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. 2021
  2. Published

    Biochar decreased rhizodeposits stabilization via opposite effects on bacteria and fungi: diminished fungi-promoted aggregation and enhanced bacterial mineralization

    Chen, Z., Kumar, A., Fu, Y., Singh, B. P., Ge, T., Tu, H., Luo, Y. & Xu, J., 05.2021, In: Biology and Fertility of Soils. 57, 4, p. 533-546 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Inner transformation to sustainability as a deep leverage point: fostering new avenues for change through dialogue and reflection

    Woiwode, C., Schäpke, N., Bina, O., Veciana, S., Kunze, I., Parodi, O., Schweizer-Ries, P. & Wamsler, C., 05.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 3, p. 841-858 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Leverage points for sustainability transformations: nine guiding questions for sustainability science and practice

    Leventon, J., Abson, D. J. & Lang, D. J., 05.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 3, p. 721-726 6 p.

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

  5. Published

    Circular Business Models: OVercoming Barriers, Unleashing Potentials

    Schomerus, T., Hansen, E. G., Ahle, U., Alcayaga, A., Blomsma, F., Büchle, D., Denker, A.-K., Fichter, K., Fiolka, K., Fröhling, M., Häge, A., Hoffmann, V., Jaeger-Erben, M., Kohl, H., Lüdeke-Freund, F., Nitz, T., Schiller, C., Tauer, R., Tischner, C., Vollkommer, D., Wilhelm, D. & Zefferer, H., 29.04.2021, München: acatech - Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften e.V., 150 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsTransfer

  6. Published

    Effects of local neighbourhood diversity on crown structure and productivity of individual trees in mature mixed-species forests

    Georgi, L., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A., Reich, K. F., Bienert, A., Maas, H.-G. & von Oheimb, G., 26.04.2021, In: Forest Ecosystems. 8, 1, 12 p., 26.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Key advantages of the leverage points perspective to shape human-nature relations

    Riechers, M., Loos, J., Balázsi, Á., García-Llorente, M., Bieling, C., Burgos-Ayala, A., Chakroun, L., Mattijssen, T. J. M., Muhr, M. M., Pérez-Ramírez, I., Raatikainen, K. J., Rana, S., Richardson, M., Rosengren, L. & West, S., 25.04.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 205-214 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A review of fire effects across South American ecosystems: the role of climate and time since fire

    Giorgis, M. A., Zeballos, S. R., Carbone, L., Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Aguilar, R., Ferreras, A. E., Tecco, P. A., Kowaljow, E., Barri, F., Gurvich, D. E., Villagra, P. & Jaureguiberry, P., 23.04.2021, In: Fire Ecology. 17, 1, 20 p., 11.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Sustainability in Higher Education

    Barth, M., 21.04.2021, Oxford Bibliographies in "Education". Hynds, A. & Meyer, L. (eds.). Oxford University Press, (Oxford Bibliographies in "Education").

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  10. Published

    Hybrid life cycle assessment of an onshore wind farm including direct and indirect services: A case study in Guajira, Colombia

    Vélez-Henao, J. A. & Vivanco, D. F., 15.04.2021, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 284, 112058.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

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Publications

  1. Sven Dupre (ed.), Perspective as Practice. Renaissance Cultures of Optics. Turnhout, Belgium: Brepols, 2019, 512 p. ISBN 978-2-503-58107-1
  2. Auswirkungen illegaler Altfahrzeugverwertung
  3. Rechtsphilosophie nach Hegel
  4. Stand und Perspektiven des Wirtschaftsrechtsstudiums an Fachhochschulen
  5. Einleitung: Nachhaltige Gesellschaft – Gestaltung durch Partizipation und Kooperation?
  6. Beziehungsstrukturen und Schulentwicklung
  7. Pierre Bourdieu: Soziologische Herrschaftsanalyse des Rechts
  8. Medialisierung der Wissenschaft als Voraussetzung ihrer Legitimierung und politischen Relevanz
  9. Rechtsangleichung zwischen Gemeinschafts- und Unionsrecht – die Richtlinie über die Vorratsdatenspeicherung vor dem EuGH
  10. Legal Aspects of Electricity Tariff Fixation in Germany
  11. Röntgenkontrastmittel, Quelle für die AOX-Belastung des Abwassers durch Krankenhäuser
  12. International reports on literacy research
  13. The Role of Corporate Sustainability in a Low-Cost Business Model
  14. Regulierung der europäischen Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung
  15. Desiderata zur Erforschung des Einflusses von Kohäsion auf das Leseverständnis
  16. Empathic Healthcare Chatbots
  17. Responsabilidade Internacional Dos Estados: duas décadas após os trabalhos da Comissão de Direito Internacional
  18. Grundlagen des Umweltmanagements
  19. 12 Fragen an Gerd Michelsen
  20. Sustainability communication
  21. ROYAL-COMMISSION-ON-ANCIENT-AND-HISTORICAL-MONUMENTS-IN-WALES, GLAMORGAN INVENTORY, VOL 3 PT 1A, THE EARLY CASTLES, FROM THE NORMAN-CONQUEST TO 1217
  22. Gaspreiskontrolle im Vertragsrecht ?
  23. L'arte contemporanea è in armonia con le sue istituzioni?
  24. Können Mädchen doch rechnen ?
  25. The Legitimation of International Organizations
  26. Das Stufenmodell zur Lesekompetenz der länderübergreifenden Bildungsstandards im Vergleich zu IGLU 2006