School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Social Entrepreneurship: The foundation of tomorrow’s commercial business models?
Halberstadt, J. & Kraus, S., 2016, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 8, 3, p. 261-279 19 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social factors mediating human–carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania
Dorresteijn, I., Milcu, A. I., Leventon, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 4, p. 490-500 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social justice for traditional knowledge holders will help conserve Europe's nature
Molnár, Z., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Schunko, C., Teixidor-Toneu, I., Jarić, I., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Ivascu, C., Babai, D., Sáfián, L., Karlsen, P., Dai, H. & Hill, R., 01.09.2023, In: Biological Conservation. 285, 10 p., 110190.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social Media als Impuls für partizipative Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation?
Schulz, D., 2010, Entscheidungen mit Umweltfolgen zwischen Freiheit und Zwang: Tagungsband der 7. Tagung der Nachwuchsgruppe Umweltsoziologie . Faber, F., Jay, M., Reinecke, S. & Westermeyer, T. (eds.). Institut für Forstökonomie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, 13 p. (Arbeitsbericht; vol. 55).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
Social perceptions of carnivores across the globe – a literature review
Newsom, A., Lozano, J. & Martín-López, B., 09.02.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 24 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social Synergies, Tradeoffs, and Equity in Marine Conservation Impacts
Gill, D. A., Cheng, S. H., Glew, L., Aigner, E., Bennett, N. J. & Mascia, M. B., 17.10.2019, In: Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 44, p. 347-372 26 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Socio-cultural differences in understanding and development of corporate social responsibility in Germany and Croatia
Bögel, P. M., Brstilo Lovric, I., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S. & Sippel , C. S., 2018, The critical state of corporate social responsibility in Europe. Tench, R., Jones, B. & W. S. (eds.). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, p. 161-178 18 p. (Critical Studies on Corporate Responsibility, Governance and Sustainability; vol. 12).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Socio-cultural valuation approaches
Santos-Martín, F., Kelemen, E., García-Llorente, M., Jacobs, S., Oteros-Rozas, E., Barton, D. N., Palomo, I., Hevia, V. & Martín-López, B., 30.03.2017, Mapping ecosystem services. Burkhard, B. & Maes, J. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 102-112 11 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Education › peer-review
- Published
Socioecological drivers facilitating biodiversity conservation in traditional farming landscapes
Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 20.11.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 9, p. 1-9 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socioecological Interactions amid Global Change
Almekinders, C. J. M., Stone, G. D., Baranski, M., Carney, J. A., Hanspach, J., Krishna, V. V., Ramirez-Villegas, J., Etten, J. V. & Zimmerer, K. S., 30.04.2019, Agrobiodiversity: Integrating knowledge for a sustainable future. Zimmerer, K. S. & Haan, S. D. (eds.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, p. 117-143 27 p. (Strüngmann Forum Reports).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review