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
  3. Published

    Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops regardless of honey bee abundance

    Garibaldi, L. A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Winfree, R., Aizen, M. A., Bommarco, R., Cunningham, S. A., Kremen, C., Carvalheiro, L. G., Harder, L. D., Afik, O., Bartomeus, I., Benjamin, F., Boreux, V., Cariveau, D., Chacoff, N. P., Dudenhöffer, J. H., Freitas, B. M., Ghazoul, J., Greenleaf, S., Hipólito, J., Holzschuh, A., Howlett, B., Isaacs, R., Javorek, S. K., Kennedy, C. M., Krewenka, K. M., Krishnan, S., Mandelik, Y., Mayfield, M. M., Motzke, I., Munyuli, T., Nault, B. A., Otieno, M., Petersen, J., Pisanty, G., Potts, S. G., Rader, R., Ricketts, T. H., Rundlöf, M., Seymour, C. L., Schüepp, C., Szentgyörgyi, H., Taki, H., Tscharntke, T., Vergara, C. H., Viana, B. F., Wanger, T. C., Westphal, C., Williams, N. & Klein, A. M., 29.03.2013, In: Science. 340, 6127, p. 1608-1611 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Policy schemes, operational strategies and system integration of residential co-generation fuel cells.

    Pade, L.-L., Schröder, S. T., Münster, M., Birkl, C., Ropenus, S., Morthorst, P. E., Obé, E., Kötter, E., Huber, A., Costa , A. & Kroff , P., 07.03.2013, In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 38, 7, p. 3050–3063 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Synergistic effects of non-Apis bees and honey bees for pollination services

    Brittain, C., Williams, N., Kremen, C. & Klein, A.-M., 07.03.2013, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 280, 1754, p. 2012-2767 7 p., 20122767.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Die Entwicklung des deutschen Umweltrechts seit 1945

    Sanden, J., 01.03.2013, Umweltpolitik und Umweltrecht in Deutschland und Südkorea. Eschborn, N. (ed.). Seoul: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung , p. 29-140 112 p.

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

  7. Published

    Social Entrepreneurship and Broader Theories: Shedding New Light on the “Bigger Picture”

    Zeyen, A., Beckmann, M., Mueller, S., Dees, J. G., Khanin, D., Krueger, N., Murphy, P. J., Santos, F., Scarlata,, M., Walske, J. & Zacharakis, A., 01.03.2013, In: Journal of Social Entrepreneurship. 4, 1, p. 88-107 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Biodegradation potential of ofloxacin and its resulting transformation products during photolytic and photocatalytic treatment

    Vasquez, M., Hapeshi, E., Fatta-Kassinos, D. & Kümmerer, K., 03.2013, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 20, 3, p. 1302-1309 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Comparison of an Electrochemical and Luminescence-Based Oxygen Measuring System for Use in the Biodegradability Testing According to Closed Bottle Test (OECD 301D)

    Friedrich, J., Längin, A. & Kümmerer, K., 03.2013, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 41, 3, p. 251-257 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Do edible oils reduce bacterial colonization of enamel in situ ?

    Hannig, C., Kirsch, J., Al-Ahmad, A., Kensche, A., Hannig, M. & Kümmerer, K., 03.2013, In: Clinical Oral Investigations. 17, 2, p. 649-658 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    The influence of native versus exotic streetscape vegetation on the spatial distribution of birds in suburbs and reserves

    Ikin, K., Knight, E., Lindenmayer, D. B., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 03.2013, In: Diversity and Distributions. 19, 3, p. 294-306 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review