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. 2006
  2. Published

    A college of the Atlantic for Europe

    Serbser, W. F. H. & Mrzljak, J., 01.12.2006, In: GAIA. 15, 4, p. 307-309 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  3. Published

    Annäherungen an ein sozial-ökologisches Raumkonzept

    Hofmeister, S. & Scurrell, B., 01.12.2006, In: GAIA. 15, 4, p. 275-284 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Bifurcation loads of circular curved beams of glued-laminated timber with continuous lateral support

    Eilering, S., 01.12.2006, In: Bautechnik. 83, 12, p. 845-853 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bioassay-directed fractionation for analyzing estrogens in surface waters of the German Baltic Sea

    Beck, I.-C., Bruhn, R. & Gandrass, J., 01.12.2006, In: Acta Hydrochimica et Hydrobiologica. 34, 6, p. 560-567 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Species richness of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens in dry grasslands: The effects of environment, landscape structure and competition

    Lobel, S., Dengler, J. & Hobohm, C., 01.12.2006, In: Folia Geobotanica. 41, 4, p. 377-393 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Kuhn, K. & Rieckmann, M., 03.11.2006, 1. ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH. 64 p. (Themenblätter im Unterricht; no. 57)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  8. Published

    Ideelle biegedrillknicklasten von seitlich am obergurt gestützten brettschichtträgern

    Eilering, S., 11.2006, In: Bauingenieur. 81, 11, p. 488-495 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Jungholozäne Umweltentwicklung und Landnutzungsgeschichte im Hardautal, Ldkr. Uelzen (südliche Lüneberg Heide)

    Becker, K. & Urban, B., 11.2006, In: Telma. 36, p. 11-38 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Media communication, citizens and transnational risks: The case of climate change and coastal protection

    Heinrichs, H. & Peters, H. P., 31.10.2006, Risk Society and the Culture of Precaution. Richter, I. K., Berking, S. & Müller-Schmid, R. (eds.). Palgrave Macmillan, p. 229-253 25 p.

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

  11. Published

    Frühe Kalkausscheidungen an neu erstelltem Sichtmauerwerk: sind am Markt befindliche Werkmauermörtel unterschiedlich zu beurteilen?

    Quitmann, H.-D., 16.10.2006, In: Mauerwerk. 10, 5, p. 196-202 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch