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. 2007
  2. Published

    Impact of sod-cutting and choppering on nutrient budgets of dry heathlands

    Niemeyer, M., Niemeyer, T., Fottner, S., Haerdtle, W. & Mohamed, A., 01.01.2007, In: Biological Conservation. 134, 3, p. 344-353 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Water quality indices across Europe - a comparison of the good ecological status of five river basins

    von der Ohe, P. C., Prüß, A., Schäfer, R. B., Liess, M., de Deckere, E. & Brack, W., 01.01.2007, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 9, 9, p. 970-978 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    28. Interglacial pollen records from schöningen, North Germany

    Urban, B., 2007, The Climate of Past Interglacials. Sirocko, F., Claussen, M., Goñi, M. F. S. & Litt, T. (eds.). Amsterdam [u.a.]: Elsevier Scientific Publishing, p. 417-444 28 p. (Developments in Quaternary Sciences; vol. 7).

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

  5. Published

    8. Uranium-series dating of peat from central and Northern Europe

    Frechen, M., Sierralta, M., Oezen, D. & Urban, B., 2007, The climate of past interglacials. Sirocko, F., Claussen, M., Litt, T. & Sanchez-Goni, M. F. (eds.). Amsterdam [u.a.]: Elsevier Scientific Publishing, p. 93-117 25 p. (Developments in Quaternary Science; vol. 7).

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

  6. Published

    Agro-biodiversity as natural insurance and the development of financial insurance markets

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M. F., 2007, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 26 p. (Working paper series in economics; no. 61).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    A klímavédelem alapvető feladatai

    Palocz-Andresen, M., 2007, Épületgépészet a gyakorlatban: kézikönyv épületgépészeti tervezéshez, kivitelezéshez. Bánhidi , L. (ed.). Budapest: Dashöfer Verlag, p. 1-38 39 p.

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

  8. Published

    Aphaenopidius kamnikensis Drovenik 1987 in Kärnten

    Drovenik, B., Weber, F., Paill, W. & Aßmann, T., 2007, In: Angewandte Carabidologie. 8, p. 73-76 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Berechnung von Eisengehalten und Verockerungspotential von Schluckbrunnen mithilfe von Temperatur-, Redoxpotential-, pH-Wert-, Leitfähigkeits- und Sauerstoffsättigungsdaten

    Opel, O. & Novio Liñares, J. A., 2007, Der Geothermiekongress 2007 - Energie für alle Fälle: 29.-31.10.2007 in Bochum. Tagungsband. CD-ROM. Geeste: Bundesverband Geothermie e.V.

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

  11. Published

    Besonderheiten der Evaluation transdisziplinärer Forschung und der Stellenwert von Kompetenz

    Godemann, J., 2007, Evaluation inter- und transdisziplinärer Forschung: Humanökologie und Nachhaltigkeitsforschung auf dem Prüfstand. Stoll-Kleemann, S. & Pohl, C. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 123-136 14 p. (Edition Humanökologie : Schriftenreihe der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Humanökologie ; vol. 5).

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