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

    Leveraging inner sustainability through cross-cultural learning: evidence from a Quichua field school in Ecuador

    Gray, K. & Manuel-Navarrete, D., 01.09.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 5, p. 1459-1473 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Lexsyg smart - A luminescence detection system for dosimetry, material research and dating application

    Richter, D., Richter, A. & Dornich, K., 04.12.2015, In: Geochronometria. 42, 1, p. 202-209 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    LFB-Labs-digital: Schülerlabore als Ort der Lehrkräftefortbildung in der digitalen Welt: Ein Bericht zur Konzeption eines Verbundprojektes

    Kirchhoff, T., Schwedler, S., Abels, S., Acher, A., Anselmetti, D., Besa, K.-S., Biehl, J., Blumberg, E., Breiter, A., Brückmann, M., Büntemeyer, D., Tegani, M. E., Engelhardt, A., Grotjohann, N., Kiel, C., Kleine, M., Koerber, R., Lambrecht, M., Lehmenkühler, A., Meyer, D., Mußhoff, A., Panhorst, M., Peperkorn, C., Röllke, K., Roth, J., Schäfers, M. S., Schüler, H., Stinken-Rösner, L., Strauß, S., Stricker, J., Temmen, K., Tönsing, K., Verständig, D., Wegner, C., Wellensiek, N., Wenzel, A., Wördemann, D., Ziegler, M., Heinrich, M. & Wilde, M., 19.08.2024, In: PFLB - Zeitschrift für Schul- und Professionsentwicklung. 6, 1, p. 130-155 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  4. Published

    Licinini

    Aßmann, T., 2006, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas; Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Freude, H., Klausnitzer, B. & Müller-Motzfeld, G. (eds.). 2., Nachdruck ed. Heidelberg: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 428-435 8 p.

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

  5. Published

    Licinini

    Aßmann, T., 2004, Die Käfer Mitteleuropas: Bd. 2: Adephaga ; 1. Carabidae (Laufkäfer). Müller-Motzfeld, G. (ed.). 2 ed. München: Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, p. 428-435 8 p.

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

  6. Published

    Life Cycle analysis

    Braungart, M., Mulhall, D. & Hansen, K., 2013, Achieving Sustainability: Visions, Principles, and Practices. Rowe, D. (ed.). Palgrave Macmillan, Vol. 1.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  7. Published

    Life Cycle and Supply Chain Information in Environmental Management Accounting: A Coffee Case Study

    Viere, T., von Enden, J. & Schaltegger, S., 2011, Environmental Management Accounting and Supply Chain Management. Burritt, R., Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M., Pohjola, T. & Csutora, M. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 23-40 18 p.

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

  8. Published

    Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Quo Vadis?

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 1996, Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag GmbH. 187 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    Life Cycle Assessment of Consumption Patterns – Understanding the links between changing social practices and environmental impacts

    Suski, P., Augenstein, K. & Greiff, K., 20.10.2024, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 477, 13 p., 143813.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Life cycle assessment of hetero- and phototrophic as well as combined cultivations of Galdieria sulphuraria

    Thielemann, A. K., Smetana, S. & Pleissner, D., 01.09.2021, In: Bioresource Technology. 335, 7 p., 125227.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review