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. 2012
  2. Published

    再生可能エネルギー促進に向けたドイツの法的ステップ

    Sanden, J., 2012, In: Kankyō-to-kōgai. 42, p. 51-57 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. 2011
  4. Published

    The conservation value of oil palm plantation estates, smallholdings and logged peat swamp forest for birds

    Azhar, B., Lindenmayer, D., Wood, J., Fischer, J., Manning, A., McElhinny, C. & Zakaria, M., 15.12.2011, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 262, 12, p. 2306–2315 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Climate Change: Implications for Europe's Security and Defence Policy: How Climate Change affects the Security of Europe

    Laws, N., 08.12.2011, Saarbrücken: AV Akademikerverlag. 135 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Antibiotics in the Aquatic Environment

    Kümmerer, K., 07.12.2011, Antimicrobial Resistance in the Environment. Keen, P. & Montforts, M. (eds.). 1. ed. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., p. 325-335 11 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Exploring large vegetation databases to detect temporal trends in species occurrences

    Jandt, U., von Wehrden, H. & Bruelheide, H., 01.12.2011, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 22, 6, p. 957-972 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Mechanisms of purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) encroachment in dry heathland ecosystems with chronic nitrogen inputs

    Friedrich, U., Oheimb, G., Dziedek, C., Selbmann, K., Härdtle, W. & Kriebitzsch, W.-U., 01.12.2011, In: Environmental Pollution. 159, 12, p. 3553-3559 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Plant species diversity in dry coastal dunes of the southern Baltic coast

    Peyrat, J. & Fichtner, A., 01.12.2011, In: Community Ecology. 12, 2, p. 220-226 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Quantifying diffuse and point inputs of perfluoroalkyl acids in a nonindustrial river catchment

    Müller, C. E., Spiess, N., Gerecke, A. C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.12.2011, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 45, 23, p. 9901-9909 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Screening criteria for long-range transport potential of organic substances in water

    Zarfl, C., Scheringer, M. & Matthies, M., 01.12.2011, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 45, 23, p. 10075-10081 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published