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

    Nährelementaustrag aus Heideökosystemen durch verschiedene Pflegeverfahren: eine integrierende Betrachtung

    Härdtle, W., Fottner, S., Niemeyer, T., Sieber, M. & Mohamed, A., 2004, Feuer und Beweidung als Instrumente zur Erhaltung magerer Offenlandschaften in Nordwestdeutschland: Ökologische und sozioökonomische Grundlagen des Heidemanagements auf Sand- und Hochmoorstandorten. Keienburg, T. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 123-125 3 p. (NNA-Berichte; vol. 17, no. 2).

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

  2. Published

    The concept of joint production and ecological economics

    Baumgärtner, S., Dyckhoff, H., Faber, M., Proops, J. & Schiller, J., 2008, Recent developments in ecological economics: Vol. 1. Martinez-Alier, J. & Røpke, I. (eds.). Cheltenham [u.a.]: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 90-97 8 p.

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

  3. Published

    Zur Nährstoff- und Vegetationsdynamik von Heide-Ökosystemen: Grundlagen und Forschungskonzeption

    Härdtle, W., 2004, Feuer und Beweidung als Instrumente zur Erhaltung magerer Offenlandschaften in Nordwestdeutschland: Ökologische und sozioökonomische Grundlagen des Heidemanagements auf Sand- und Hochmoorstandorten. Keienburg, T. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 62-64 3 p. (NNA Berichte; vol. 17, no. 2).

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

  4. Published

    Fallbeispiele Abflussbildung

    Wittenberg, H., 2005, Abflussbildung: Prozessbeschreibung und Fallbeispiele. Bronstert, A. (ed.). Hennef: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, p. 113-117 5 p.

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

  5. Published

    Ausbreitung von Pflanzen durch Schalenwild: biologische Vielfalt

    Schmidt, M., Heinken, T., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U. & Ellenberg, H., 2005, In: AFZ, der Wald. 60, 1, p. 29-31 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Dispersal of vascular plants by game in northern Germany. Part I: Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa)

    Schmidt, M., Sommer, K., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Ellenberg, H. & von Oheimb, G., 01.09.2004, In: European Journal of Forest Research. 123, 2, p. 167-176 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Biology and ecology

    Aßmann, T., 2003, The genus carabus in europe: A Synthesis. Turin, H., Penev, L. & Casale, A. (eds.). Sofia [u.a.]: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 287-306 20 p.

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

  8. Published

    Naturwaldforschung in den Serrahner Buchenwäldern: Ableitungen für eine naturnahe Buchenwirtschaft

    Oheimb, G., 2005, In: AFZ, der Wald. 60, 21, p. 1138-1140 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Jenseits von Natur, Herrschaft und Geschlecht? Vier kritische Thesen zur Politik, Nachhaltigkeit und Wissenschaft

    Katz, C., Wächter, M., Weber, I. & Winterfeld, U., 01.09.2001, In: GAIA. 10, 3, p. 174-181 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Einfluss von Nutzung auf die Gefäßpflanzenvielfalt in Wäldern

    Oheimb, G., Ellenberg, H., Heuveldop, J. & Kriebitzsch, W.-U., 2002, Biologische Vielfalt mit der Land- und Forstwirtschaft: Symposium der Arbeitsgruppe "Ökosysteme/Ressourcen" des Senats der Bundesforschungsanstalten im Geschäftsbereich des BMVEL vom 15. - 17. Mai 2001 im Forum der Bundesforschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft (FAL), Braunschweig-Völkenrode. Welling, M. (ed.). Münster-Hiltrup: Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH, p. 339-342 4 p.

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