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. 2016
  2. Published

    Willkommen im Anthropozän

    Niebert, K., 01.04.2016, In: Biologie in Unserer Zeit. 46, 2, p. 75 1 p.

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

  3. Published

    Aquatic Exposure Predictions of Insecticide Field Concentrations Using a Multimedia Mass-Balance Model

    Knäbel, A., Scheringer, M., Stehle, S. & Schulz, R., 05.04.2016, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 7, p. 3721-3728 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Business model experimentation for sustainability

    Bocken, N. M. P., Weissbrod, I. & Tennant, M., 06.04.2016, Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016. Setchi, R., Howlett, R., Liu, Y. & Theobald, P. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 297-306 10 p. (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; vol. 52).

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

  5. Published

    Water quantity and quality in the Zerafshan River basin: Only an upstream riparian problem?

    Olsson, O., Wegerich, K. & Kabilov, F., 08.04.2016, Water and Security in Central Asia: Solving a Rubik's Cube. Stucki, V., Wegerich, K., Rahaman, M. M. & Varis, O. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 99-111 13 p.

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

  6. Published

    Incremental contribution of pollination and other ecosystem services to agricultural productivity: Effects of service quantity and quality

    Garibaldi, L. A., Aizen, M. A., Cunningham, S. A., Harder, L. D. & Klein, A. M., 14.04.2016, Pollination Services to Agriculture : Sustaining and Enhancing a Key Ecosystem Service. Gemmill-Herren, B. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 33-42 10 p.

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

  7. Published

    Systematic student-driven literature reviews in sustainability science: An effective way to merge research and teaching

    Abson, D. J., Gralla, F., Lang, D. J., Rau, A. L., von Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C. & Meyer, M., 15.04.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 119, p. 229-235 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    What determines PCB concentrations in soils in rural and urban areas? Insights from a multi-media fate model for Switzerland as a case study

    Glüge, J., Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 15.04.2016, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 550, p. 1152-1162 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Transforming European Water Governance? Participation and River Basin Management under the EU Water Framework Directive in 13 Member States

    Jager, N. W., Challies, E., Kochskämper, E., Newig, J., Benson, D., Blackstock, K., Collins, K., Ernst, A., Evers, M., Feichtinger, J., Fritsch, O., Gooch, G., Grund, W., Hedelin, B., Hernández-Mora, N., Frank, H., Huitema, D., Irvine, K., Klinke, A., Lange, L., Loupsans, D., Lubell, M., Maganda, C., Matczak, P., Parés, M., Saarikoski, H., Slavíková, L., van der Arend, S. & von Korff, Y., 19.04.2016, In: Water. 8, 4, 22 p., 156.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Unfamiliar fuel: How the UK public views the infrastructure required to supply hydrogen for road transport

    Bellaby, P., Upham, P., Flynn, R. & Ricci, M., 27.04.2016, In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 41, 15, p. 6534-6543 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Direct negative density-dependence in a pond-breeding frog population

    Băncilă, R. I., Ozgul, A., Hartel, T., Sos, T. & Schmidt, B. R., 05.2016, In: Ecography. 39, 5, p. 449-455 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review