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

    Relict species: Phylogeography and conservation biology

    Habel, J. C. & Aßmann, T. (Editor), 2010, Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer Verlag. 449 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  2. Published

    Relict species: From past to future

    Habel, J. C., Assmann, T., Schmitt, T. & Avise, J. C., 2010, Relict Species: Phylogeography and Conservation Biology. Habel, J. C. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Springer Verlag, p. 1-5 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  3. Published

    Relict species research: Some concluding remarks

    Habel, J. C., Schmitt, T. & Aßmann, T., 2010, Relict species: Phylogeography and Conservation Biology. Habel, J. C. & Assmann, T. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Springer Verlag, p. 441-442 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Religiöse und Ästhetische Strategien der Erhaltung und Erinnerung oraler Traditionen: jüdische Textkultur und das Werk Arnold Dreyblatts – zwischen Performanz und digitaler Remedialisierung

    Holz, V., 07.10.2011, Neues Erbe: Aspekte, Perspektiven und Konsequenzen der digitalen Überlieferung. Robertson-von Trotha, C. Y. & Hauser, R. (eds.). Karlsruhe: KIT Scientific Publishing, p. 163-180 18 p. (Kulturelle Überlieferung - Digital; vol. 1).

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

  5. Published

    Reliving the past in a changed environment: Hydropower ambitions, opportunities and constraints in Tajikistan

    Wegerich, K., Olsson, O. & Froebrich, J., 01.07.2007, In: Energy Policy. 35, 7, p. 3815-3825 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Remediation of PAHs, NSO-Heterocycles, and Related Aromatic Compounds in Permeable Reactive Barriers Using Activated Carbon

    Palm, W.-U., Mänz, J. S. & Ruck, W., 01.01.2014, Permeable Reactive Barrier: sustainable groundwater remediation. Naidu, R. & Birke, V. (eds.). Boca Raton: CRC Press, p. 215-248 34 p. (Advances in Trace Elements in the Environment).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Remotely sensed effectiveness assessments of protected areas lack a common framework: A review

    Gohr, C., von Wehrden, H., May, F. & Ibisch, P. L., 01.04.2022, In: Ecosphere. 13, 4, 14 p., e4053.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Remote sensing of bush encroachment on commercial cattle farms in semi-arid rangelands in Namibia

    Schröter, M., Jakoby, O., Olbrich, R., Eichhorn, M. & Baumgärtner, S., 2009, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 24 p. (Working paper series in economics; no. 131).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Remote Sensing of Bush Encroachment on Commercial Cattle Farms in Semi-Arid Rangelands in Namibia

    Schröter, M., Jakoby, O., Olbrich, R., Eichhorn, M. & Baumgärtner, S., 2011, Environmental Modeling for Sustainable Regional Development: System Approaches and Advanced Methods. Olej, V., Obršálová, I. & Krupka, J. (eds.). Hershey : IGI Global Publishing, p. 327-343 17 p.

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

  10. Published

    Removal of dexamethasone from aqueous solution and hospital wastewater by electrocoagulation

    Arsand, D. R., Kümmerer, K. & Martins, A. F., 15.01.2013, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 443, p. 351-357 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review