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

    Weitergehende Prozessbewertung mittels Non-Target-Screening bei der Landeswasserversorgung

    Bader, T., Schulz, W., Lucke, T., Winzenbacher, R. & Kümmerer, K., 2018, In: GWF, Wasser - Abwasser. 159, 2, p. 66-69 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Internetbasierte Resilienzförderung und Prävention psychischer Erkrankungen

    Lehr, D., Kunzler, A., Helmreich, I., Behrendt, D., Chmitorz, A. & Lieb, K., 01.07.2018, In: Der Nervenarzt. 89, 7, p. 766-772 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    A high-resolution approach for the spatiotemporal analysis of forest canopy space using terrestrial laser scanning data

    Hess, C., Härdtle, W., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A. & von Oheimb, G., 07.2018, In: Ecology and Evolution. 8, 13, p. 6800-6811 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Does sustainable intensification offer a pathway to improved food security for aquatic agricultural system-dependent communities?

    Attwood, S. J., Park, S., Loos, J., Philipps, M., Mills, D. & McDougall, C., 17.02.2017, Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture: An integrated systems research approach. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 71-87 17 p. (Earthscan food and agriculture series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Rethinking biodiversity governance in European agricultural landscapes: Acceptability of alternative governance scenarios

    Velten, S., Schaal, T., Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Hanspach, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 09.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 77, p. 84-93 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Advancing science on the multiple connections between biodiversity, ecosystems and people

    van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Martín-López, B., Schröter, M. & de Groot, R., 01.01.2018, In: International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management. 14, 1, p. 127-131 5 p.

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

  7. Published

    Functional diversity and trait composition of butterfly and bird communities in Farmlands of Central Romania

    Hanspach, J., Loos, J., Dorresteijn, I., Wehrden, H., Moga, C. I. & David, A., 01.12.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 10, p. 1-8 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Socioecological drivers facilitating biodiversity conservation in traditional farming landscapes

    Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 20.11.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 9, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. 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

  10. Published

    Editorial overview: Green and sustainable chemistry conference 2017

    Liu, Z. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2018, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, Special Issue: 2, 2018, p. A1-A2 2 p.

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