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. 2009
  2. Published

    Wirkungen des EU-Emissionshandels als ökonomisches Instrument der Umweltpolitik auf das betriebliche Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement

    Hesselbarth, C., 2009, Aachen: Shaker Verlag. 547 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Wirkung verschiedener Managementverfahren auf den N- und P-Haushalt von Heideökosystemen und die Ernährungssituation von Calluna vulgaris

    Härdtle, W., Oheimb, G., Fottner, S., Niemeyer, M. & Niemeyer, T., 2009, Offenlandmanagement außerhalb landwirtschaftlicher Nutzflächen: Referate und Ergebnisse der gleichnamigen Fachtagung an der Internationalen Naturschutzakademie Insel Vilm vom 23. bis 26. Juni 2008 . Fink, P. (ed.). Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 223-228 6 p.

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

  4. Published

    Wo kommt unser Spielzeug her? Herstellungsbedingungen von Spielzeug als Bildungsanlass im Sachunterricht

    Gottmann, T. & Wagner, B., 2009, In: Grundschule Sachunterricht. 42, p. 30-35 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    World in Transition: Sustainability Perspectives for Higher Education

    Adomßent, M. (Editor), Beringer, A. (Editor) & Barth, M. (Editor), 2009, Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 245 p. (Higher education for sustainability; no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Zukünftiges Engagement der Studierendeninitiative Greening the University - wie es weiter geht

    Löw Beer, D. & Keul, L., 2009, Greening the University - Perspektiven für eine nachhaltige Hochschule. S. G. T. U. E. V. (ed.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 144-147 4 p.

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

  7. Published

    Zur Notwendigkeit einer Novellierung der Regelungen zur Transport und Vermittlergenehmigung nach §§ 49-51 KrW-/AbfG

    Schomerus, T., 2009, In: AbfallR. 8, 3, p. 98-105 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Zur Notwendigkeit einer Novellierung der Regelung über die Entsorgungsfachbetriebe in § 52 KrW-/AbfG

    Schomerus, T., 2009, In: AbfallR. 8, 4, p. 174-182 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. 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

  10. Published

    Zusammenhänge und Kinetik biotischer und abiotischer Eisenoxidation bei der Brunnenverockerung und Ansätze zur Modellierung

    Opel, O., Eggerichs, T., Eler, N. & Ruck, W., 2009, Wasser 2009: Tagungsband der Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft 2009, 18-20 Mai 2009 in Stralsund. Wasserchemische Gesellschaft (ed.). Mühlheim an der Ruhr: GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, p. 325-329 5 p.

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

  11. 2008
  12. Published

    Knowledge integration: A key challenge for transdisciplinary cooperation

    Godemann, J., 01.12.2008, In: Environmental Education Research. 14, 6, p. 625-641 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Occurrence and distribution of triclosan in the German Bight (North Sea)

    Xie, Z., Ebinghaus, R., Floeser, G., Caba, A. & Ruck, W., 01.12.2008, In: Environmental Pollution. 156, 3, p. 1190-1195 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Population ecology of the rare carabid beetle Carabus variolosus (Coleoptera : Carabidae) in North-west Germany

    Matern, A., Drees, C., Aßmann, T. & Meyer, H., 01.12.2008, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 12, 6, p. 591-601 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Sustainable university research and development: inspecting sustainability in higher education research

    Beringer, A. & Adomssent, M., 01.12.2008, In: Environmental Education Research. 14, 6, p. 607-623 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    The footprint of pesticide stress in communities-Species traits reveal community effects of toxicants

    Liess, M., Schäfer, R. B. & Schriever, C. A., 01.12.2008, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 406, 3, p. 484-490 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    The Role of Formalisation, Participation and Context in the Success of Public Involvement Mechanisms in Resource Management

    Newig, J., Gaube, V., Berkhoff, K., Kaldrack, K., Kastens, B., Lutz, J., Schlussmeier, B., Adensam, H. & Haberl, H., 01.12.2008, In: Systemic Practice and Action Research. 21, 6, p. 423-441 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Guest Editors of Special Issue: Sustainability in higher education research

    Beringer, A., Adomßent, M. & Scott, W., 12.2008, In: Environmental Education Research. 14, 6, p. 603-606 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  19. Published

