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. 2017
  2. Published

    Sustainability Reporting at Schools: Challenges and Benefits

    Carbach, E. & Fischer, D., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 69-81 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Erfassung von Belastungs- und Burnout-Erleben parallel zu einem Screening psychischer Störungen im Internet: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, am Beispiel des „Stress-Monitors"

    Hillert, A., Bäcker, K., Weiß, S. & Lehr, D., 14.06.2017, In: ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR PSYCHOSOMATISCHE MEDIZIN UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE. 63, 1, p. 65-66 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  4. Published

    Das Wirken von Nachhaltigkeitsräten in Politik und Gesellschaft

    Sieveking, A., 12.06.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 2, p. 158-160 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  5. Published

    Dealing with Climate Change: A Conversation with Paul N. Edwards and Oliver Geden

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 175-185 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  6. Published

    Trading Zones of Climate Change: Introduction

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 111-119 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Addressing Complexity in Environmental Management and Governance

    Kirschke, S. & Newig, J., 07.06.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 6, 18 p., 983.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age

    Richter, D., Grün, R., Joannes-Boyau, R., Steele, T. E., Amani, F., Rué, M., Fernandes, P., Raynal, J. P., Geraads, D., Ben-Ncer, A., Hublin, J. J. & McPherron, S. P., 07.06.2017, In: Nature. 546, 7657, p. 293-296 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    An economic perspective on land use decisions in agricultural landscapes: Insights from the TEEB Germany Study

    Albert, C., Schröter-Schlaack, C., Hansjürgens, B., Dehnhardt, A., Döring, R., Job, H., Köppel, J., Krätzig, S., Matzdorf, B., Reutter, M., Schaltegger, S., Scholz, M., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Wiggering, H., Woltering, M. & von Haaren, C., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 69-78 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Biodiversity and food security: from trade-offs to synergies

    Cramer, W., Egea, E., Fischer, J., Lux, A., Salles, J. M., Settele, J. & Tichit, M., 01.06.2017, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1257-1259 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Driving factors for the regional implementation of renewable energy: - a multiple case study on the German energy transition

    Lutz, L. M., Fischer, L.-B., Newig, J. & Lang, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Energy Policy. 105, p. 136-147 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review