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. 2011
  2. Published

    Gender mainstreaming and participative planning for sustainable land management

    Evers, M. & Hofmeister, S., 12.2011, In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 54, 10, p. 1315-1329 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Genetic erosion in habitat specialist shows need to protect large peat bogs

    Drees, C., Zumstein, P., Buck-Dobrick, T., Härdtle, W., Matern, A., Meyer, H., Oheimb, G. & Aßmann, T., 12.2011, In: Conservation Genetics. 12, 6, p. 1651-1656 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Scenarios for the Implementation of EU Waste Legislation at National Level and their Consequences for Emissions from Municipal Waste Incineration

    Saner, D., Blumer, Y. B., Lang, D. & Koehler, A., 12.2011, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 57, p. 67-77 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Two high-mountain burnet moth species (Lepidoptera, Zygaenidae) react differently to the global change drivers climate and land-use

    Dieker, P., Drees, C. & Aßmann, T., 12.2011, In: Biological Conservation. 144, 12, p. 2810–2818 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Conservation: Limits of land sparing

    Fischer, J., Batáry, P., Bawa, K. S., Brussaard, L., Chappell, M. J., Clough, Y., Daily, G. C., Dorrough, J., Hartel, T., Jackson, L. E., Klein, A. M., Kremen, C., Kuemmerle, T., Lindenmayer, D. B., Mooney, H. A., Perfecto, I., Philpott, S. M., Tscharntke, T., Vandermeer, J., Wanger, T. C. & von Wehrden, H., 04.11.2011, In: Science. 334, 6056, p. 593-594 1 p.

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

  7. Published

    Utilities’ Business Models for Renewable Energy: Evidence from Germany

    Richter, M., 03.11.2011, Conference Proceedings of the World Renewable Energy Congress 2011: Policy Issues. Moshfegh, B. (ed.). Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, Vol. 10. p. 2385-2392 8 p. (Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings).

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

  8. Published

    A Glance at the World

    Sasu, S., Metzger, J., Kranert, M. & Kümmerer, K., 11.2011, In: Waste Management. 31, 11, p. 2361-2364 4 p.

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

  9. Published

    A new approach to data evaluation in the non-target screening of organic trace substances in water analysis

    Müller, A., Ruck, W., Weber, W. H. & Schulz, W., 11.2011, In: Chemosphere. 85, 8, p. 1211–1219 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Energie als Schlüsselthema einer Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Ergebnisse aus der Evaluation und Konsequenzen für die pädagogische Praxis in der Diskussion

    Benoist, B., Moths, K. & Kosler, T., 11.2011, Hier spielt die Zukunft : Kinder. Werte. Klimaschutz: Dokumentation zur Fachtagung vom 02.12. - 03.12.2010/Potsdam. Müller, A. (ed.). Leuchtpol, p. 57 -59 3 p. (Schriftenreihe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Natur- und Umweltbildung Bundesverand e.V.; no. 19)(Leuchtpol Bibliothek Sonderedition; no. 4).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  11. Published

    Habitat invasion risk assessment based on Landsat 5 data, exemplified by the shrub Rosa rubiginosa in southern Argentina

    Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Damascos, M., Bran, D., Welk, E., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 11.2011, In: Austral Ecology. 36, 7, p. 870-880 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review