    Isotopic composition of nitrate in five German rivers discharging into the North Sea

    Johannsen, A., Dähnke, K. & Emeis, K., 12.2008, In: Organic Geochemistry. 39, 12, p. 1678-1689 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    The European species of Chalarus Walker, 1834 revisited (Diptera: Pipunculidae)

    Kehlmaier, C. & Aßmann, T., 19.11.2008, In: Zootaxa. 1936, 1, p. 1-39 39 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Long-term stream invertebrate community alterations induced by the insecticide thiacloprid: Effect concentrations and recovery dynamics

    Beketov, M. A., Marwitz, A., Paschke, A., Liess, M. & Schäfer, R. B., 01.11.2008, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 405, 1-3, p. 96-108 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Macroecological patterns of spider species richness across Europe

    Finch, O.-D., Blick, T. & Schuldt, A., 11.2008, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 17, 12, p. 2849-2868 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Xenotransplantation: Prävention des xenogenen Infektionsrisikos: Eine Untersuchung zum deutschen und spanischen Recht

    Guerra González, J., 20.10.2008, Frankfurt: Peter Lang Verlag. 348 p. (Recht und Medizin; vol. 91)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsEducation

  24. Published

    Relating the philosophy and practice of ecological economics: the role of concepts, models, and case studies in inter- and transdisciplinary sustainability research

    Baumgärtner, S., Becker, C., Frank, K., Müller, B. & Quaas, M., 15.10.2008, In: Ecological Economics. 67, 3, p. 384-393 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Agro-biodiversity as natural insurance and the development of financial insurance markets

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M. F., 06.10.2008, Agrobiodiversity conservation and economic development. Kontoleon, A., Pascual, U. & Smale, M. (eds.). Abingdon: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 293-317 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  26. 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

  27. Published

    A new species of Philorhizus Hope, 1838 from Greece (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Lebiini)

    Wrase, D. W. & Aßmann, T., 16.09.2008, In: ZooKeys. 3, p. 1-10 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Time sensitivity: a delicate and crucial starting point of reflexive methods for studying time in management and organisations

    Sabelis, I., 09.09.2008, Time in organizational research. Roe, R. A., Walter, M. J. & Clegg, S. R. (eds.). London [u.a.]: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 167-185 19 p. (Routledge Studies in Management, Organizations and Society; vol. 3).

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

  29. Published

    Calibration of the Chemcatcher ® passive sampler for monitoring selected polar and semi-polar pesticides in surface water

    Gunold, R., Schäfer, R. B., Paschke, A., Schüermann, G. & Liess, M., 01.09.2008, In: Environmental Pollution. 155, 1, p. 52-60 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Ecological design & engineering for urban environments

    Braungart, M., Darlington, A., Garland, J., Lucey, W. P., Peck, S. & Peeters, J., 01.09.2008, In: Industrial Biotechnology. 4, 3, p. 211-223 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  31. Published

    Editorial: Questioning the construction of "balance": a time perspective on gender and organization

    Sabelis, I., Nencel, L., Knights, D. & Odih, P., 09.2008, In: Gender, Work & Organization. 15, 5, p. 423-429 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  32. Published

    Erbguth/Schlacke: Umweltrecht

    Schomerus, T., 09.2008, In: Natur und Recht. 30, 9, p. 626-626 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  33. Published

    Sustainability, Substance Flow Management and Time: Part I: Temporal Analysis of Substance Flows

    Kümmerer, K. & Hofmeister, S., 09.2008, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 88, 4, p. 1333-1342 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Bedrohte Vielfalt: Biodiversität

    Busch, A. & Kuhn, K., 26.08.2008, 1. ed. Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. 72 p. (Themenblätter im Unterricht; no. 75)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  35. Published

    NH4+ ad-/desorption in sequencing batch reactors: simulation, laboratory and full-scale studies

    Schwitalla, P., Mennerich, A., Austermann-Haun, U., Müller, A., Gruber-Dorninger, C., Daims, H., Holm, N. C. & Rönner-Holm, S. G. E., 01.08.2008, In: Water Science and Technology. 58, 2, p. 345-350 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    HPLC and chemometrics-assisted UV-spectroscopy methods for the simultaneous determination of ambroxol and doxycycline in capsule.

