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. 2002
  2. Published

    Determination of vapor-phase PAH in ambient air

    Kock, H. H., Ebinghaus, R., Heisterkamp, I., Rosenfeld, H. & Ruck, W., 2002, Transport and chemical transformation in the troposphere: Proceedings of EUROTRAC Symposium 2002. Midgley, P. & Reuther, M. (eds.). Weikersheim: Margraf Verlag, p. 671-673 3 p.

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

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Die Kommunikation über Nachhaltigkeit braucht mehr Professionalität

    Michelsen, G. & Godemann, J., 2002, Umweltkommunikation - vom Wissen zum Handeln: 7. Internationale Sommerakademie St. Marienthal . Brickwedde, F. & Peters, U. (eds.). Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 329-337 9 p. (Initiativen zum Umweltschutz; vol. 44).

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

  5. Published

    Die Welt zur Heimat machen ?

    Engelhardt, W. (Editor) & Stoltenberg, U. (Editor), 2002, Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt. 224 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    Die Welt zur Heimat machen ?

    Engelhardt, W. & Stoltenberg, U., 2002, Die Welt zur Heimat machen ?. Engelhardt, W. & Stoltenberg, U. (eds.). Klinkhardt, p. 9-26 18 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 12).

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

  7. Published

    Die Widerständigkeit wissenschaftlicher Strukturen gegenüber widerspenstigen Themen: Nachwuchsförderung im Themenfeld Gender und Nachhaltigkeit

    Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2002, Wissens̱chaf(f)t Widerstand: Dokumentation des 27. Kongresses von Frauen in Naturwissenschaft und Technik. Hofmann, R. (ed.). Wien: Milena Verlag, p. 224-229 6 p. (Reihe Dokumentation ; vol. 25).

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

  8. Published

    Distanzen von Lehrkräften und Studierenden des Sachunterrichts zur Physik: Eine qualitativ-empirische Studie zu den Ursachen

    Landwehr, B., 2002, Berlin: Logos Verlag. 354 p. (Studien zum Physiklernen; vol. 23)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  9. Published

    Dokumentation zum aktuellen Stand von Forschung und Diskussion zum Thema "Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit"

    Hofmeister, S., Karsten, M.-E., Weller, I., Brinkmann, V., Kägi, S., Katz, C., Mölders, T., Thiem, A., Franz-Balsen, A. & Schäfer, P., 2002, Umweltbundesamt, 190 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  10. Published

    "Ecopreneure": nach der Dekade des Umweltmanagements das Jahrzehnt des nachhaltigen Unternehmertums?

    Schaltegger, S. & Petersen, H., 2002, In: Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte. 52, 31/32, p. 37-46 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Ecopreneure haben eine Schlüsselrolle

    Petersen, H. & Schaltegger, S., 2002, In: Umwelt-Focus. 6, p. 13-15 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer