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

    To Own or to Use: How Product Service Systems Impact Firms’ Innovation Behavior

    Tietze, F. & Hansen, E. G., 2013, In: The European Financial Review. 6, 10, p. 53-56 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  2. Published

    To Own or to Use? How Product-Service Systems Facilitate Eco-Innovation Behavior

    Tietze, F. & Hansen, E. G., 2013, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2013, 1, 1 p., Article no. 12213.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    To separate or not to separate: what is necessary and enough for a green and sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds from Brazilian citrus waste

    Zuin, V. G., Ramin, L. Z., Segatto, M. L., Stahl, A. M., Zanotti, K., Forim, M. R., da Silva, M. F. D. G. F. & Fernandes, J. B., 01.01.2021, In: Pure and Applied Chemistry. 93, 1, p. 13-27 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Total body burden and tissue distribution of polyfluorinated compounds in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from the German Bight

    Ahrens, L., Siebert, U. & Ebinghaus, R., 04.2009, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 58, 4, p. 520-525 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Total consumer exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers in North America and Europe

    Trudel, D., Scheringer, M., von Goetz, N. & Hungerbühler, K., 15.03.2011, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 45, 6, p. 2391-2397 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    To the computation of the torsion shear stresses and warping shear coefficients at straight thin-walled bars

    Eilering, S., 11.2005, In: Bauingenieur. 80, 11, p. 491-498 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Tourism strategies for adaption and sustainable development in mountain and coastal destinations in Germany

    Bartels, C., Barth, M., Heinrichs, H., Kreilkamp, E., Matzarakis, A. & Moeller, A., 2007, Developments in tourism climatology: 3rd International Workshop on Climate, Tourism and Recreation. Matzarakis, A., de Freitas, C. & Scott, D. (eds.). International Society of Biometeorology (ISB), p. 207-213 7 p.

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

  9. Published

    Tourists’ valuation of nature in protected areas: A systematic review

    Gross, M., Pearson, J., Arbieu, U., Riechers, M., Thomsen, S. & Martín-López, B., 06.2023, In: Ambio. 52, 6, p. 1065-1084 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published