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

    Photolysis of sulfamethoxypyridazine in various aqueous media: Aerobic biodegradation and identification of photoproducts by LC-UV-MS/MS

    Khaleel, N. D. H., Mahmoud, W. M. M., Hadad, G. M., Abdel-Salam, R. A. & Kümmerer, K., 15.01.2013, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 244-245, p. 654-661 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Removal of dexamethasone from aqueous solution and hospital wastewater by electrocoagulation

    Arsand, D. R., Kümmerer, K. & Martins, A. F., 15.01.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 443, p. 351-357 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Basin efficiency approach and its effect on streamflow quality, Zerafshan River Uzbekistan

    Olsson, O., Gassmann, M., Manig, N., Ikramova, M. & Wegerich, K., 07.01.2013, In: Journal of Hydrology. 476, 7, p. 128–135 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Landscape diversity and the resilience of agricultural returns: a portfolio analysis of land-use patterns and economic returns from lowland agriculture

    Abson, D., Fraser, E. & Benton, T., 07.01.2013, In: Agriculture and Food Security. 2, 1, 15 p., 2.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A landscape-level study on the breeding site characteristics of ten amphibian species in Central Europe

    Vági, B., Kovács, T., Bǎncilǎ, R. I., Hartel, T. & Anthony, B. P., 01.01.2013, In: Amphibia Reptilia. 34, 1, p. 63-73 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Biodiversity-friendly farming

    Fischer, J., Brittain, C. & Klein, A.-M., 01.01.2013, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity: Second Edition. Levin, S. A. (ed.). 2 ed. New York: Elsevier Scientific Publishing, p. 418-429 12 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  8. Published

    Contribution of illegal hunting, culling of pest species, road accidents and feral dogs to biodiversity loss in established oil-palm landscapes

    Azhar, B., Wood, J. T., Lindenmayer, D. B., Fischer, J., Manning, A. D., McElhinny, C. & Zakaria, M., 01.01.2013, In: Wildlife Research. 40, 1, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Facing complexity through informed simplifications: a research agenda for aquatic exposure assessment of nanoparticles

    Praetorius, A., Arvidsson, R., Molander, S. & Scheringer, M., 01.01.2013, In: Environmental Sciences: Processes & Impacts. 15, 1, p. 161-168 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Landcover dynamics in relation to western tragopan occurrence in Pakistan: A regional assessment

    Saqib, Z., Malik, R. N. & Von Wehrden, H., 01.01.2013, In: Pakistan Journal of Botany. 45, S 1 (Special Issue), p. 551-559 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Pocket parks in a compact city: How do birds respond to increasing residential density?

    Ikin, K., Beaty, R. M., Lindenmayer, D. B., Knight, E. J., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 01.01.2013, In: Landscape Ecology. 28, 1, p. 45-56 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review