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. 2018
  2. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Creating Environmental Solutions: Part 1

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Beckmann, M. (Editor) & Hockerts, K. (Editor), 2018, Olney: Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. 129 p. (International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing; vol. 10, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    Sustainable entrepreneurship: creating environmental solutions in light of planetary boundaries

    Schaltegger, S., Beckmann, M. & Hockerts, K., 2018, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 10, 1, p. 1-16 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. In preparation

    The Application of Extended Producer Responsibility in Germany

    Schomerus, C.-T., 2018, (In preparation) Japanese Environmental Law: With a Comparison to German Environmental Law. Japan: Springer VS

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

  5. Published

    The Democratic Capacity of Science Education Or: Is Inclusive Science Education the Contemporary Science Education?

    Abels, S. & Wellensiek, A., 2018, Bildung gewinnt! Annelie Wellensiek zum Gedenken. Hohenester-Pongratz, B. & Kollmann, F. (eds.). Heidelberg: Mattes Verlag, p. 173-184 12 p.

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

  6. Published
  7. Published

    Toward comparative institutional analysis of polycentric social-ecological systems governance

    Thiel, A. & Moser, C., 2018, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 28, 4, p. 269-283 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Transdisciplinarity in social-ecological research: Constraints, challenges and opportunities: Reflections on personal experience

    Hofmeister, S., 2018, Transdisciplinary Research and Sustainability: Collaboration, Innovation and Transformation. Padmanaban, M. (ed.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 66-82 17 p. ( Routledge Studies in Environment, Culture and Society).

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

  9. Published

    Unternehmerische Verantwortungsübernahme für gesellschaftlichen Nutzen: Business Case for Sustainability als Mittel nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Schaltegger, S., 2018, Gesellschaftliche Verantwortung von Unternehmen in Deutschland: Ein Kompendium zur Erschließung eines sich entwickelnden Themenfeldes. Backhaus-Maul, H., Kunze, M. & Nährlich, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer, p. 351-364 14 p.

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

  10. Published

    Von Geschlechterverhältnissen und Maispflanzen: Geschlecht als Struktur- und Prozesskategorie in der agrarpolitischen Konfliktfeldanalyse

    Friedrich, B., 2018, Zum Selbstverständnis der Gender-Studies II: Technik - Raum - Bildung. Onnen, C. & Rode-Breymann, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Berlin: Verlag Babara Budrich, Vol. 2. p. 101-118 18 p. (L'AGENda.; vol. 2).

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

  11. Published

    Wahnehmung und Anpassungsverhalten der Landwirte an Greening: Eine qualitative Studie in Südniedersachsen

    Schüler, S., Bienwald, L., Loos, J. & Lakner, S., 2018, In: Berichte über Landwirtschaft. Zeitschrift für Agrapolitik und Landwirtschaft. 96, 3, 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch