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. 2014
  2. Published

    A unique nest-protection strategy in a new species of spider wasp

    Staab, M., Ohl, M., Zhu, C.-D. & Klein, A.-M., 02.07.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 7, 8 p., e101592.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The Potential of IT for Corporate Sustainability

    Hack, S. & Berg, C., 02.07.2014, In: Sustainability. 6, 7, p. 4163-4180 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A systematic multi-step screening of numerous salt hydrates for low temperature thermochemical energy storage

    N'Tsoukpoe, K. E., Schmidt, T., Rammelberg, H. U., Watts, B. A. & Ruck, W. K. L., 01.07.2014, In: Applied Energy. 124, p. 1-16 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Emissions of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane from Chicago

    Buser, A. M., Bogdal, C., MacLeod, M. & Scheringer, M., 01.07.2014, In: Chemosphere. 107, p. 473-475 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Food packaging and migration of food contact materials: will epidemiologists rise to the neotoxic challenge?

    Muncke, J., Myers, J. P., Scheringer, M. & Porta, M., 01.07.2014, In: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 68, 7, p. 592-594 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Key Competencies for and beyond Sustainable Consumption: An Educational Contribution to the Debate

    Fischer, D. & Barth, M., 01.07.2014, In: GAIA. 23, S1, p. 193-200 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Delivering community benefits through REDD plus : Lessons from Joint Forest Management in Zambia

    Leventon, J., Kalaba, F. K., Dyer, J. C., Stringer, L. C. & Dougill, A. J., 07.2014, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 44, p. 10-17 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Determinants and interactions of sustainability and risk management of commercial cattle farmers in Namibia

    Ingenillem, J., Merz, J. & Baumgärtner, S., 07.2014, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 72 p. (University of Lüneburg Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 304).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Ecosystem services as a boundary object for sustainability

    Abson, D., von Wehrden, H., Baumgärtner, S., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Härdtle, W., Heinrichs, H., Klein, A.-M., Lang, D. J., Martens, P. & Walmsley, D., 07.2014, In: Ecological Economics. 103, 7, p. 29-37 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Experience from downscaling IPCC-SRES scenarios to specific national-level focus scenarios for ecosystem service management

    Walz, A., Braendle, J. M., Lang, D. J., Brand, F., Briner, S., Elkin, C., Hirschi, C., Huber, R., Lischke, H. & Schmatz, D. R., 07.2014, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 86, p. 21-32 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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Publications

  1. Netzwerke für durchgängige Sprachbildung 1
  2. Ein fächerübergreifendes Kategoriensystem zur Analyse und Konstruktion von Aufgaben
  3. Wandel von Staatlichkeit in den Gesundheitssystemen von OECD-Ländern
  4. Professionelle Lerngemeinschaften eng genug fassen
  5. Investitionsrechnung
  6. "Im Westen nichts Neues". Remarques Roman in Text und Bild
  7. Einleitung zur Sektionsveranstaltung: Brauchen wir einen qualitativen Kulturbegriff? Qualitätskriterien aus soziologischer Sicht
  8. Sprechgestik in Bildungsprozessen der Adoleszenz
  9. Zeit – Der Ausbruch Des Denkens / Zaman – Düşünmeinin Çıkış
  10. Konzeption und Entwurf einer Handelsplattform für Sekundärrohstoffe
  11. Allgemeine Befugnisse und allgemeine Vorschriften (§§ 14–20 BPolG)
  12. Jogos digitais interativos e aplicativos gamificados para a aprendizagem de línguas na era digital
  13. Geschlechtersozialisation in der frühen Kindheit
  14. Erstnachweis der Südlichen Mosaikjungfer Aeshna affinis VAN DER LINDEN 1823 für Schleswig-Holstein (Odonata)
  15. Datenkompetenzen in Kooperationen fördern
  16. Fortentwicklung der Überwachungstätigkeit deutscher Banken-Aufsichtsräte durch die Reformen zur Corporate Governance
  17. Die ostdeutsche Bürgerbewegung als Gegenelite
  18. Gott und Götter in den Weltreligionen
  19. Internationales Steuerrecht
  20. Position des Schutzguts Boden in Recht und Praxis der naturschutzrechtlichen Instrumente
  21. Rassismusforschung in Deutschland. Prekäre Geschichte, strukturelle Probleme, neue Herausforderungen
  22. Social loafing in the refugee crisis
  23. Schutz von Buchenwäldern in einem System von Naturwäldern
  24. Climate change and planning and consultation for the UK aviation white paper
  25. Permanente Temporarität - Brachflächennutzung als Potenzial für den öffentlichen Stadtraum
  26. Kompetenzerfassung als Voraussetzung für Organisations- und Personalentwicklung unter Beachtung verschiedener Menschenbilder
  27. Europäische Strategien zur Reduzierung von Hochwasserrisiko mithilfe eines nachhaltigen Auenmanagements
  28. Begleitforschung zum NRW-Förderprogramm Meistergründungsprämie für Existenzgründungen im nordrhein-westfälischen Handwerk