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. 2016
  2. Published

    Crying wolf: Limitations of predator–prey studies need not preclude their salient messages

    Ritchie, E. G., Schultner, J., Nimmo, D. G., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Kehoe, L. & Dorresteijn, I., 13.07.2016, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 283, 1834, 1 p., 20161244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The role of gestures in a teacher-student-discourse about atoms

    Abels, S. J., 06.07.2016, In: Chemistry education Research and Practice. 17, 3, p. 618-628 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Distribution of Organophosphate Esters between the Gas and Particle Phase-Model Predictions vs Measured Data

    Sühring, R., Wolschke, H., Diamond, M. L., Jantunen, L. M. & Scheringer, M., 05.07.2016, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 13, p. 6644-6651 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Participatory Scenario Planning: From Scenario ‘Stakeholders’ to Scenario ‘Owners’

    Freeth, R. & Drimie, S., 03.07.2016, In: Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. 58, 4, p. 32-43 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The coexistence of amenity and biodiversity in urban landscapes

    Ives, C. D. & Kelly, A. H., 03.07.2016, In: Landscape Research. 41, 5, p. 495-509 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A poor international standard for trap selectivity threatens carnivore conservation

    Virgós, E., Lozano Mendoza, J., Cabezas-Díaz, S., Macdonald, D. W., Zalewski, A., Atienza, J. C., Proulx, G., Ripple, W. J., Rosalino, L. M., Santos-Reis, M., Johnson, P. J., Malo, A. F. & Baker, S. E., 01.07.2016, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 25, 8, p. 1409-1419 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Barley (Hordeum distichon L.) roots synthesise volatile aldehydes with a strong age-dependent pattern and release (E)-non-2-enal and (E,Z)-nona-2,6-dienal after mechanical injury

    Delory, B. M., Delaplace, P., du Jardin, P. & Fauconnier, M. L., 01.07.2016, In: Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 104, p. 134-145 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Consumers' purchasing decisions regarding environmentally friendly products: An empirical analysis of German consumers

    Moser, A., 01.07.2016, In: Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. 31, p. 389-397 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Fermentative utilization of coffee mucilage using Bacillus coagulans and investigation of down-stream processing of fermentation broth for optically pure L(+)-lactic acid production

    Neu, A.-K., Pleissner, D., Mehlmann, K., Schneider, R., Puerta-Quintero, G. I. & Venus, J., 01.07.2016, In: Bioresource Technology. 211, Juli, p. 398-405 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Recommendations for evaluating temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants in breast milk

    Gyalpo, T., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.07.2016, In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 124, 7, p. 881-885 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch