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

    International Corporate Sustainability Barometer: Introduction and Structure

    Harms, D., Hörisch, J., Schaltegger, S. & Windolph, S. E., 2014, Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges. Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E., Harms, D. & Hörisch, J. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 3-12 10 p. (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science; vol. 31).

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

  2. Published
  3. Published

    Internationaler Masterstudiengang 'Sustainable Development and Management': Band 2: Einführung in nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 129 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Internationaler Masterstudiengang 'Sustainable Development and Management': Band 1: Handbuch für den Masterstudiengang

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 312 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

    Schrickel, I., 06.2018, Den Kalten Krieg vermessen: Über Reichweite und Alternativen einer binären Ordnungsvorstellung. Reichherzer, F., Droit, E. & Hansen, J. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg , p. 199-214 16 p.

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

  6. Published

    International Master's Programme in sustainable development and management

    Michelsen, G. & Rieckmann, M., 2009, World in Transition: Sustainability Perspectives for Higher Education. Adomssent, M., Beringer, A. & Barth, M. (eds.). Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 216-221 7 p. (Higher education for sustainability; no. 4).

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

  7. Published

    International Master’s Programme in Sustainable Development and Management: Volume 1: Handbook for the Master’s Programme

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 299 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    International Master’s Programme in Sustainable Development and Management: Volume 2: Introduction to Sustainable Development

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 114 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    International scaling of sustainability continuing professional development for in-service teachers

    Redman, E., Murphy, C., Mancilla, Y., Mallon, B., Kater-Wettstädt, L., Barth, M., Ortiz, M. G., Smith, G. & Kelly, O., 27.05.2021, In: Interdisziplinary Journal of Environmental and Science Education. 17, 3, 13 p., e2243.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    International student mobility: Pacific Islander experiences of higher education in Australia

    Pearson, J., McNamara, K. & McMichael, C., 01.08.2022, In: Asia Pacific Viewpoint. 63, 2, p. 194-206 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review