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

    Biogeographical patterns in the diet of the wildcat, Felis silvestris Schreber, in Eurasia: Factors affecting the trophic diversity

    Lozano Mendoza, J., Moleón, M. & Virgós, E., 01.06.2006, In: Journal of Biogeography. 33, 6, p. 1076-1085 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Gesundheitsfördernde Hochschulen

    Rieckmann, M., 01.06.2006, In: GAIA. 15, 2, p. 151-153 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Sprache schafft Wirklichkeiten: Metaphernreflexion in der umweltwissenschaftlichen Bildung

    Bösch, N., 10.05.2006, In: Journal of Social Science Education. 2, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Vegetation responses to environmental conditions in floodplain grasslands: prerequisites for preserving plant species diversity

    Härdtle, W., Redecker, B., Aßmann, T. & Meyer, H., 02.05.2006, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 7, 3, p. 280-288 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Gibt es ein Wirtschaften jenseits von Wachstum? sozial-ökologische Perspektiven auf eine (re)produktive Ökonomie

    Hofmeister, S. & Scurrell, B., 01.05.2006, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 21, 2, p. 20-21 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Objektivierung von Naturschutzbewertungen - Das Beispiel Roter Listen von Pflanzengesellschaften

    Timmermann, T., Dengler, J., Abdank, A. & Berg, C., 01.05.2006, In: Naturschutz und Landschaftsplanung. 38, 5, p. 133-139 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Species diversity and species composition of epiphytic bryophytes and lichens: a comparison of managed and unmanaged beech forests in NE Germany

    Friedel, A., Oheimb, G., Dengler, J. & Härdtle, W., 01.05.2006, In: Feddes Repertorium. 117, 1/2, p. 172-185 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Time course of exhaled hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide during chemotherapy

    Wewel, A. R., Crusius, J. A. M., Gatzemeier, U., Heckmayr, M., Becher, G., Magnussen, H., Jorres, R. A. & Holz, O., 01.05.2006, In: European Respiratory Journal. 27, 5, p. 1033-1039 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Development and validation of a method for the determination of trace alkylphenols and phthalates in the atmosphere

    Xie, Z., Selzer, J., Ebinghaus, R., Caba, A. & Ruck, W., 21.04.2006, In: Analytica Chimica Acta. 565, 2, p. 198-207 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review