School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Relational Transdisciplinarity: Five Reflexive Steps for Embodying Relational Ontologies in Transdisciplinary Learning Contexts
Tolksdorf, F., Grauer, C., Chilisa, B., Manuel-Navarrete, D., Sanusi, Z. A., Rühl, S. & Lang, D. J., 19.12.2023, In: Social Innovations Journal. 22, 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Conference article in journal › Research › peer-review
- Published
Relationship between pH-values and nutrient availability in forest soils - the consequences for the use of ecograms in forest ecology
Hardtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Friedel, A., Westphal, C. & Hartmut, M., 01.01.2004, In: Flora. 199, 2, p. 134-142 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Relationships between human activity and richness and abundance of some bird species in the Paraguay river (Pantanal, Brazil)
Lozano, J. & Malo, A. F., 06.2013, In: Ardeola. 60, 1, p. 99-112 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Relationships between the vegetation and soil conditions in beech and beech-oak forests of northern Germany
Hardtle, W., von Oheimb, G. & Westphal, C., 01.03.2005, In: Plant Ecology. 177, 1, p. 113-124 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
(Re-)learning time use and perception for sustainable development in schools – Qualitative results from a self-inquiry-based learning intervention
Frank, P., Grauer, C. & Fischer, D., 12.06.2025, In: Time & Society.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Release of monomers from four different composite materials after halogen and LED curing
Polydorou, O., König, A., Altenburger, M. J., Wolkewitz, M., Hellwig, E. & Kümmerer, K., 01.10.2011, In: American Journal of Dentistry. 24, 5, p. 315-321 7 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Relevante Ansätze zur Vermeidung von Lebensmittelabfällen in der Landwirtschaft, der Lebensmittelverarbeitung und im Handel
Bräutigam, K.-R., Schomerus, T. & Biesdorf, B., 2014, Von der Verschwendung zur Wertschätzung der Lebensmittel - Wissenschaftliche Erkenntnisse und praktische Umsetzung: Tagungsdokumentation; 21. November 2014, Münster. Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen, p. 20 1 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Other › Transfer
- Published
Relevanz von NSO-Heterocyclen in niedersächsischen Fließgewässern
Siemers, A.-K., Mänz, J. S., Palm, W.-U., Steffen, D. & Ruck, W., 2011, Wasser 2011: Jahrestagung der Wasserchemischen Gesellschaft. GDCh, Wasserchemische Gesellschaft, p. 208-212 4 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- Published
Reliability and Validity of Assessing User Satisfaction With Web-Based Health Interventions
Boss, L., Lehr, D., Reis, D., Vis, C., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Ebert, D. D., 31.08.2016, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 18, 8, 13 p., e234.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Relict populations in ancient woodlands: genetic differentiation, variability, and power of dispersal of Carabus glabratus (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in north-western Germany
Aßmann, T. & Günther, J., 2000, Natural history and applied ecology of carabid beetles: Proceedings of the IX European Carabidiologists Meeting, Cosenza, Italy, 26-31 July, 1998 (Pensoft Series Faunistica, 19) . Casale, A. (ed.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 197-206 10 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research