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

    Utilities’ Business Models for Renewable Energy: Evidence from Germany

    Richter, M., 03.11.2011, Conference Proceedings of the World Renewable Energy Congress 2011: Policy Issues. Moshfegh, B. (ed.). Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, Vol. 10. p. 2385-2392 8 p. (Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings).

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

  2. Published

    Utilization of acid whey and oat pomace in succinic acid fermentation

    Kleps, C., Malchow, R., Ettinger, J., Dalichow, J., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleissner, D., 25.05.2025, In: New Biotechnology. 86, p. 31-38 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Utilization of Brewer’s Spent Grains and Agricultural Residues in Pig Feed Formation

    Stahn, T., Storandt, R., Grebenteuch, S., Rohn, S., May, D., Dolsdorf, C. & Pleissner, D., 15.09.2023, In: Sustainability. 15, 18, 11 p., 13774.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Utilization of digested sewage sludge in lactic acid fermentation

    Pleissner, D., Krieg, C. & Peinemann, J. C., 03.2021, In: Detritus - Multidisciplinary Journal for Waste Resource & Residues. 14, p. 48-53 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Utilization of food waste in continuous flow cultures of the heterotrophic microalga Chlorella pyrenoidosa for saturated and unsaturated fatty acids production

    Pleissner, D., Lau, K. Y. & Ki Lin, C. S., 20.01.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 142, 4, p. 1417-1424 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Utilization of organic residues using heterotrophic microalgae and insects

    Pleißner, D. & Rumpold, B. A., 01.02.2018, In: Waste Management. 72, p. 227-239 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Utilization of phenolic compounds by microalgae

    Lindner, A. V. & Pleißner, D., 01.09.2019, In: Algal Research. 42, 9 p., 101602.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Utilization of protein-rich residues in biotechnological processes

    Pleissner, D. & Venus, J., 01.03.2016, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 100, 5, p. 2133-2140 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Utilizing international networks for accelerating research and learning in transformational sustainability science

    Keeler, L. W., Wiek, A., Lang, D. J., Yokohari, M., van Breda, J., Olsson, L., Ness, B., Morato, J., Segalas, J., Martens, P., Bojorquez-Tapia, L. A. & Evans, J., 01.09.2016, In: Sustainability Science. 11, 5, p. 749-762 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    "Utopisches Gewissen" lässt sich "mit Schlecht-Vorhandenem nicht abspeisen": eine Einführung

    Gottschlich, D., Rolf, U., Wollek, E. & Werning, R., 2008, Reale Utopien: Perspektiven für eine friedliche und gerechte Welt. Avnery, U., Gottschlich, D., Rolf, U., Werning, R. & Wollek, E. (eds.). Köln: PapyRossa Verlag, p. 8-19 12 p.

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

Recently viewed

Activities

  1. Network Governance Code: enhancing competitiveness of enterprises and their networks by self-regulation
  2. 19. Kongress für Fremdsprachendidaktik der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Fremdsprachenforschung - DGFF 2001
  3. Disaggregating Democracy and the Legitimization of Functionally Fragmented Governance beyond the State
  4. Modellieren und Problemlösen – Kompetenzorientierter Mathematikunterricht in der Sekundarstufe I (Teil I)
  5. Deutschlands grüne Insel. Eine imagologische Analyse des Irlandbildes in der deutschsprachigen Literatur.
  6. Zur Arbeits‐ und Gesundheitssituation von Schulleitungen aus Niedersachsen Erste Ergebnisse einer Studie.
  7. Modellieren und Problemlösen – Kompetenzorientierter Mathematikunterricht in der Sekundarstufe I (Teil II)
  8. Annual International Conference of the Kolleg-Forschergruppe "The Transformative Power of Europe" - KFG 2013
  9. Symposium des Instituts für Deutsches und Internationales Parteienrecht und Parteienforschung - PRuF 2011
  10. 10. Kongress der Internationalen Vereinigung für Germanistische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft - IVG 2000
  11. Konferenz des European Consortium for Political Research's Standing Group on International Relations - 2010
  12. Prävention von Leseschwierigkeiten. Wieso das Lesenlernen nicht nur ein grundschuldidaktisches Problem ist
  13. ADORE. Teaching Adolescent Struggling Readers - How to explore "good practice" in encouraging struggling readers?
  14. Eröffnungsvortrag auf der Tagung 'Intercultural Connections within German and Irish Children’s Literature' 2004

Publications

  1. The Role of an SME’s Green Strategy in Public-Private Eco-innovation Initiatives: The Case of Ecoprofit
  2. Taking stock–Three years of addressing societal challenges on community level through action research
  3. “How complex and even perverse the real world can be” W.D. Hamilton's early work on social wasps (1964–1968)
  4. Anforderungen eines sozial-ökologischen Stoffstrommanagments an technische Ver- und Entsorgungssysteme
  5. Leverage points for reversing paddock tree loss in Upper Lachlan grazing landscapes: A workshop report.
  6. Where is paradise? The EU's navigation system Galileo - Some comments on inherent risks (or paradise lost)
  7. Die Steuerberaterprüfung: Verfahrensrecht, Umsatzsteuerrecht, Erbschaftsteuerrecht, Grunderwerbsteuerrecht
  8. Auswirkungen der Aufgabenverteilung in Führungsteams im Lichte organisationstheoretischer Erkenntnisse
  9. Abschied von der Perichorese ? Asymmetrische Reziprozität als Bedingung der Entzogenheit im Wesen Gottes
  10. Hat eine freiwillige Mitgliedschaft in Berufsverbänden einen Effekt auf das Einkommen von Freiberuflern ?
  11. Comparing the Sensitivity of Social Networks, Web Graphs, and Random Graphs with Respect to Vertex Removal
  12. Erstnachweis der Südlichen Mosaikjungfer Aeshna affinis VAN DER LINDEN 1823 für Schleswig-Holstein (Odonata)
  13. Disentangling ecosystem services perceptions from blue infrastructure around a rapidly expanding megacity
  14. Die Pfändung von Anteilen an einer englischen Kapitalgesellschaft (private/public company limited by shares)
  15. Internationale Besteuerung von mittelständischen Unternehmen in der Rechtsform von Personengesellschaften
  16. The impact of female managers on the gender pay gap: Evidence from linked employer–employee data for Germany
  17. The role of psychological traits for the gender gap in full-time employment and wages: evidence from Germany