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. 2019
  2. Published

    A new vision of sustainable management in mining and post-mining landscapes

    Apaéstegui Campos, J., Barbosa, P. M., Brandão, L., de Azevedo, A. C., Casanova, M., Cord, A., Gerner, N., Giese, E. C., Händel, F., Jager, N. W., Jessen, G. L., Lepenies, R., Marchezini, V., Pujoni, D., Salma, A., Sánchez, A. S., Schierz, A., Stemke, M., Ussath, M., Val, P., Whaley-Martin, K., Yamamoto, F. Y. & Zorzal-Almeida, S., 2019, Halle: Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina e.V., 28 p. (Science policy report).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  3. Published

    Arbitrating the Oceans: The Future of Inter-State Arbitration in the International Law of the Sea

    Schatz, V. J., 2019, A Brand New World: The Evolution and Future of Arbitration . Planterose , R. & Tackaberry, J. (eds.). London, p. 269-278

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    A two-step approach for the prediction of mood levels based on diary data

    Bremer, V., Becker, D., Genz, T., Funk, B. & Lehr, D., 2019, Machine Learning and Knowledge Discovery in Databases - European Conference, ECML PKDD 2018, Proceedings: European Conference, ECML PKDD 2018, Dublin, Ireland. Brefeld, U., Curry, E., Daly, E., MacNamee, B., Marascu, A., Pinelli, F., Berlingerio, M. & Hurley, N. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 626-629 4 p. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics); vol. 11053 LNAI).

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

  5. Published

    „Beziehungsweise“ werden oder das sozialisatorische Potential von Freundschaften unter Jugendlichen

    Salisch, M., 2019, Zukunft der Freundschaft: Freundschaft zwischen Idealisierung und Auflösung. Stiehler, S. (ed.). Berlin: Frank & Timme, p. 105-122 17 p. (Transposition – Ostschweizer Beiträge zu Lehre, Forschung und Entwicklung in der Sozialen Arbeit; vol. 7).

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

  6. Published

    Das Dorf: Soziale Prozesse und räumliche Arrangements

    Steinführer, A. (Editor), Laschewski, L. (Editor), Mölders, T. (Editor) & Siebert, R. (Editor), 2019, 1 ed. Münster: LIT Verlag. 220 p. (Rural areas: Issues of local and regional development / Ländliche Räume. Beiträge zur lokalen und regionalen Entwicklung; vol. 5)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Das Dorf als Gegenstand sozialwissenschaftlicher Forschung und Theoriebildung. Zur Einführung

    Laschewski, L., Steinführer, A., Mölders, T. & Siebert, R., 2019, Das Dorf. : Soziale Prozesse und räumliche Arrangements. Steinführer, A., Laschewski, L., Mölders, T. & Siebert, R. (eds.). 1 ed. Münster: LIT Verlag, Vol. 5. p. 3-56 54 p. (Rural areas: Issues of local and regional development / Ländliche Räume. Beiträge zur lokalen und regionalen Entwicklung; vol. 5).

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

  8. Published

    Digi-Exist: Eine digitale Plattform zur Gesundheitsförderung für junge Unternehmen

    Ducki, A., Behrendt, D., Boß, L., Brandt, M., Janneck, M., Jent, S., Kunze, D., Lehr, D., Nissen, H. & Wappler, P., 2019, Fehlzeiten-Report 2019. Badura, B., Ducki, A., Schröder, H., Klose, J. & Meyer, M. (eds.). Springer Nature, p. 333-347 15 p.

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

  9. Published

    Editorial

    Rose, M. & Hoffmann, J. M., 2019, In: Intergenerational Justice Review. 5, 2, p. 47 1 p.

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

  10. Published

    Europäische Selbstwerdung und Selbstbe-hauptung durch wirtschaftliche Staatskunst

    Oermann, N. O. & Wolff, H.-J., 2019, In: ifo Schnelldienst. 72, 22, p. 12-15 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Experimentation for Sustainable Innovation

    Weissbrod, I., 2019, Innovation for Sustainability: Business transformations towards a better world. Bocken, N., Ritala, P., Albareda, L. & Verburg, R. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 335-352 18 p. (Palgrave Studies in Sustainable Business in Association with Future Earth).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  12. Published
  13. Published

    Forschendes Lernen zum Thema ‚Trennverfahren’ inklusiv gestalten – Eine videobasierte Studie im naturwissenschaftlichen Sachunterricht

    Abels, S., Demmel, L., Minnemann, M., Rathig, J. & Semmler, F., 2019, Inklusion im Sachunterricht: Perspektiven der Forschung. Pech, D., Schomaker, C. & Simon, T. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 36-50 15 p. (Forschungen zur Didaktik des Sachunterrichts; vol. 10).

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

  14. Published

    Forwords

    Hofmeister, S. & Fainstein, S. S., 2019, Gendered Approaches to Spatial Development in Europe: Perspectives, Similarities, Differences. Zibell, B., Damyanovic, D. & Sturm, U. (eds.). London / New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. XVII-XIX 3 p. (Routledge studies in gender and environments).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  15. Published

    Fracking, Sovereignty over Natural Resources and International Investment Law

    Reins, L., Geraets, D. & Schomerus, C.-T., 2019, European Yearbook of International Economic Law 2018. Bungenberg, M., Krajewski, M., Tams, C. J., Terhechte, J. P. & Ziegler, A. R. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 175-201 27 p. (European Yearbook of International Economic Law; vol. 9).

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

  16. Published

    Für_Sorge – Vor_Sorge. Feministische Perspektiven auf ‚Natur/en‘ und Menschen

    Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Onnen, C., 2019, Care: Praktiken und Politiken der Fürsorge: Ethnographische und geschlechtertheoretische Perspektiven. Binder, B., Bischoff, C., Endter, C., Hess, S., Kienitz, S. & Bergmann, S. (eds.). Leverkusen-Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 263-275 13 p.

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

  17. Published

    Gender, Space and Development: An Introduction to Concepts and Debates

    Huning, S., Mölders, T. & Zibell, B., 2019, Gendered Approaches to Spatial Development in Europe: Perspectives, Similarities, Differences. Zibell, B., Damyanovic, D. & Sturm, U. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 23 p.

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

  18. Published

    "Global competence" - der neue Fokusbereich in PISA 2018. Ein holpriger Start

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Niemann, D., 2019, In: ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik. 42, 3, p. 29-36 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Globales Lernen in der Schule: Partizipation im Spannungsfeld von Inklusion und Exklusion

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Terhart, H., 2019, In: ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik. 42, 3, p. 16-21 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Governance for Sustainability in Telecoupled Systems

    Challies, E., Newig, J. & Lenschow, A., 2019, Telecoupling: Exploring Land-Use Change in a Globalised World. Friis, C. & Nielsen, J. Ø. (eds.). Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 177-197 21 p. (Palgrave Studies in Natural Resource Management).

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

  21. Published

    Green City---A Sustainable Energy Concept for a Climate Neutral University

    Strodel, N., Opel, O., Werner, K. F. & Ruck, W. K. L., 2019, International Climate Protection. Palocz-Andresen, M., Szalay, D., Gosztom, A., Sípos, L. & Taligás, T. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 211-216 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter