School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- 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 contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Habitat fragmentation and landscape change: An ecological and conservation synthesis
Lindenmayer, D. & Fischer, J., 2006, Washington DC: Island Press. 346 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research
- Published
Habitat diversity and peat moss cover drive the occurrence probability of the threatened ground beetle Carabus menetriesi (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a Bavarian mire
Harry, I., Assmann, T., Dormann, C. F. & Skarbek, C. J., 01.12.2022, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 26, 6, p. 863-871 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Habitat continuity matters: Ancient woodlands tend to have higher biomass and catching rate of dung beetles, mainly driven by one large species
Hülsmann, M., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Frank, K., Schuldt, A. & Assmann, T., 01.01.2020, In: Acta Oecologica. 102, 7 p., 103501.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Gutes Leben vor Ort
Heinrichs, H. (Editor), Kirst, E. (Editor) & Plawitzki, J. (Editor), 09.01.2017, Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag. 253 p. (Initiativen zum Umweltschutz; vol. 90)Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research
- Published
Gütermarktorientiertes Umweltmanagement
Petersen, H. & Schaltegger, S., 2000, Wirtschaftswissenschaften. Schaltegger, S. (ed.). Berlin: Springer Verlag, p. 169-196 28 p. (Studium der Umweltwissenschaften; vol. 4493).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
"Gute Kinder schlechter Eltern": Familienleben, Jugendfürsorge und Sorgerechtsentzug in Hamburg, 1884 - 1914
Richter, J., 2011, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 666 p. (VS Research)Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research
- Published
Gute Betreuung, faire Bewertungen und angemessene Arbeitsbedingungen ermoglichen exzellente Promotionen in der Psychologie: Kommentar der Jungmitgliedervertretung der DGPs zum Positionspapier
Sperl, M. F. J., Attig, C., Baumgartner, L., Behlau, C., Bergmann, B., Bienefeld, M., Biller, A. M., Brandt, N. D., Buhler, J. L., Frauhammer, L. T., Frick, S., Friehs, M. T., Frischen, U., Handke, L., Hartmann, H., Hosterey, S., Hutmacher, F., Iffland, J. A., Irmer, J. P., Kause, A., Kern, M., Koller, J. E., Mischkowski, D., Musculus, L., Neef, N. E., Neuendorf, C., Nishen, A. K., Possler, D., Ritter, R., Rohr, M., Schmidt, V., Schwartz, B., Sensoy, O., Szota, K., Voormann, A. & Wendt, A. N., 01.07.2025, In: Psychologische Rundschau. 76, 3, p. 196-199 4 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Günter Altner - großer Kopf und freier Geist
Michelsen, G., 2014, Vordenker und Vorreiter der Ökobewegung: 40 ausgewählte Porträts. Simonis, U. E. (ed.). 1. ed. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 84-87 4 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Transfer › peer-review
- Published
Günter Altner - großer Kopf, freier Geist
Michelsen, G., 2013, Mut zu Visionen: Brücken in die Zukunft. Leitschuh, H., Michelsen, G., Simonis, U. E., Sommer, J. & von Weizsäcker, E. U. (eds.). Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 221-224 4 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2014).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Transfer › peer-review