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

    Feuer und Beweidung als Instrumente zur Erhaltung magerer Offenlandschaften in Nordwestdeutschland: zusammenfassende Aspekte eines Verbundforschungsvorhabens

    Keienburg, T., Prüter, J., Härdtle, W., Kaiser, T., Koopmann, A., Melber, A., Niemeyer, F. & Schaltegger, S., 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. 3-12 10 p. (NNA-Berichte; vol. 17, no. 2).

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

  2. Published

    Programa de Maestría Internacional ‘Sustainable Development and Management’: Volumen 2: Introducción al Desarrollo Sustentable

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 122 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Wilde Natur - gezähmte Wirtschaft: Biosphärenreservate: Modelle für eine nachhaltige Regionalentwicklung?

    Hofmeister, S. & Mölders, T., 2007, In: Zeitschrift für angewandte Umweltforschung. 18, 2, p. 191-206 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    (Re)Produktivität - der "blinde Fleck" im Diskurs zu nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Hofmeister, S. & Biesecker, A., 2003, Dimensionen einer nachhaltigen Gesellschaft: Feministische Zugänge und Perspektiven: Dokumentation der Tagung vom 9. - 11. 11. 2002 in München. Erbe, B. (ed.). München: Forschungsgemeinschaft Anstiftung, p. 43-57 15 p.

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

  5. Published

    Lernen mit Neuen Medien - ein Weg für die Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung?

    Barth, M., 01.01.2006, Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: aktuelle Forschungsfelder und -ansätze. Rieß, W. & Apel, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 69-80 12 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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

  6. Published

    Sphodrini

    Aßmann, T., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). 2., Nachdr. ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 284-297 14 p.

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

  7. Published

    Die Pflicht zur Information der Öffentlichkeit nach § 39 KrW-/AbfG - eine überflüssige Norm?

    Schomerus, T., 2009, In: AbfallR. 8, 5, p. 223-228 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit lehren und lernen: Ansätze und Erfahrungen

    Michelsen, G., 2007, Allgemeine Ökologie: Innovationen in Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft : Festschrift für Ruth Kaufmann-Hayoz . Di Giulio, A., Defila, R., Hammer, T. & Bruppacher, S. (eds.). Bern [u.a.]: Haupt Verlag, p. 249-266 18 p.

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

  9. Published

    Leistus

    Aßmann, T., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). 2., Nachdr. ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 65-70 6 p.

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

  10. Published

    Ein Beitrag durch wertorientiertes Umweltmanagement: Aufbau des Lehrstuhls für Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Umweltmanagement für die nachhaltig unternehmerische Produktion von Erkenntnissen

    Schaltegger, S., Bastenhorst, K.-O., Figge, F., Hahn, T., Hroch, N., Kleiber, O., Müller, J., Petersen, H. & Wagner, M., 2001, Kompetenz und Kreativität: eine Universität in Entwicklung ; Hartwig Donner zum 60. Geburtstag. Heilmann, J. (ed.). Lüneburg: UNIBUCH Verlag, p. 185-195 11 p.

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