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

    The Manager’s Job at BP: Decision Making and Responsibilities on the High Seas

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Zvezdov, D., 2013, In: International Journal of Case Studies in Management. 11, 2, p. 1-32 32 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  2. Published

    Vzdělávání pro udržitelný rozvoj pro pedagogy v mateřských školách

    Stoltenberg, U., 2012, Školka blízká přírodě: Příručka předškolního vzdělávání pro udržitelný rozvoj. Asociace lesních mateřských škol. Vošahlíková, T. (ed.). Praha (Prag): Asociace lesních mateřských škol

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  3. Published

    Multivariate Optimization of Analytical Methodology and a First Attempt to an Environmental Risk Assessment of β-Blockers in Hospital Wastewater

    Wilde, M. L., Kümmerer, K. & Martins, A. F., 25.09.2012, In: Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society. 23, 9, p. 1732-1740 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Das Fettsäureprofil des initialen oralen Biofilms (Pellikel) - eine In-situ-Studie

    Reich, M., Hannig, C., Al-Ahmad, A. & Kümmerer, K., 04.2012, In: Deutsche Zahnärztliche Zeitschrift. 67, 4, p. D18 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Die Marktprämie im EEG 2012 - eine erste Zwischenbilanz

    Schomerus, T. & Henkel, A., 2012, In: Energierecht : ER Zeitschrift für die gesamte Energierechtspraxis. 1, 1, p. 13-21 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Modification of the umu-assay (ISO 13829) accounting for cytotoxicity in genotoxicity assessment: A preliminary study

    Toolaram, A. P., Gutiérrez, I. R. & Ahlf, W., 18.09.2012, In: Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. 747, 2, p. 190-196 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Sugars and amino acid composition in nectar of two plant species along a plant diversity gradient

    Venjakob, C., Leonhardt, D. S., Scherber, D. C. & Klein, P.A.-M., 10.09.2012, In: Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. 42, p. 54 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Welche Milch für unsere Küche? Kriterien für Konsumentscheidungen in der Kita

    Offen, S., 07.2012, In: Theorie und Praxis der Sozialpädagogik. 7, p. 37-39 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  9. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften/Umweltwissenschaften

    Hofmeister, S. & Thiem, A., 2012, Geschlechtergerechte Akkreditierung und Qualitätssicherung - eine Handreichung: Analysen, Handlungsempfehlungen und Gender Curricula. Meike, H., Kortendiek, B. & Knauf, A. (eds.). 3 ed. Essen: Netzwerk Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung NRW, Vol. 14. p. 210-215 6 p. (Studien; no. 14).

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

  10. Published

    Predator assemblage structure and temporal variability of species richness and abundance in forests of high tree diversity

    Schuldt, A., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 11.2012, In: Biotropica. 44, 6, p. 793-800 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review