthal discoveries: Early Europeans - Continuity & Discontinuity. von Koenigswald, W. (ed.). Bonn: GeoUnion Alfred-Wegener-Stiftung, Vol. 2. p. 93 1 p. (Terra nostra; vol. 2/2006).

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

  3. Published

    Integration of Environmental Management Information Systems and ERP systems using Integration Platforms

    Funk, B., Möller, A. & Niemeyer, P., 2009, Information Technologies in Environmental Engineering - Proceedings of the 4th International ICSC Symposium, ITEE 2009: proceedings of the 4th International ICSC Symposium, Thessaloniki, Greece, May 28 - 29, 2009. Athanasiadis, I. N., Mitkas, P. A., Rizzoli, A. E. & Gómez, J. M. (eds.). Berlin: Springer, p. 53-63 11 p. (Environmental Science and Engineering (Subseries: Environmental Science)).

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

  4. Published

    (Re)Produktivität: nachhaltige Natur- und Geschlechterverhältnisse

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2008, In: Widerspruch. 28, 54, p. 111-125 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bundesweite Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Qualifikation von Schutzgebietspersonal: geprüfter Natur- und Landschaftspfleger, zertifizierter Natur- und Landschaftsführer

    Schreiner, J., 2004, Benefits beyond boundaries: Ergebnisse des 5. Weltschutzgebietskongresses in Durban und ihre Bedeutung für deutsche Schutzgebiete ; Dokumentation des Workshops vom 10. - 13. Februar 2004 am Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Internationale Naturschutzakademie Insel Vilm. Stolpe, G. & Fischer, W. (eds.). Bonn: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 99-105 7 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 112).

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

  6. Published

    Offene Forschungsfragen und Ausblick im Coastal Energy Managemen

    Runge, K., 2002, Coastal Energy Management: Integration Erneuerbarer Energieerzeugung an der Küste . Runge, K. (ed.). Berlin: Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag, p. 83-90 8 p. (Energierecht und Energiewirtschaft; vol. 2).

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

  7. Published

    Verwildernde Naturverhältnisse: Versuch über drei Formen der Wildnis

    Hofmeister, S., 2008, In: Das Argument. 50, 279, p. 813-826 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The Use of Environmental Management Accounting for Investment in and Control of ‘Clean Development Mechanism’ Projects

    Herzig, C., Burritt, R. L. & Bode, S., 2008, Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Accounting - measuring and managing business benefits: EMAN-EU 2008 Conference, Proceedings. Csutora, M. & Szerenyi, Z. M. (eds.). Budapest: Aula Verlag, p. 119-123 5 p.

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

  9. Published

    Mythos Artenarmut: Biodiversität von Buchenwäldern

    Aßmann, T., Drees, C., Schröder, E. & Ssymank, A., 2007, In: Natur und Landschaft. 82, 9/10, p. 401-406 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Die TOPAS-Initiative zur Verbesserung der Fortbildungssituation in europäischen Schutzgebieten

    Schreiner, J., 2004, Benefits beyond boundaries: Ergebnisse des 5. Weltschutzgebietskongresses in Durban und ihre Bedeutung für deutsche Schutzgebiete ; Dokumentation des Workshops vom 10. - 13. Februar 2004 am Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Internationale Naturschutzakademie Insel Vilm. Stolpe, G. & Fischer, W. (eds.). Bonn: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 91-98 8 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 112).

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