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

    Handbuch Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation: Grundlagen und Praxis

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Godemann, J. (Editor), 2005, München: Oekom Verlag. 932 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    Handbuch Konstellationsanalyse: ein interdisziplinäres Brückenkonzept für die Nachhaltigkeits-, Technik- und Innovationsforschung

    Schön, S., Kruse, S., Meister, M., Nölting, B. & Ohlhorst, D., 2007, München: Oekom Verlag. 165 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Handbuch Biodiversitätsmanagement: ein Leitfaden für die betriebliche Praxis

    Schaltegger, S. & Beständig, U., 2010, Stand Juni 2010 ed. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit. 64 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  4. Published

    Handbook on Maritime Hybrid Threats — 10 Scenarios and Legal Scans

    Savolainen, J., Gill, T., Schatz, V. J., Ojala, L., Jakstas, T. & Kleemola-Juntunen, P., 22.11.2019, Helsinki: The European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats, 54 p. (Hybrid CoE Working Papers; vol. 5).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    Halboffene Weidelandschaft Höltigbaum: Perspektiven für den Erhalt und die naturverträgliche Nutzung von Offenlandlebensräumen ; Ergebnisse und Erfahrungen aus dem gleichnamigen Erprobungs- und Entwicklungsvorhaben (E+E) des Bundesamtes für Naturschutz

    Oheimb, G., Baumung, S., Eischeid, I., Finck, P., Grell, H., Härdtle, W., Mierwald, U., Ricken, U. & Sandkühler, J., 2006, Bonn: Bundesamt für Naturschutz. 280 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Halboffene Weidelandschaften in Deutschland: ein alternatives Konzept zu einer nachhaltigen Nutzung von Agrarlandschaften

    Härdtle, W., Mierwald, U., Behrends, T., Eischeid, I., Garniel, A., Grell, H., Haese, D., Schneider-Fenske, A. & Voigt, N., 2003, Grünlandmanagement nach Umsetzung der Agenda 2000 - Probleme und Perspektiven für Landwirtschaft und Naturschutz: Grassland management after translation of the Agenda 2000 into action - problems and perspectives for agriculture and nature conservation -. Büchs, W. (ed.). Berlin: Parey Verlag , p. 135-141 7 p. (Mitteilungen aus der Biologischen Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft; no. 393).

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

  7. Published

    Halboffene Verbundkorridore: Ökologische Funktion, Leitbilder und Praxis-Leitfaden

    Aßmann, T., Boutaud, E., Finck, P., Härdtle, W., Matthies, D., Nolte, D. I. I., von Oheimb, G., Riecken, U., Travers, E. & Ullrich, K., 2016, Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag. 296 p. (Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt; vol. 154)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published

    Hafenzugang für Kreuzfahrtschiffe in der COVID-19 Pandemie: Eine völkerrechtliche Perspektive

    Schatz, V. J., 2022, In: Zeitschrift für das Recht der Transportwirtschaft. 10, 9, p. 353-357

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Hafenplanung - eine Marktübersicht

    Brinkmann, B., 2009, HTG Kongress 2009: Lübeck, 09. - 12. September 2009, Musik- und Kongresshalle Lübeck. H. G. (ed.). Seehafen Verlag, p. 317-319 3 p.

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

  10. Published

    Habitat suitability models in conservation planning – a short introduction

    Dieker, P., Taboada Palomares, A. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, Jewels in the Mist: A synopsis on the highly endangered butterfly species the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle. Habel, J. C., Meyer, M. & Schmitt, T. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 57-65 9 p.

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