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. 2015
  2. Published
  3. Published

    Challenges for biodiversity monitoring using citizen science in transitioning social-ecological systems

    Loos, J., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Kirkland, P., Hartel, T., Osváth-Ferencz, M. & Fischer, J., 01.07.2015, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 26, p. 45-48 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Comment on “fluorotechnology is critical to modern life: The FluoroCouncil counterpoint to the madrid statement”

    Cousins, I. T., Balan, S. A., Scheringer, M., Weber, R., Wang, Z., Blum, A., Diamond, M., Fletcher, T., Goldenman, G., Higgins, C., Lindeman, A. E., Peaslee, G., Trier, X. & De Voogt, P., 01.07.2015, In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 123, 7, p. A170 - A171 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Fatty acid feedstock preparation and lactic acid production as integrated processes in mixed restaurant food and bakery wastes treatment

    Pleissner, D., Lau, K. Y., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Lin, C. S. K., 01.07.2015, In: Food Research International. 73, p. 52-61 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Fingerprint analysis of brominated flame retardants and Dechloranes in North Sea sediments

    Sühring, R., Barber, J. L., Wolschke, H., Kötke, D. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.07.2015, In: Environmental Research. 140, p. 569-578 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Public participation and local environmental planning: Testing factors influencing decision quality and implementation in four case studies from Germany

    Drazkiewicz, A., Challies, E. & Newig, J., 01.07.2015, In: Land Use Policy. 46, p. 211-222 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Self-Regulation, Language Skills, and Emotion Knowledge in Young Children From Northern Germany

    von Salisch, M., Hänel, M. & Denham, S., 01.07.2015, In: Early Education and Development. 26, 5-6, p. 792-806 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Tree diversity alters the structure of a tri-trophic network in a biodiversity experiment

    Staab, M., Blüthgen, N. & Klein, A. M., 01.07.2015, In: Oikos. 124, 7, p. 827-834 8 p.

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

  10. Published

    Portfolio optimization in zonal energy markets: Evidence from Italy

    Fianu, E. S., 30.06.2015, In: International Journal of Energy and Statistics. 3, 2, 17 p., 1550006.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Edible wild fruit trees and shrubs and their socioeconomic significance in central ethiopia

    Seyoum, Y., Teketay, D., Shumi, G. & Wodafirash, M., 28.06.2015, In: Ethnobotany Research and Applications. 14, p. 183-197 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Ramsey Discounting of Ecosystem Services

    Baumgärtner, S., Klein, A.-M., Thiel, D. & Winkler, K., 27.06.2015, In: Environmental and Resource Economics. 61, 2, p. 273-296 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Tree species identity and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests

    Seitz, S., Goebes, P., Song, Z., Bruehlheide, H., Härdtle, W., Kühn, P., Li, Y. & Scholten, T., 24.06.2015, Göttingen: Copernicus Publications, p. 701-736, 36 p. (SOIL Discuss; vol. 2).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  14. Published

    What is sustainable agriculture? A systematic review

    Velten, S., Leventon, J., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 18.06.2015, In: Sustainability. 7, 6, p. 7833-7865 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  15. Published

    Species-Specific Effects on Throughfall Kinetic Energy in Subtropical Forest Plantations Are Related to Leaf Traits and Tree Architecture

    Goebes, P., Bruelheide, H., Haerdtle, W., Kröber, W., Kuehn, P., Li, Y., Seitz, S., von Oheimb, G. & Scholten, T., 16.06.2015, In: PLoS ONE. 10, 6, 13 p., e0128084.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Catch, bycatch and discards of the GalapagosMarine Reserve small-scale handline fishery

    Zimmerhackel, J. S., Schuhbauer, A. C., Usseglio, P., Heel, L. C. & Salinas-de-León, P., 09.06.2015, In: PeerJ. 3, 6, 22 p., 995.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    The justice dimension of sustainability: A systematic and general conceptual framework

    Stumpf, K. H., Baumgärtner, S., Becker, C. & Sievers-Glotzbach, S., 09.06.2015, In: Sustainability. 7, 6, p. 7438-7472 35 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Watermills in the historic irrigation system 'Palmeral de Elche', Spain: An example of early hydropower exploitation

    Melendez-Pastor, I., Pedreño, J. N. & Wittenberg, H., 08.06.2015, In: Water Supply. 15, 5, p. 1140-1151 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    A call for statistical editors in ecology

    Von Wehrden, H., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2015, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 30, 6, p. 293 - 294 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Adapting energy infrastructure to climate change - Is there a need for government interventions and legal obligations within the German "energiewende"?

    Cortekar, J. & Groth, M., 01.06.2015, In: Energy Procedia. 73, p. 12-17 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Baseflow recession analysis for flood-prone black sea watersheds in Turkey

    Aksoy, H. & Wittenberg, H., 01.06.2015, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 43, 6, p. 857-866 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review