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

    Soil seed banks near rubbing trees indicate dispersal of plant species into forests by wild boar

    Heinken, T., Schmidt, M., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., von Oheimb, G. & Ellenberg, H., 02.01.2006, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 7, 1, p. 31-44 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Conflicts over coastal protection in a National Park: Mediation and negotiated law making

    Striegnitz, M., 01.01.2006, In: Land Use Policy. 23, 1, p. 26-33 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Ecological risks associated with the destruction of chemical weapons: Proceedings of the NATO ARW on Ecological Risks Associated with the Destruction of Chemical Weapons, Lüneburg, Germany, from 22-26 October 2003

    Kolodkin, V. M. (Editor) & Ruck, W. (Editor), 01.01.2006, Dordrecht: Springer. 338 p. (NATO security through science series)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    How production-theory can support the analysis of recycling systems in the electronic waste sector

    Laurin, L., Möller, A., Prox, M. & Schmidt, M., 01.01.2006, Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment - Conference Record. IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 272-275 4 p. 1650075. (IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment).

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

  6. Published

    Innovationsforschung

    Stoltenberg, U., 01.01.2006, Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: aktuelle Forschungsfelder und -ansätze. Rieß, W. & Apel, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 81-86 6 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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

  7. Published

    Lernen mit Neuen Medien - ein Weg für die Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung?

    Barth, M., 01.01.2006, Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: aktuelle Forschungsfelder und -ansätze. Rieß, W. & Apel, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 69-80 12 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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

  8. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit in Bildungsinstitutionen für den Elementarbereich: Entwicklung und Erprobung eines Bildungskonzepts für Schleswig-Holstein

    Adomßent, M. & Rieckmann, M., 01.01.2006, Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Aktuelle Forschungsfelder und -ansätze. Rieß, W. & Apel, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 101-113 13 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft").

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

  9. Published

    Sustainability Accounting and Reporting

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Bennett, M. (Editor) & Burritt, R. (Editor), 01.01.2006, Dordrecht: Springer. 715 p. (Eco-efficiency in industry and science; vol. 21)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Achieving Environmental-Economic Sustainability Through Corporate Environmental Strategies: Empirical Evidence on Environmental Shareholder Value

    Wagner, M., 2006, Sustainability Accounting and Reporting. Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M. & Burritt, R. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 183-206 24 p. (Eco-Efficiency in industry and science; vol. 21).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review