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

    In Alain Gibb's footsteps: Evaluating alternative approaches to sustainable enterprise education (SEE)

    Klapper, R. G. & Farber, V. A., 01.11.2016, In: International Journal of Management Education. 14, 3, p. 422-439 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Lab-scale experiment of a closed thermochemical heat storage system including honeycomb heat exchanger

    Fopah-Lele, A., Rohde, C., Neumann, K., Tietjen, T., Rönnebeck, T., N'Tsoukpoe, K. E., Osterland, T., Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 01.11.2016, In: Energy. 114, p. 225-238 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Molecular analyses and species distribution models indicate cryptic northern mountain refugia for a forestdwelling ground beetle

    Drees, C., Husemann, M., Homburg, K., Brandt, P., Dieker, P., Habel, J. C., von Wehrden, H., Zumstein, P. & Assmann, T., 01.11.2016, In: Journal of Biogeography. 43, 11, p. 2223-2236 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Seasonal accumulation of persistent organic pollutants on a high altitude glacier in the Eastern Alps

    Kirchgeorg, T., Dreyer, A., Gabrielli, P., Gabrieli, J., Thompson, L. G., Barbante, C. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.11.2016, In: Environmental Pollution. 218, p. 804-812 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Tentative Theses on Transformative Research in Real-World Laboratories: First Insights from the Accompanying Research ForReal

    Schäpke, N., Stelzer, F., Bergmann, M. & Lang, D. J., 01.11.2016, In: Technikfolgenabschätzung. 25, 3, p. 45-51 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Integrating corporate sustainability assessment, management accounting, control, and reporting

    Maas, K., Schaltegger, S. & Crutzen, N., 10.11.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 136, Part A, p. 237-248 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Journal of Cleaner Production. Special Volume: The Integration of Corporate Sustainability Assessment, Management Accounting, Control, and Reporting

    Maas, K. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Crutzen, N. (Editor), 10.11.2016, Elsevier B.V. 249 p. (Journal of Cleaner Production; vol. 136 , no. Part A)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  9. Published

    Reprint of Advancing the integration of corporate sustainability measurement, management and reporting

    Maas, K., Schaltegger, S. & Crutzen, N., 10.11.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 136, Part A, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Five primary sources of organic aerosols in the urban atmosphere of Belgrade (Serbia)

    Zangrando, R., Barbaro, E., Kirchgeorg, T., Vecchiato, M., Scalabrin, E., Radaelli, M., Đorđević, D., Barbante, C. & Gambaro, A., 15.11.2016, In: Science of the Total Environment. 571, p. 1441-1453 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Growth and water use of Populus euphratica trees and stands with different water supply along the Tarim River, NW China

    Lang, P., Ahlborn, J., Schäfer, P., Wommelsdorf, T., Jeschke, M., Zhang, X. & Thomas, F. M., 15.11.2016, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 380, p. 139-148 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review