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

    Grassroots Innovations for Inclusive Development: Need for a Paradigmatic Shift

    Kumar, V., Chand, V. S., Zhang, L., Hoppers, C. A. O., Zhang, W., Esders, M. & Gupta, A. K., 01.07.2013, In: Vikalpa. 38, 3, p. 103-122 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Freundschaft und Peer-Beziehungen

    von Salisch, M. & Schäfer, M., 2013, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 62, 3, p. 169-170 2 p.

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

  3. Published

    Der Konflikt zwischen Klima- und Naturschutz bei der energetischen Verwendung von Waldrestholz

    Pietsch, L., 01.2013, In: Natur und Recht. 35, 1, p. 29-32 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Three steps to a solar system: From 1% to 40% and 100%

    Lehmann, H., 21.10.2013, Solar Power for the World: What You Wanted to Know about Photovoltaics. Palz, W. (ed.). Pan Stanford Publishing, p. 557-576 20 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Trace Metal Dynamics in Floodplain Soils of the River Elbe: A Review (vol 38, pg 1349): A review

    Schulz-Zunke, C. & Krueger, F., 03.2013, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 42, 2, p. 622-622 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Brominated flame retardants and dechloranes in eels from German Rivers

    Sühring, R., Möller, A., Freese, M., Pohlmann, J. D., Wolschke, H., Sturm, R., Xie, Z., Hanel, R. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.2013, In: Chemosphere. 90, 1, p. 118-124 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Does location really matter? An inter-colony comparison of seabirds breeding at varying distances from productive oceanographic features in the Bering Sea

    Harding, A., Paredes, R., Suryan, R., Roby, D., Irons, D., Orben, R., Renner, H., Young, R., Barger, C., Dorresteijn, I. & Kitaysky, A., 01.10.2013, In: Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 94, p. 178-191 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Correction: Bats in a farming landscape benefit from linear remnants and unimproved pastures

    Lentini, P. E., Gibbons, P., Fischer, J., Law, B., Hanspach, J. & Martin, T. G., 23.05.2013, In: PLoS ONE. 8, 5

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

  9. Published

    Fat or lean: adjustment of endogenous energy stores to predictable and unpredictable changes in allostatic load

    Schultner, J., Kitaysky, A. S., Welcker, J. & Hatch, S., 02.2013, In: Functional Ecology. 27, 1, p. 45-55 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Differential reproductive responses to stress reveal the role of life-history strategies within a species

    Schultner, J., Kitaysky, A. S., Gabrielsen, G. W., Hatch, S. A. & Bech, C., 22.11.2013, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 280, 1771, 10 p., 20132090.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review