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. 2013
  2. Published

    Traits of butterfly communities change from specialist to generalist characteristics with increasing land-use intensity

    Börschig, C., Klein, A.-M., von Wehrden, H. & Krauss, J., 11.2013, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 14, 7, p. 547–554 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Wood-inhabiting beetles (Coleoptera) associated with oaks in a global biodiversity hotspot: A case study and checklist for Israel

    Buse, J., Assmann, T., Friedman, A. L. L., Rittner, O. & Pavlícek, T., 11.2013, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 6, 6, p. 687-703 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Ecosystem services: Response

    Bateman, I. J., Harwood, A. R., Mace, G. M., Watson, R. T., Abson, D. J., Andrews, B., Binner, A., Crowe, A. M., Day, B., Dugdale, S., Fezzi, C., Foden, J., Hadley, D. J., Haines-Young, R. H., Hulme, M. F., Kontoleon, A. A., Lovett, A. A., Munday, P., Pascual, U., Paterson, J. S., Perino, G., Sen, A., Siriwardena, G., Van Soest, D. P. & Termansen, M., 25.10.2013, In: Science. 342, 6157, p. 421-422 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    Three steps to a solar system: From 1% to 40% and 100%

    Lehmann, H., 21.10.2013, Solar Power for the World: What You Wanted to Know about Photovoltaics. Palz, W. (ed.). Pan Stanford Publishing, p. 557-576 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Buchbesprechung: Lutz Mitto, Energierecht

    Schomerus, T., 15.10.2013, In: Zeitschrift für das gesamte Recht der Energiewirtschaft EnWZ. 2013, 10, p. X (Aktuell) 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  7. Published

    Welchen Journalismus braucht die Nachhaltigkeit? Bestandsaufnahme und Bedarfsanalyse in Wissenschaft und Praxis – Ergebnisse eines iterativen Delphis

    Humburg, A., Fischer, D., Marwege, R. & Michelsen, G., 10.10.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Umweltkommunikation der Universität Lüneburg, 39 p. (INFU-Diskussionspapiere; no. 38/2013).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Aquatic photochemistry, abiotic and aerobic biodegradability of thalidomide: Identification of stable transformation products by LC-UV-MS(n.)

    Mahmoud, W. M. M., Trautwein, C., Leder, C. & Kümmerer, K., 01.10.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 463-464, p. 140-150 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Does location really matter? An inter-colony comparison of seabirds breeding at varying distances from productive oceanographic features in the Bering Sea

    Harding, A., Paredes, R., Suryan, R., Roby, D., Irons, D., Orben, R., Renner, H., Young, R., Barger, C., Dorresteijn, I. & Kitaysky, A., 01.10.2013, In: Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 94, p. 178-191 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Estimation of the acid dissociation constant of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids through an experimental investigation of their water-to-air transport

    Vierke, L., Berger, U. & Cousins, I. T., 01.10.2013, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 47, 19, p. 11032-11039 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Wood-pastures in a traditional rural region of Eastern Europe: Characteristics, management and status

    Hartel, T., Dorresteijn, I., Klein, C., Máthé, O., Moga, C. I., Öllerer, K., Roellig, M., von Wehrden, H. & Fischer, J., 01.10.2013, In: Biological Conservation. 166, p. 267-275 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review