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

    Oberirdisches und unterirdisches Einzugsgebiet - Bedeutung für den Wasserhaushalt

    Wittenberg, H., Matz, R. & Rhode, C., 2003, Klima - Wasser - Flussgebietsmanagement - im Lichte der Flut: Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 20./21. März 2003 in Freiburg i.Br.. Kleeberg, H.-B. (ed.). Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, Vol. 1. p. 29-32 4 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung; vol. 4).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    Nutzung von Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement-Software in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen

    Johnson, M., 2016, Bewertung unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit: Modelle und Methoden zur Selbstbewertung. Grothe, A. (ed.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 139-155 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Nutzung und Einfluss von Bildschirmspielen bei Kindern

    von Salisch, M., 2011, Generation digital: Neue Medien in der Erziehungsberatung. B. E. (ed.). Benedict Press, p. 65-81 17 p. (Materialien zur Beratung ; vol. 19).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  4. Published

    Nutzungskonflikte zwischen Freizeitnutzern

    Kleiber, O. & Bilecen, E., 2003, Freizeitaktivitäten im Baselbieter Wald: Ökologische Auswirkungen und ökonomische Folgen. Baur, B. (ed.). Liestal: Verlag des Kantons Basel-Landschaft, p. 129-133 5 p. (Quellen und Forschungen zur Geschichte und Landeskunde des Kantons Basel-Landschaft; vol. 84).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Nutzungsbeschränkungen zugunsten der Umwelt und eigentumsrechtlich gebotener Ausgleich

    Sellmann, C., 2002, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. 315 p. (Umweltrecht und Umweltpolitik; vol. 9)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Nutzungsansprüche an das Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische Elbtalaue

    Koppe, B., Krüger, F. & Urban, B., 2007, HTG-Kongress 2007. H. G. (ed.). Seehafen Verlag, p. 265-274 10 p.

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

  7. Published

    Nützlinge als Bioindikatoren für die ökologischen Auswirkungen des Pflanzenschutzes in Feldstudien—Methoden und die Probleme bei der Interpretation der Daten

    Freier, B., Volkmar, C., Kreuter, T., Triltsch, H., Stark, A. & Förster, R., 01.02.1999, In: Journal of Pest Science. 72, 1, p. 5-11 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Nutrition-induced changes in the microbiota can cause dysbiosis and disease development

    Lachnit, T., Ulrich, L., Willmer, F. M., Hasenbein, T., Steiner, L. X., Wolters, M., Herbst, E. M. & Deines, P., 04.2025, In: mBio. 16, 4, 18 p., e03843-24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Nutrients addition regulates temperature sensitivity of maize straw mineralization

    Auwal, M., Singh, B. P., Chen, Z., Kumar, A., Pan, S., Luo, Y. & Xu, J., 01.08.2021, In: Journal of Soils and Sediments. 21, 8, p. 2778-2790 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Nutrient leaching in dry heathland ecosystems: effects of atmospheric deposition and management

    Haerdtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Niemeyer, M., Niemeyer, T., Aßmann, T. & Meyer, H., 01.11.2007, In: Biogeochemistry. 86, 2, p. 201-215 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review