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

    Nachhaltigkeitstrends im Management

    Schaltegger, S., 2014, Corporate Resposibility 2014: Unternehmen und Verantwortung- Trends in Corporate Responsibility. A. V. &. S. G. & F.-I. F.M.-,.M. U. M. G. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: F.A.Z.-Institut für Management-, Markt- und Medieninformationen , p. 28-31 4 p.

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

  3. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitszertifizierung von Biokraftstoffen in der EU

    Wreesmann, J. & Moser, C., 2014, Biokraftstoffe und Biokraftstoffprojekte: Rechtliche, technische und wirtschaftliche Aspekte. Böttcher, J., Hampl, N., Kügemann, M. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (eds.). Berlin & Heidelberg: Gabler Verlag, p. 213-247 35 p.

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

  4. Published

    Naturschutz in der Kulturlandschaft 2050 - Interaktion von Natur, Klima und Mensch

    Schoenberg, W., Fiencke, C., Jensen, K., Ludewig, K., Schmidt, S., Vanselow-Algan, M., Härdtle, W., Krüger, F., Meyer-Grünefeld, M., Rottgardt, E. M., Runge, K., Urban, B., Keienburg, T., Prüter, J., Schreck, C. & Reusch, H., 2014, Kursbuch Klimaanpassung: Handlungsoptionen für die Metropolregion Hamburg. K.-N. V. (ed.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 70-73 4 p.

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

  5. Published

    Normative Innovation for Sustainable Business Models in Value Networks

    Breuer, H. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2014, The Proceedings of XXV ISPIM Conference : Innovation for Sustainable Economy and Society. Huizingh, K., Conn, S., Torkkeli, M. & Bitran, I. (eds.). Lappeenranta University of Technology Press, 17 p.

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

  6. Published

    Nur weniger und besser ist nachhaltig: Nachhaltige Infrastrukturen für ein zukunftsfähiges Deutschland

    Niebert, K., 2014, In: Rundbrief Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung. 2014, 1, p. 2-3 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  7. Published

    Öffentliche Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung: Das Leitbild Nachhaltigkeit – Anforderungen an die Raum- und Umweltplanung

    Hofmeister, S., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum, p. 304-316 13 p.

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

  8. Published

    Öffentliche Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung: Ökonomik und Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung

    Baumgärtner, S., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften . Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 261-279 19 p.

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

  9. Published

    Öffentliche Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung

    Baumgärtner, S., Heinrichs, H., Hofmeister, S. & Schomerus, T., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin u.a.: Springer Spektrum, p. 261-321 60 p.

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

  10. Published

    Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung und EU Hochwasserrisikomanagement-Richtlinie

    Newig, J., Challies, E., Jager, N. W. & Kochskämper, E., 2014, In: Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung. 58, 6, p. 339-340 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  11. Published

    Ökonomische Analyse der Trade-Offs zwischen Gerechtigkeiten

    Baumgärtner, S., Sievers-Glotzbach, S., Hoberg, N., Quaas, M. F. & Stumpf, K. H., 2014, In: Journal für Generationengerechtigkeit. 14, 1, p. 10-18 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review