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

    Bush encroachment control and risk management in semi-arid rangelands

    Lukomska, N., Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.12.2014, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 145, p. 24-34 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Conserving the World's Finest Grassland Amidst Ambitious National Development

    Batsaikhan, N., Buuveibaatar, B., Chimed, B., Enkhtuya, O., Galbrakh, D., Ganbaatar, O., Lkhagvasuren, B., Nandintsetseg, D., Berger, J., Calabrese, J. M., Edwards, A. E., Fagan, W. F., Fuller, T. K., Heiner, M., Ito, T. Y., Kaczensky, P., Leimgruber, P., Lushchekina, A., Milner-Gulland, E. J., Mueller, T., Murray, M. G., Olson, K. A., Reading, R., Schaller, G. B., Stubbe, A., Stubbe, M., Walzer, C., Von Wehrden, H. & Whitten, T., 01.12.2014, In: Conservation Biology. 28, 6, p. 1736-1739 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Practical critique: Bridging the gap between critical and practice oriented REDD+ research communities’

    McGregor, A., Weaver, S., Challies, E., Howson, P., Astuti, R. & Haalboom, B., 01.12.2014, In: Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 55, 3, p. 277-291 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Does forest continuity enhance the resilience of trees to environmental change?

    Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Eckstein, D., Engelke, H.-H., Hehnke, T., Wagner, B. & Fichtner, A., 10.12.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 12, 18 p., 0113507.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Lebensweltgestaltung junger Frauen mit türkischem Migrationshintergrund in der dritten Generation : "Mama, erzähl mir neue Sachen, deine sind schon veraltet"

    Bülbül-Emanet, S., 18.12.2014, Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 199 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  8. Published

    Applying Stakeholder Theory in Sustainability Management: Links, Similarities, Dissimilarities, and a Conceptual Framework

    Hörisch, J., Freeman, R. E. & Schaltegger, S., 19.12.2014, In: Organization & Environment. 27, 4, p. 328-346 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Dynamik der Energiewende erhalten und erweitern

    Schomerus, T., Hansen, E. G. & Lechtenböhmer, S., 19.12.2014, In: GAIA. 23, 4, p. 353-355 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    An EU law perspective on the role of regional authorities in the field of renewable energy

    Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom-up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 10-32 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  11. Published

    Legal aspects of local engagement: Land planning and citizens‘ financial participation in wind energy projects

    Maly, C., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom Up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 210-231 22 p. (New horizons in environmental and energy law).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review