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. 2009
  2. Published

    Ya'ar Bar'am - An old Quercus calliprinos forest of high nature conservation value in the Mediterranean region of Israel

    Westphal, C., von Oheimb, G., Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Tremer, N., Haerdtle, W., Levanony, T., Dayan, T. & Aßmann, T., 01.12.2009, In: Israel Journal of Plant Sciences. 57, 1-2, p. 13-23 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Modeling the distribution of white spruce (Picea glauca) for Alaska with high accuracy: an open access role-model for predicting tree species in last remaining wilderness areas

    Ohse, B., Huettmann, F., Ickert-Bond, S. M. & Juday, G. P., 12.2009, In: Polar Biology. 32, 12, p. 1717-1729 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Optimization and Validation of an LC Method for the Determination of Cefdinir in Dosage Form and Human Urine

    Hadad, G. M., Emara, S. & Mahmoud, W. M. M., 12.2009, In: Chromatographia. 70, 11/12, p. 1593–1598 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Technology Options Tested on the German Coast for Addressing a Munitions Hot Spot In Situ

    Koch, M. & Ruck, W., 12.2009, In: Marine Technology Society Journal. 43, 4, p. 105-115 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Unprecedented long-term genetic monomorphism in an endangered relict butterfly species

    Habel, J. C., Zachos, F. E., Finger, A., Meyer, M., Louy, D., Aßmann, T. & Schmitt, T., 12.2009, In: Conservation Genetics. 10, 6, p. 1659-1665 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Taking the heterogeneity of citizens into account: flood risk communication in coastal cities - a case study of Bremen

    Martens, T., Garrelts, H., Grunenberg, H. & Lange, H., 24.11.2009, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences . 9, 6, p. 1931-1940 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Position des Schutzguts Boden in Recht und Praxis der naturschutzrechtlichen Instrumente

    Giese, E., Lichey, K. & Sanden, J., 18.11.2009, In: Bodenschutz. 4/2009, p. 108-115 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Multidisciplinary characterization of the middle Holocene eolian deposits of the Elsa River basin (central Italy)

    Costantini, E. A. C., Priori, S., Urban, B., Hilgers, A., Sauer, D., Protano, G., Trombino, L., Huelle, D. & Nannoni, F., 01.11.2009, In: Quaternary International. 209, 1-2, p. 107-130 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    A sticky affair: resin collection by Bornean stingless bees

    Leonhardt, S. & Blüthgen, N., 11.2009, In: Biotropica. 41, 6, p. 730-736 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review