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 valuation of ecosystem services

    Barbier, E. B., Baumgärtner, S., Chopra, K., Costello, C., Duraiappah, A., Hassan, R., Kinzig, A. P., Lehman, M., Pascual, U., Polasky, S. & Perrings, C., 30.07.2009, Biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human wellbeing: An Ecological and Economic Perspective. Naeem, S., Bunker, D. E., Hector, A., Loreau, M. & Perrings, C. (eds.). Oxford [u.a.]: Oxford University Press, p. 248-262 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Partnerships for Corporate Sustainability: Capacity Development for SMEs in South-East Asia

    Viere, T. & Herzig, C., 2005, Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen in Umbruchsituationen. Schöning, S., Richter, J., Ott, I. & Nissen, D. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 71-83 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Anthropogenic influenced distribution of pollutants in flood plains

    Brock, J. & Urban, B., 2006, Shaping the earth's surface: dynamics and changing environments: International Conference 2006 and 96th Annual Meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung E.V., September 25-29, 2006, Postdam, Germany : Programme and Abstracts. Safaricz, M. (ed.). Berlin: GeoUnion Alfred-Wegener-Stiftung, p. 35-36 2 p. (Terra Nostra: Schriften der GeoUnion Alfred-Wegener-Stiftung ; no. 03/2006).

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

  4. Published

    Environmental Accounting

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 27.03.2007, The International Handbook on Environmental Technology Management. Marinova, D., Annandale, D. & Phillimore, J. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 308-323 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Nutzungsansprüche an das Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische Elbtalaue

    Koppe, B., Krüger, F. & Urban, B., 2007, HTG-Kongress 2007. H. G. (ed.). Seehafen Verlag, p. 265-274 10 p.

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

  6. Published

    Liste der Waldgefäßpflanzen Deutschlands: Bewertungskriterium für Artenvielfalt im Wald

    Schmidt, M., Oheimb, G., Kriebitzsch, W.-U. & Ellenberg, H., 2004, In: AFZ, der Wald. 59, 23, p. 1276-1278 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Kein Anschluss ohne Kommunikation oder: Lese- und Medienkompetenz entstehen im Gespräch, auch mit Peers?

    Philipp, M., Salisch, M. & Gölitz, D., 2008, In: Medien + Erziehung. 52, 6, p. 24-33 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit als Entwicklungs- und Lernprozess

    Stoltenberg, U., 2005, Nachhaltigkeit ist machbar: das "Schaufenster für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung" als innovatives Projekt zur Kommunikation und Entwicklung von Nachhaltigkeit . Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 14-21 8 p.

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

  9. Published

    La sostenibilità come processo di sviluppo e apprendimento

    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. 22-29 8 p.

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

  10. Published

    Chancen des Konzepts der Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung für die Kooperation von Schule und außerschulischer (Umwelt)Bildung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2006, Fit in die Zukunft: Praxisbeispiele einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung / Ökoprojekt - MobilSpiel e.V. Marion Loewenfeldt. Loewenfeld, M. & Kreuzinger, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 20-29 10 p.

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