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. 2012
  2. Published

    Weltseehandel und seine größten Häfen – Ein Marktüberblick

    Brinkmann, B., 03.2012, In: Beton- und Stahlbetonbau. 107, SUPPL. 1, p. 8-14 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    VERFAHREN ZUR BESTIMMUNG DER NEIGUNG ZUR VEROCKERUNG UND SYSTEM HIERFÜR

    Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 09.02.2012, IPC No. G01N 17/02, Patent No. WO2012016673A1, 01.08.2011

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  4. Published

    The bispecific SDF1-GPVI fusion protein preserves myocardial function after transient ischemia in mice.

    Ziegler, M., Elvers, M., Baumer, Y., Leder, C., Ochmann, C., Schönberger, T., Jürgens, T., Geisler, T., Schlosshauer, B., Lunov, O., Engelhardt, S., Simmet, T. & Gawaz, M., 07.02.2012, In: Circulation. 125, 5, p. 685-696 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Neigung zur Verockerung und System hierfür

    Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 02.02.2012, IPC No. G01N 33/18, Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, Patent No. DE102010033056A1, 02.08.2010

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  6. Published

    Nonylphenol polyethoxylate in hospital wastewater: A study of the subproducts of electrocoagulation

    Henriques, D. M., Kümmerer, K., Mayer, F. M., Vasconcelos, T. G. & Martins, A. F., 01.02.2012, In: Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A. Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering. 47, 3, p. 497-505 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Estimating the aquatic emissions and fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) into the river Rhine

    Paul, A., Scheringer, M., Hungerbühler, K., Loos, R., Jones, K. & Sweetman, A., 02.2012, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 14, 2, p. 524-530 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    α- and β-diversity in moth communities in salt marshes is driven by grazing management

    Rickert, C., Fichtner, A., van Klink, R. & Bakker, J. P., 02.2012, In: Biological Conservation. 146, 1, p. 24-31 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Managing the grazing landscape: insights for agricultural adaptation from a mid-drought photo-elicitation study in the Australian sheep-wheat belt

    Sherren, K., Fischer, J. & Fazey, I., 02.2012, In: Agricultural Systems. 106, 1, p. 72-83 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published
  12. Published

    Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges

    Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Bergmann, M., Stauffacher, M., Martens, P., Moll, P., Swilling, M. & Thomas, C. J., 02.2012, In: Sustainability Science. 7, SUPPL. 1, p. 25-43 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    The effect of storage medium on the elution of monomers from composite materials

    Polydorou, O., Huberty, C., Wolkewitz, M., Bolek, R., Hellwig, E. & Kümmerer, K., 27.01.2012, In: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. 100B, 1, p. 68-74 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Trends for snow cover and river flows in the Pamirs (Central Asia)

    Chevallier, P., Pouyaud, B., Moja¨ısky, M., Bolgov, M., Olsson, O., Bauer, M. & Froebrich, J., 03.01.2012, In: Hydrology and Earth Systems Sciences Discussion. 9, p. 29–64 36 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Aquatic habitat use by amphibians with specific reference to Rana temporaria at high elevations (Retezat Mountains National Park, Romania)

    Cogǎlniceanu, D., Bǎncilǎ, R., Plǎiaşu, R., Samoilǎ, C. & Hartel, T., 01.01.2012, In: International Journal of Limnology. 48, 4, p. 355-362 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Deficits in EU and US mandatory environmental information disclosure: Legal, comparative legal and economic facets of pollutant release invent.

    Bünger, D., 01.01.2012, Berlin: Springer Verlag. 487 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  17. Published

    Ecosystem services in Agricultural landscapes

    Smukler, S. M., Philpott, S. M., Jackson, L. E., Klein, A.-M., DeClerck, F., Winowiecki, L. & Palm, C. A., 01.01.2012, Integrating Ecology and Poverty Reduction: Ecological Dimensions. Ingram, J. C., Clerck, F. A. D. & Rio, C. R. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Verlag, p. 17-51 35 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  18. Published

    Environmental Dimension in Chemistry Teacher Education

    Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2012, Campinas: Atomo. 174 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  19. Published

    Hydration and dehydration of salt hydrates and hydroxides for thermal energy storage – kinetics and energy release

    Rammelberg, H., Schmidt, T. & Ruck, W., 01.01.2012, In: Energy Procedia. 30, p. 362-369 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Publicly mediated inter-organisational networks: a solution for sustainabilityoriented innovation in SMEs?

    Hansen, E. G. & Klewitz, J., 01.01.2012, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability. Wagner, M. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 254-278 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  21. Published

    Services from plant-pollinator interactions in the Neotropics

    Garibaldi, L. A., Muchhala, N., Motzke, I., Bravo-Monroy, L., Olschewski, R. & Klein, A.-M., 01.01.2012, Ecosystem Services from Agriculture and Agroforestry: Measurement and Payment. Rapidel, B., DeClerck, F., Le Coq, J. F. & Beer, J. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Earthscan Publications Ltd., p. 119-140 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review