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

    Targeted metabolomics of pellicle and saliva in children with different caries activity

    Schulz, A., Lang, R., Behr, J., Hertel, S., Reich, M., Kümmerer, K., Hannig, M., Hannig, C. & Hofmann, T., 01.12.2020, In: Scientific Reports. 10, 1, 11 p., 697.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Taxonomic and functional changes in mountain meadow communities four years after transplantation to a lowland environment

    Haider, S., Schaub, C. & Lachmuth, S., 01.07.2024, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 35, 4, 16 p., e13280.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Taxonomic revision of the African and Southwest Asian species of Platyderus Stephens, subg. Eremoderus Jeanne (Coleoptera, Carabidae, Sphodrini)

    Guéorguiev, B., Wrase, D. W., Assmann, T., Muilwijk, J. & Machard, P., 13.06.2022, In: Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift. 69, 1, p. 71-122 52 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Taxonomic revision of the Graphipterus serrator (Forskål) group (Coleoptera, Carabidae): an increase from five to 15 valid species

    Renan, I., Assmann, T. & Freidberg, A., 26.04.2018, In: ZooKeys. 2018, 753, p. 23-82 60 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Taxonomy, ecology, and distribution of six remarkable plant taxa (Spermatophyta, Bryophyta, and Lichenes) of the estonian dry grassland flora

    Dengler, J. & Boch, S., 19.12.2007, In: Phyton - Annales Rei Botanicae. 47, 1-2, p. 47-71 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Teacher Education for Sustainable Development: A Review of an Emerging Research Field

    Fischer, D., King, J., Rieckmann, M., Barth, M., Büssing, A., Hemmer, I. & Lindau-Bank, D., 01.11.2022, In: Journal of Teacher Education. 73, 5, p. 509-524 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Teachers' beliefs about and dispositions towards Inquiry-based Science Education

    Hofer, E., Koliander, B. & Puddu, S., 2021, Project-based Education and other activating Strategies in Science Education XVIII. : Conference Proceedings. Rusek, M., Tothova, M. & Vojir, K. (eds.). Prague: Charles University, Prague, p. 16-25 10 p.

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

  8. Published

    Teachers' beliefs and goals concerning inquiry-based science

    Puddu, S., Koliander, B. & Hofer, E., 2022, Fostering scientific citizenship in an uncertain world (Proceedings of ESERA 2021). Carvalho, G. S., Afonso, A. S. & Anastácio, Z. (eds.). Braga: CIEC, Universidade do Minho, p. 1119-1125 7 p. 12

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

  9. Published

    Teaching about sustainability through inquiry-based science in Irish primary classrooms: the impact of a professional development programme on teacher self-efficacy, competence and pedagogy

    Murphy, C., Smith, G., Mallon, B. & Redman, E., 02.08.2020, In: Environmental Education Research. 26, 8, p. 1112-1136 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Teaching and Learning in Sustainability Science

    Barth, M., 2016, Sustainability Science : An Introduction . Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 325-333 9 p.

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