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

    Socio-ecological Research: The Cases of Rural Development an Agro-Biotechnology: Conference Report

    Gottschlich, D., Mölders, T. & Laschewski, L., 2012, In: Eastern European Countryside (EEC). 18, p. 177-182 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Socio-economic analysis for the authorisation of chemicals under REACH: a case of very high concern?

    Gabbert, S., Scheringer, M., Ng, C. A. & Stolzenberg, H.-C., 11.2014, In: Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP. 70, 2, p. 564-571 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Socioeconomic and biophysical factors affect tree diversity in farms producing specialty coffee in Caranavi, Bolivia

    Torrico, G. G., Antezana Alvarado, N., Pacheco, L. F., Benavides‑Frias, C. & Jacobi, J., 02.2024, In: Agroforestry Systems. 98, 2, p. 427-439 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Socio-economic Context of Forest Biodiversity Use along a Town–Forest Gradient in Cambodia

    Motzke, I., Wanger, T. C., Zanre, E., Tscharntke, T. & Barkmann, J., 2012, In: Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. SUPPL.25, p. 37-53 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Socio-Environmental Vulnerability of Agriculture Communities to Climate Change in Western Himalaya: A Household-Level Review

    Chauhan, N., von Wehrden, H. & Joshi, P. K., 24.09.2022, Challenges of Disasters in Asia: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience. Sajjad, H., Siddiqui, L., Rahman, A., Tahir, M. & Ahsan Siddiqui, M. (eds.). Springer, p. 123-145 23 p.

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

  6. Published

    Socio-technical change linking expectations and representations: Innovating thermal treatment of municipal solid waste

    Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.04.2017, In: Science and Public Policy. 44, 2, p. 211-224 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Socio-technical instruments in the field of Integrated Water Resources Management

    Evers, M., 2009, Environmental Informatics and Industrial Environmental Protection: Concepts, Methods and Tools : EnviroInfo 2009 ; 23rd International Conference on Informatics for Environmental Protection ; proceedings of the 23rd International Conference Environmental Informatics - Informatics for environmental protection, sustainable development and risk management, September 09 - 11, 2009, HTW Berlin, University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Wohlgemuth, V., Page, B. & Voigt, K. (eds.). Shaker Verlag, Vol. Sessions. p. 299-304 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Software and Web-Based Tools for Sustainability Management in Micro-, Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    Johnson, M., Halberstadt, J., Schaltegger, S. & Viere, T., 2016, Advances and New Trends in Environmental and Energy Informatics: Selected and Extended Contributions from the 28th International Conference on Informatics for Environmental Protection. Gómez, J. M., Sonnenschein, M., Vogel, U., Winter, A., Rapp, B. & Giesen, N. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 259-274 16 p. (Progress in IS).

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

  9. Published

    Software-Unterstützung für Routine im betrieblichen Umweltschutz

    Möller, A., 2010, Integration of environmental information in Europe: EnviroInfo 2010 ; proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Informatics for Environmental Protection, Cologne/Bonn, Germany. Greve, K. & Cremers, A. B. (eds.). Shaker Verlag, p. 375-382 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Software-Unterstützung für Routine im betrieblichen Umweltschutz

    Möller, A., 2012, Konzepte, Anwendungen und Entwicklungstendenzen von betrieblichen Umweltinformationssystemen (BUIS): Tagungsband zu den 4. Berliner BUIS-Tagen am 26. und 27.04. 2012 in Berlin. Wohlgemuth, V., Lang, C. & Marx Gomez, J. (eds.). 1 ed. Shaker Verlag, p. 143-154 12 p. (Berichte aus der Umweltinformatik).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransfer