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

    Reflections on educational leadership for sustainability: a Brazilian case study

    Sudan, D. C. & Zuin, V. G., 12.2022, In: Discover Sustainability. 3, 1, 13 p., 4.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Refocusing ecosystem services towards sustainability

    Schröter, M., Stumpf, K. H., Loos, J., van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Böhnke-Henrichs, A. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 35-43 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Reformation process of the neuronal template for nestmate recognition cues in the carpenter ant (Camponotus floridanus)

    Leonhardt, S., Brandstaetter, A. S. & Kleineidam, C. J., 09.2007, In: Journal of Comparative Physiology A – Neuroethology, Sensory, Neural, and Behavioral Physiology. 193, 9, p. 993-1000 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Reformbedarf für die Regelungen zur Pflichtenübertragung nach den §§ 16-18 KrW-/AbfG?

    Claus, O., Schomerus, T. & Versteyl, L.-A., 2009, In: AbfallR. 8, 6, p. 290-297 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Reform der europäischen Chemikalienpolitik: Anforderungen an die unternehmerische Umsetzung

    Tschochohei, H., 2005, In: Umweltwirtschaftsforum. 13, 4, p. 91-96 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Reframing the Food–Biodiversity Challenge

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 05.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 5, p. 335-345 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Regional differences in soil pH niche among dry grassland plants in Eurasia

    Wagner, V., Chytrý, M., Zelený, D., von Wehrden, H., Brinkert, A., Danihelka, J., Hölzel, N., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Palpurina, S., Preislerová, Z. & Wesche, K., 05.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 5, p. 660-670 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Regional electricity models for community energy in germany: The role of governance structures

    Ehrtmann, M., Holstenkamp, L. & Becker, T., 19.02.2021, In: Sustainability. 13, 4, p. 1-24 24 p., 2241.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Regionale StadtLandschaften

    Hofmeister, S. & Klee, A., 30.04.2015, In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung. 73, 2, p. 77-78 2 p.

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

  10. Published

    Regionale Unterschiede der Netznutzungsentgelte: Hindernis für eine faire Energiewende?

    Plenz, M., Meister, M., Doliwa, M. & Obbelode, F., 2014, In: Zeitschrift für neues Energierecht. 18, 6, p. 540 - 543 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review