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

    Öko-Innovation in KMU: Die Rolle von Public-Private Partnerships im Innovationsprozess

    Hansen, E. G., Klewitz, J. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, In: Industrie Management. 29, 5, p. 43-48 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  3. Published

    Ökologische Bedeutung von Wildnisgebieten - das Beispiel Buchenwald-Ökosysteme

    Härdtle, W. & Oheimb, G., 2013, Natura 2000 im Wald - Lebensraumtypen, Erhaltungszustand, Management. Stefan, L., Ellwanger, G., Buschmann, A., Frederking, W., Schröder, E., Ssymank, A. & Pausch, C. (eds.). Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 51-64 14 p. (Naturschutz und biologische Vielfalt; no. 131).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Orientierungen im Themenfeld Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Einführung

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 77-78

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesEducation

  5. Published

    Orientierungen im Themenfeld Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Zusammenführung und Ausblick

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 141-150

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesEducation

  6. Published

    Partizipation am Beispiel von Preisbildung: Grundzüge einer ökonomischen Perspektive im Rahmen einer Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung im Sachunterricht

    Löw Beer, D., 2013, Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Praxis des Sachunterrichts in der Grundschule. Stoltenberg, U. (ed.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 1. p. 65-79 15 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule. Lüneburger Beiträge.; vol. 1).

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

  7. Published

    Photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxypyridazine with TiO2, FeCl3 and TiO2/FeCl3: Biodegradability, toxicity assessment, and LC-UV-MS/MS identification of the photodegradation products in aqueous and sewage treatment plant effluent

    Khaleel, N. D. H., Mahmoud, W. M. M., Hadad, G. M., Abdel-Salam, R. A., Leder, C. & Kümmerer, K., 2013, 14th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment. European Association for Chemical and Molecular Sciences / Division of Organic Chemistry, p. 365 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Physikalische Modellierung im Sachunterricht am Beispiel mentaler Modelle

    Kosler, T., 2013, Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Praxis des Sachunterrichts in der Grundschule. Stoltenberg, U. (ed.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 1. p. 99-118 21 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule. Lüneburger Beiträge.; vol. 1).

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

  9. Published

    Plausibility indications in future scenarios

    Wiek, A., Withycombe Keeler, L., Schweizer, V. & Lang, D. J., 2013, In: International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy. 9, 2-4, p. 133-147 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Politik für ein nachhaltiges Europa

    Heinrichs, H. & Laws, N., 2013, Mut zu Visionen : Brücken in die Zukunft; in memoriam Werner Schenkel. Leitschuh, H., Michelsen, G., Simonis, U. E., Sommer, J. & von Weizsäcker, E. U. (eds.). Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 32-43 12 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2014).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransfer

  11. Published

    Pollination of apple variaties across Europe: Dependecy on cross pollination and visitor communities

    Boreux, V. E., Garratt, M., Klein, A.-M., Kovacs-Hostyánszki, A., Mayer, A., Somay, L. & Steffan-Dewenter, I., 2013, Building Bridges in Ecology – Linking Systems, Scales and Disciplines: Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. Göttingen: Gesellschaft für Ökologie, p. 85 1 p. (Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie; no. 43).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review