    Hadad, G. M., El-Gindy, A. & Mahmoud, W. M. M., 08.2008, In: Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy. 70, 3, p. 655-663 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  37. Published
  38. Published

    The Business Case for Corporate Social Responsibility: A Company-Level Measurement Approach for CSR

    Weber, M., 08.2008, In: European Management Journal. 26, 4, p. 247-261 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  39. Published

    The Carabus fauna of Israel - updated identification key, faunistics, and habitats (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

    Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Drees, C., Friedman, A.-L.-L., Levanony, T., Matern, A., Timm, A. & Wrase, D. W., 04.07.2008, In: ZooKeys. 1, p. 9-22 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    ZooKeys, unlocking Earth's incredible biodiversity and building a sustainable bridge into the public domain: From "print-based" to "web-based" taxonomy, systematics, and natural history ZooKeys Editorial Opening Paper

    Penev, L. D., Erwin, T. L., Thompson, F. C., Sues, H.-D., Engel, M. S., Agosti, D., Pyle, R., Ivie, M., Henry, T., Miller, J., Ananjeva, N. B., Casale, A., Lourenco, W., Golovatch, S., Fagerholm, H.-P., Taiti, S., Alonso-Zarazaga, M., van Nieukerken, E. & Aßmann, T., 04.07.2008, In: ZooKeys. 1, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  41. Published

    Factors affecting fruit set in Aizoaceae species of the Succulent Karoo

    Pufal, G., Mayer, C., Porembski, S. & Juergens, N., 01.07.2008, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 9, 4, p. 401-409 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Peer group influences on fifth graders' reading motivation

    von Salisch, M., Philipp, M. & Gölitz, D., 01.06.2008, In: International Journal of Psychology. 43, 3-4, p. 214 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  43. Published

    Legitimizing climate policy: The "risk construct" of global climate change in the German mass media

    Peters, H. P. & Heinrichs, H., 06.2008, In: International Journal of Sustainability Communication. 3, p. 14-36 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    On the stabilization of parallel-chord girders for timber constructions

    Eilering, S. & Hente, C., 06.2008, In: Bauingenieur. 83, JUNE, p. 288-296 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Medialisierung der Wissenschaft als Voraussetzung ihrer Legitimierung und politischen Relevanz

    Peters, H. P., Heinrichs, H., Jung, A., Kallfass, M. & Petersen, I., 27.05.2008, Wissensproduktion und Wissenstransfer: Wissen im Spannungsfeld von Wissenschaft, Politik und Öffentlichkeit. Mayntz, R., Neidhardt, F., Weingart, P. & Wengenroth, U. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 269-292 24 p. (Science Studies).

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

  46. Published

    Polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered butterfly Lycaena helle (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

    Habel, J. C., Finger, A., Meyer, M., Schmitt, T. & Aßmann, T., 15.05.2008, In: European Journal of Entomology. 105, 2, p. 361-362 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published
  48. Published

    Performance of the Chemcatcher ® passive sampler when used to monitor 10 polar and semi-polar pesticides in 16 Central European streams, and comparison with two other sampling methods

    Paschke, A., Vrana, B., Mueller, R., Liess, M. & Schäfer, R. B., 01.05.2008, In: Water Research. 42, 10-11, p. 2707-2717 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Site use of grazing cattle and sheep in a large-scale pasture landscape: a GPS/GIS assessment

    Putfarken, D., Dengler, J., Lehmann, S. & Härdtle, W., 01.05.2008, In: Applied Animal Behaviour Science. 111, 1-2, p. 54-67 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Types of Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Conditions for Sustainability Innovation: From the Administration of a Technical Challenge to the Management of an Entrepreneurial Opportunity

    Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M., 30.04.2008, Sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship: New Perspectives in Research on Corporate Sustainability series . Wüstenhagen, R., Hamschmidt, J., Sharma, S. & Starik, M. (eds.). Cheltenham [u.a.]: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 27-48 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  51. Published
  52. Published

    Long-term effects of historical heathland farming on soil properties of forest ecosystems

    von Oheimb, G., Haerdtle, W., Naumann, P. S., Westphal, C., Meyer, H. & Aßmann, T., 05.04.2008, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 255, 5-6, p. 1984-1993 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review