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

    Insights into adoption of farming practices through multiple lenses: an innovation systems approach

    Clarke, E., Jackson, T., Keoka, K., Phimphachanvongsod, V., Sengxua, P., Simali, P. & Wade, L., 17.11.2018, In: Development in Practice: stimulating thought for action. 28, 8, p. 983-998 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Insights into Jatropha Projects Worldwide: Key Facts & Figures from a Global Survey

    Wahl, N., Hildebrandt, T., Moser, C., Lüdeke-Freund, F., Averdunk, K., Bailis, R., Barua, K. K., Burritt, R., Groeneveld, J. H., Klein, A.-M., Kügemann, M., Walmsley, D., Zelt, T. & Schaltegger, S., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 60 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Insights into PBDE Uptake, Body Burden, and Elimination Gained from Australian Age-Concentration Trends Observed Shortly after Peak Exposure

    Gyalpo, T., Toms, L.-M., Mueller, J. F., Harden, F. A., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 10.2015, In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 123, 10, p. 978 - 984 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    In silico toxicology protocols

    Myatt, G. J., Ahlberg, E., Akahori, Y., Allen, D., Amberg, A., Anger, L. T., Aptula, A., Auerbach, S., Beilke, L., Bellion, P., Benigni, R., Bercu, J., Booth, E. D., Bower, D., Brigo, A., Burden, N., Cammerer, Z., Cronin, M. T. D., Cross, K. P., Custer, L., Dettwiler, M., Dobo, K., Ford, K. A., Fortin, M. C., Gad-McDonald, S. E., Gellatly, N., Gervais, V., Glover, K. P., Glowienke, S., Van Gompel, J., Gutsell, S., Hardy, B., Harvey, J. S., Hillegass, J., Honma, M., Hsieh, J. H., Hsu, C. W., Hughes, K., Johnson, C., Jolly, R., Jones, D., Kemper, R., Kenyon, M. O., Kim, M. T., Kruhlak, N. L., Kulkarni, S. A., Kümmerer, K., Leavitt, P., Majer, B., Masten, S., Miller, S., Moser, J., Mumtaz, M., Muster, W., Neilson, L., Oprea, T. I., Patlewicz, G., Paulino, A., Lo Piparo, E., Powley, M., Quigley, D. P., Reddy, M. V., Richarz, A. N., Ruiz, P., Schilter, B., Serafimova, R., Simpson, W., Stavitskaya, L., Stidl, R., Suarez-Rodriguez, D., Szabo, D. T., Teasdale, A., Trejo-Martin, A., Valentin, J. P., Vuorinen, A., Wall, B. A., Watts, P., White, A. T., Wichard, J., Witt, K. L., Woolley, A., Woolley, D., Zwickl, C. & Hasselgren, C., 01.07.2018, In: Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP. 96, p. 1-17 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    In situ air-water and particle-water partitioning of perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorosulfonic acids and perfluorooctyl sulfonamide at a wastewater treatment plant

    Vierke, L., Ahrens, L., Shoeib, M., Palm, W.-U., Webster, E. M., Ellis, D. A., Ebinghaus, R. & Harner, T., 08.2013, In: Chemosphere. 92, 8, p. 941-948 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Inspektion der Stahlbetonteile einer Seeschleuse: Untersuchungsbericht mit Folgerungen für ähnliche Bauwerke

    Quitmann, H.-D., 2002, Hüttensandhaltiger Zement: Verkehrsbau - Wasserbau - Kanalisation. Rendchen, K. (ed.). Düsseldorf: Verlag Bau + Technik, p. 134-142 9 p.

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

  7. Published

    Institutional arrangements and sustainable maintenance management of community-based mini-grids in Tanzania

    Ngoti, I. F., 01.09.2024, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 115, 10 p., 103632.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Institutional entrepreneurship for responsible digital innovation: The case of corporate digital responsibility

    Trittin-Ulbrich, H. & Böckel, A., 01.09.2022, In: Creativity and Innovation Management. 31, 3, p. 447-459 13 p., 3.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Institutional Proxy Representatives of Future Generations: A Comparative Analysis of Types and Design Features

    Rose, M., 08.03.2024, In: Politics and Governance. 12, p. 1-21 21 p., 7745.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Institutional rearrangements in the north Luangwa ecosystem: Implications of a shift to community based natural resource management for equity in protected area governance

    Kachali, R. N., Dawson, N. M. & Loos, J., 15.07.2024, In: Heliyon. 10, 13, 12 p., e33549.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review