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
  2. Published

    Von Exellenz-Leuchttürmen, Glühwürmchen und anderweitig Erleuchteten: Nachhaltige Entwicklung als Innovation und Profilbildungsmerkmal in der bundesdeutschen Hochschullandschaft

    Adomßent, M., 2010, Nachhaltige Entwicklung - das neue Paradigma in der Ökonomie. Hagemann, H. & Hauff, M. (eds.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie, p. 571-597 27 p.

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

  3. Published

    Von Freihandelsabkommen zu Nachhaltigkeitsabkommen

    Bäumler, J., 2024, In: Neue Juristische Wochenschrift. 77, 42, p. 3037-3041 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  4. Published

    Von Geschlechterverhältnissen und Maispflanzen: Geschlecht als Struktur- und Prozesskategorie in der agrarpolitischen Konfliktfeldanalyse

    Friedrich, B., 2018, Zum Selbstverständnis der Gender-Studies II: Technik - Raum - Bildung. Onnen, C. & Rode-Breymann, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Berlin: Verlag Babara Budrich, Vol. 2. p. 101-118 18 p. (L'AGENda.; vol. 2).

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

  5. Published

    Von Handelskonflikten zu Wirtschaftskriegen – über die fließenden ethischen Grenzen im Umgang mit Autokratien

    Oermann, N. O., 16.05.2022, Wie soll die Wirtschaft mit Autokratien umgehen?. Russwurm, S. & Lang, J. (eds.). Freiburg i. Brsg. : Verlag Herder GmbH, p. 37-60 24 p. (Wirtschaft ist Gesellschaft; vol. 2).

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

  6. Published

    Von Kaffeebohnen, Maulbeerbäumen und Reismühlen: ein Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekt in Südostasien

    Herzig, C., Schaltegger, S. & Viere, T., 2005, In: Campus Courier. 3

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer

  7. Published

    Von KITA21 lernen. Gelingensbedingungen für die Implementation von Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung im Elementarbereich

    Stoltenberg, U., 2011, KITA21 – Die Zukunftsgestalter. Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten. Stoltenberg, U. & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 123-160 38 p.

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

  8. Published

    Von Lebensträumen und prekären Verhältnissen... Politische Jugendbildung für junge Männer zu Berufsorientierung und Lebensplanung

    Offen, S. & Schmidt, J., 2007, In: Praxis politische Bildung. 11, 4, p. 262-268 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  9. Published

    Von Liebhaberei und wirtschaftlichem Nutzen: Wie in der Flusslandschaft Elbe Agrobiodiversität erhalten wird

    Burandt, A., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung: Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 71-92 22 p.

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

  10. Published

    Von sozialer Verantwortung zu unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit: Bedeutung und Ausgestaltung von „Business Cases for Sustainability“

    Schaltegger, S. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2013, Sustainability Management: Nachhaltige und Stakeholder-orientierte Wertsteigerung . Keuper, F. & Neumann, F. (eds.). Berlin: Logos Verlag, p. 51-68 17 p.

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