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

    The Relationship of Environmental and Economic Performance at the Firm Level: A Review of Empirical Studies in Europe and Methodological Comments

    Wagner, M. & Wehrmeyer, W., 01.01.2002, In: European Environment. 12, 3, p. 149-159 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Learning from the richness of diversity: development of an interdisciplinary, intercultural Master's programme on sustainability

    Rieckmann, M., Michelsen, G., Lansu, A. & van Dam-Mieras, R., 2007, Crossing boundaries: innovative learning für sustainable development in higher education. Kraker, J. D. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 211-226 16 p. (Higher education for sustainability ; vol. 2).

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

  3. Published

    Development of an Interdisciplinary, Intercultural Master’s Program on Sustainability: Learning from the Richness of Diversity

    van Dam-Mieras, R., Lansu, A., Rieckmann, M. & Michelsen, G., 03.2008, In: Innovative Higher Education. 32, 5, p. 251-264 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Linking genetics and ecology: reconstructing the history of relict populations of an endangered semi-aquatic beetle

    Matern, A., Drees, C., Vogler, A. P. & Aßmann, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and conservation biology. Habel, J. C. & Aßmann, T. (eds.). Berlin ; Heidelberg: Springer, p. 253-265 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Devianzmanagement

    Plewig, H.-J., 2008, Lexikon der Sozialwirtschaft. Maelicke, B. (ed.). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    Zur Novellierung des Hamburgischen Informationsfreiheitsgesetzes

    Schomerus, T. & Tolkmitt, U., 2009, In: NordÖR. 12, 7/8, p. 285-291 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Die Bedeutung koprobionter Lebensgemeinschaften in Weidelandschaften und der Einfluss von Parasitiziden

    Rosenkranz, B., Lehmann, S., Persigehl, M., Aßmann, T., Matern, A. & Günther, J., 2004, Weidelandschaften und Wildnisgebiete: Vom Experiment zur Praxis. Finck, P., Härdtle, W., Redecker, B. & Riecken, U. (eds.). Münster: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 415-427 13 p. (Schriftenreihe für Landschaftspflege und Naturschutz; vol. 78).

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

  8. Published

    Strategische Umweltprüfung bei planerischen Ausweisungen für Offshore-Windparks in der deutschen ausschließlichen Wirtschaftszone (AWZ)

    Schomerus, T. & Busse, J., 2005, In: NordÖR. 8, p. 45 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Zur Käferfauna von Sandtrockenrasen und Heidegesellschaften in Hudelandschaften des Emslandes (Nordwest-Deutschland)

    Falke, B. & Aßmann, T., 2001, In: Drosera. 1/2, p. 35-52 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Macht EMAS einen Unterschied? Kommunikation aktueller Umweltthemen durch deutsche Unternehmen

    Hroch, N. & Schaltegger, S., 01.02.2000, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 15, 1, p. 5-6 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch