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. 2011
  2. Published

    Environmental Sustainability and Supply Chain Management: A Framework of Cross-Functional Integration and Knowledge Transfer

    Harms, D., 09.2011, In: Journal of Environmental Sustainability. 1, 1, p. 121-141 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Offensive GHG-Management and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    Hesselbarth, C. & Castrellon Gutierrez, B., 09.2011, Emissions Trading and Business: Institutional Design, Decision Making and Corporate Strategies. Antes, R., Hansjürgens, B., Letmathe, P. & Pickl, S. (eds.). 2. ed. Heidelberg u.a.: Springer, p. 181-192 14 p.

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

  4. Published

    Ökoeffizienz in deutschen Unternehmen

    Zeyen, A., Klewitz, J. & Hansen, E. G., 31.08.2011, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 26, 3, p. 47-50 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  5. Published

    Spray-dried chitosan-metal microparticles for ciprofloxacin adsorption: Kinetic and equilibrium studies

    Reynaud, F., Tsapis, N., Deyme, M., Vasconcelos, T. G., Gueutin, C., Guterres, S. S., Pohlmann, A. R. & Fattal , E., 21.08.2011, In: Soft Matter. 7, 16, p. 7304-7312 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Verfahren, Wärmespeicher und Wärmespeichersystem zur Erwärmung und Abkühlung eines Arbeitsfluides

    Ruck, W., Opel, O. & Homberger, G., 18.08.2011, IPC No. F01K25/06 , F01K3/00 , F28D17/00 , F28D20/003, Y02E60/14, Europäisches Patentamt, Patent No. WO2011098228A2, 03.02.2011, Priority date 15.02.2010, Priority No. DE102010008111A

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  7. Published

    New evidence for vegetation development and timing of Upper Middle Pleistocene interglacials in Northern Germany and tentative correlations

    Urban, B., Sierralta, M. & Frechen, M., 15.08.2011, In: Quaternary International. 241, 1-2, p. 125-142 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Tree resin composition, collection behavior and selective filters shape chemical profiles of tropical bees (Apidae: Meliponini)

    Leonhardt, S. D., Schmitt, T. & Blüthgen, N., 08.08.2011, In: PLoS ONE. 6, 8, 10 p., e23445.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Cost-effective Biodiversity Conservation: Procurement Auctions and Payment-by-Results

    Groth, M., 04.08.2011, In: EuroChoices. 10, 2, p. 32-37 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Identifizierung und Bewertung ausgewählter Arzneimittel und ihrer Metaboliten (Ab- und Umbauprodukte) im Wasserkreislauf

    Kümmerer, K., Schuster, A., Längin, A., Happel, O., Thoma, A., Schneider, K., Hassauer, M., Gartiser, S. & Hafner, C., 01.08.2011, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 195 p. (Texte; vol. 46/2011).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  11. Published

    Australia’s Stock Route Network: 1. A review of its values, and implications for future management

    Lentini, P. E., Fischer, J., Gibbons, P., Lindenmayer, D. & Martin, T., 08.2011, In: Ecological Management & Restoration. 12, 2, p. 119-127 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch