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

    Natures running wild: a social-ecological perspective on wilderness

    Hofmeister, S., 01.2009, In: Nature and Culture. 4, 3, p. 293-315 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    20 Jahre - 20 Fragen - 20 Persönlichkeiten

    Sanden, J., 2009, Handbuch Altlastensanierung und Flächenmanagement: 20 Jahre - 20 Fragen - 20 Persönlichkeiten. Franzius, D. V., Altenbockum, M. & Gerold, D. T. (eds.). Heidelberg, p. 139-147 9 p.

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

  4. Published

    25 Jahre Conservation Reserve Program der USA: Erfahrungen und Perspektiven für die europäische Agrarumweltpolitik

    Groth, M., 2009, In: Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht. 32, 4, p. 447 - 468 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Accounting Information and the Accounting Function in Sustainability Management: Case Studies with Pioneers in Germany and the UK

    Zvezdov, D. & Schaltegger, S., 2009, Book of proceedings from the 5th International Conference Environmental Accounting - Sustainable Development Indicators 2009, 5th EA-SDI International Conference, EMAN, Environmental Management Accounting Network, April 23 - 24, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    Aktuelle Ansätze zur Modellierung der Auswirkungen von Klimaveränderungen auf die biologische Vielfalt

    Kühn, I., Vohland, K., Badeck, F., Hanspach, J., Pompe, S. & Klotz, S., 2009, In: Natur und Landschaft. 84, 1, p. 8-12 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Ambient Intelligence and Knowledge Processing in Distributed Autonomous AAL-Components: Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction

    Welge, R., Faasch, H. & Bollow, E., 2009, Universal access inhuman-computer interaction: Intelligent and Ubiquitous Interaction Environments - 5th International Conference, UAHCI 2009 - Held as Part of HCI International 2009, Proceedings. Stephanidis, C. (ed.). 2 ed. Springer, Vol. 5615. p. 258-266 9 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); vol. 5615 LNCS, no. PART 2).

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

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Angebot an und Nachfrage nach Umweltleistungen in einem marktanalogen Agrarumweltprogramm - Ergebnisse einer Projektstudie

    Groth, M. & Bertke, E., 2009, In: Zeitschrift für angewandte Umweltforschung. 19, p. 160-172 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Anpassungsstrategien zum Klimawandel touristischer Pilotdestinationen in Küsten- und Mittelgebirgsregionen

    Matzarakis, A., Möller, A., Kreilkamp, E., Carstensen, I., Bartels, C., Burandt, S. & Endler, C., 2009, Klimaschutz und Anpassung an die Klimafolgen: Strategien, Maßnahmen und Anwendungsbeispiele. Mahammadzadeh, M., Biebeler, H. & Bardt, H. (eds.). 1 ed. Köln: Institut der Deutschen Wirtschaft , p. 253-262 10 p.

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

  11. Published

    A reference architecture for the integration of EMIS and ERP-Systems

    Funk, B., Niemeyer, P. & Möller, A., 2009, Informatik 2009: Im Focus das Leben; Beiträge der 39. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Informatik. Fischer, S., Maehle, E. & Reischuk, R. (eds.). Bonn: Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V., p. 436 1 p. (GI-Edition : Lecture Notes in Informatics, Proceedings; vol. 154).

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