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

    Sustainability Accounting for Companies: Catchphrase or Decision Support for Business Leaders?

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 10.2010, In: Journal of World Business. 45, 4, p. 375-384 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Sustainability Accounting for the Industrial Use of Biomass

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Burritt, R. (Editor), 2012, Emerald Publishing Limited. 169 p. (Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal; vol. 3, no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    Sustainability and Competitive Advantage: Empirical Evidence on the Influence of Strategic Choices between Environmental Management Approaches

    Wagner, M., 01.01.2005, In: Environmental Quality Management. 14, 3, p. 31-48 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sustainability and Ecosystems

    Wehrden, H., von Oheimb, G., Abson, D. & Härdtle, W., 2016, Sustainability Science : An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, p. 61-70 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sustainability and Education

    Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D., 01.01.2017, Sustainable Development Policy: A European Perspective. von Hauff, M. & Kuhnke, C. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 135-158 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Sustainability and management control. Exploring and theorizing control patterns in large European firms

    Crutzen, N., Zvezdov, D. & Schaltegger, S., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 143, p. 1291-1301 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Sustainability as a Driver for Corporate Economic Success: Consequences for the Development of Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S., 03.2010, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 15 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Sustainability as a Driver for Corporate Economic Success: Consequences for the Development of Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S., 01.06.2011, In: Society and Economy. 33, 1, p. 15-28 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Sustainability as a Fundamental Challenge for Management Accountants

    Schaltegger, S., 01.09.2017, The Role of the Management Accountant: Local Variations and Global Influences. Goretzki, L. & Strauss, E. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 274-291 18 p. (Routledge studies in accounting; vol. 26).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability assessments designed for multiple functions: five cases about water resources, nanotechnologies and communities

    Wiek, A., Kuzdas, C., Foley, R., Withycombe Keeler, L., Forrest, N. & Kay, B., 12.08.2016, Sustainability Assessment: Applications and Opportunities. Gibson, R. B. (ed.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 127-145 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review