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. 2015
  2. Published

    Influence of rhizobacterial volatiles on the root system architecture and the production and allocation of biomass in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv

    Delaplace, P., Delory, B. M., Baudson, C., Mendaluk-Saunier de Cazenave, M., Spaepen, S., Varin, S., Brostaux, Y. & du Jardin, P., 12.08.2015, In: BMC Plant Biology. 15, 1, 15 p., 195.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Getting an empirical hold of the sustainable university: a comparative analysis of evaluation frameworks across 12 contemporary sustainability assessment tools

    Fischer, D., Jenssen, S. & Tappeser, V., 18.08.2015, In: Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 40, 6, p. 785-800 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Zurich, Switzerland: Atmospheric Concentrations and Emissions

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 18.08.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 16, p. 9778 - 9786 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Management Education for Sustainability: Deriving learning formats from competence requirements

    Hesselbarth, C., Buhr, M. & Schaltegger, S., 24.08.2015, Sustainability in Higher Education. Davim, J. P. (ed.). Waltham: Elsevier B.V., p. 21-49 29 p. (Chandos information professional series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Adaptation of the Brine Shrimp Artemia Salina (Branchiopoda: Anostraca) to Filter-Feeding: Effects of Body Size and Temperature on Filtration and Respiration Rates

    Riisgard, H. U., Zalacain, D., Jeune, N., Wiersma, J. B., Lueskow, F. & Pleissner, D., 09.2015, In: Journal of Crustacean Biology. 35, 5, p. 650-658 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Characteristics, emerging needs, and challenges of transdisciplinary sustainability science: experiences from the German Social-Ecological Research Program

    Ruppert-Winkel, C., Arlinghaus, R., Deppisch, S., Eisenack, K., Gottschlich, D., Hirschl, B., Matzdorf, B., Mölders, T., Padmanabhan, M., Selbmann, K., Ziegler, R. & Plieninger, T., 09.2015, In: Ecology and Society. 20, 3, 17 p., 13.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Duldungsverfügungen im Bodenschutz- und Altlastenrecht, insbesondere bei der Altlastenerkundung und-sanierung

    Sanden, J., 09.2015, In: Natur und Recht. 37, 9, p. 606-614 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Estimation of risk measures on electricity markets with fat-tailed distributions

    Fianu, E. S. & Grossi, L., 09.2015, In: Journal of Energy Markets. 8, 3, p. 29-54 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Impacts of drought and nitrogen addition on Calluna heathlands differ with plant life-history stage

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 09.2015, In: Journal of Ecology. 103, 5, p. 1141-1152 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Inside-Out and Outside-In: Twins between Sustainability Strategy, Performance Management, Reporting and Stakeholder Involvement

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 09.2015, BAM2015 Conference Proceedings: The Value of Pluralism in Advancing Management Research, Education and Practice. British Academy of Management, 8 p.

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