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. Published

    Methodological Challenges in Sustainability Science: A Call for Method Plurality, Procedural Rigor and Longitudinal Research

    Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C., Leventon, J. & Russell, S., 20.03.2017, In: Challenges in Sustainability. 5, 1, p. 35-42 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Methods and compositions relating to a vaccine against prostate cancer

    Leder, C., King, A. D., Pavlenko, M. & Pisa, P., 04.01.2007, IPC No. A61K39/00 (2006.01), Patent No. WO/2007/002149 A2, 21.06.2006

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  3. Published

    Methods for Transdisciplinary Research: A Primer for Practice

    Bergmann, M., Jahn, T., Knobloch, T., Krohn, W., Pohl, C. & Schramm, E., 16.08.2012, Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag. 294 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  4. Published

    Methods in sustainability science

    von Wehrden, H., 29.12.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 4, p. 341-341 1 p.

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

  5. Published

    Métodos de enseñanza y aprendizaje interdisciplinario

    Godemann, J., 2007, In: Polis. 5, 16, 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Microbial nutrient limitation and catalytic adjustments revealed from a long‐term nutrient restriction experiment

    Kumar, A. & Pausch, J., 01.06.2022, In: Journal of Sustainable Agriculture and Environment. 1, 2, p. 142-148 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Microbiological and environmental effects of aquifer thermal energy storage

    Adinolfi, M. & Ruck, W., 1992, Proceedings of the 27th Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference. IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Vol. 4. p. 95-100 6 p. (Proceedings of the Intersociety Energy Conversion Engineering Conference; vol. 4).

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

  8. Published

    Microsatellites and allozymes as the genetic memory of habitat fragmentation and defragmentation in populations of the ground beetle Carabus auronitens (Col., Carabidae)

    Drees, C., Matern, A., Rasplus, J.-Y., Terlutter, H., Aßmann, T. & Weber, F., 01.10.2008, In: Journal of Biogeography. 35, 10, p. 1937-1949 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Micro-scale Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of a Calcium Chloride Methanol System for Process Cooling

    Korhammer, K., Neumann, K., Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 01.05.2017, In: Energy Procedia. 105, p. 4363-4369 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Microwave-assisted extraction and matrix solid-phase dispersion as green analytical chemistry sample preparation techniques for the valorisation of mango processing waste

    Segatto, M. L., Zanotti, K. & Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2021, In: Current Research in Chemical Biology. 1, 8 p., 100007.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review