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. Published

    Aesthetic Expertise for Sustainable Development: Envisioning Artful Scientific Policy Advice

    Heinrichs, H., 10.02.2021, In: World. 2, 1, p. 92-104 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  2. Published

    A fast sequential injection analysis system for the simultaneous determination of ammonia and phosphate

    Frank, C., Schroeder, F., Ebinghaus, R. & Ruck, W., 04.2006, In: Microchimica acta. 154, 1-2, p. 31-38 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    A feminist ethos for caring knowledge production in transdisciplinary sustainability science

    Staffa, R. K., Riechers, M. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 1, p. 45-63 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A Fictional Risk Narrative and Its Potential for Social Resonance: Reception of Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior in Reviews and Reading Groups

    Fücker, S., Auguscik, A., Kirchhofer, A. & Schimank, U., 2021, Under the Literary Microscope: Science and Society in the Contemporary Novel . Farzin, S., Gaines, S. & Haynes, R. (eds.). University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, p. 218-248 31 p. 10. (AnthropoScene: The SLSA Book Series; vol. 7).

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

  5. Published

    A flexible semi-empirical model for estimating ammonia volatilization from field-applied slurry

    Hafner, S. D., Pacholski, A., Bittman, S., Carozzi, M., Chantigny, M., Génermont, S., Häni, C., Hansen, M. N., Huijsmans, J., Kupper, T., Misselbrook, T., Neftel, A., Nyord, T. & Sommer, S. G., 15.02.2019, In: Atmospheric Environment. 199, p. 474-484 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A focus group for operationalizing software sustainability with the MEASURE platform

    Condori-Fernandez, N., Bagnato, A. & Kern, E., 2018, In: CEUR Workshop Proceedings. 2286, p. 7-18 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A Framework and Typology of Ecopreneurship: Leading Bioneers and Environmental Managers to Ecopreneurship

    Schaltegger, S., 28.09.2005, Making Ecopreneurs: Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurship (Corporate Social Responsibility). Schaper, M. (ed.). Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited, p. 43-60 18 p.

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

  8. Published

    A Framework and Typology of Ecopreneurship: Leading Bioneers and Environmental Managers to Ecopreneurship

    Schaltegger, S., 2010, Making ecopreneurs: Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurship . Schaper, M. (ed.). 2 ed. Farnham ; Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing Limited, p. 75-94 20 p. (Corporate Social Responsibility Series).

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

  9. Published

    A framework for assessing social structure in community governance of sustainable urban drainage systems: insights from a literature review

    Muwafu, S. P., Rölfer, L., Scheffran, J. & Costa, M. M., 06.2024, In: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 29, 5, 19 p., 42.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    A framework for drivers fostering social-ecological restoration within forest landscape based on people’s participation. A systematic literature review

    Maniraho, L., Frietsch, M., Sieber, S. & Löhr, K., 01.12.2023, In: Discover Sustainability. 4, 13 p., 26.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch