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

    Like! You saved #energy today. Fostering Energy Efficiency in Buildings – The implementation of social media patterns as symbols in Building Management Systems‘ Graphical User Interfaces using Peirce’s semeiosis as a communication concept

    Tribel, A., Opel, O. & Geffken, J., 2014, EnviroInfo 2014: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENY. Gómez, J. M., Sonnenschein, M., Vogel, U., Winter, A., Rapp, B. & Giesen, N. (eds.). Oldenburg: Universität Oldenburg, Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem, p. 597-604 8 p.

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

  2. Published

    Re-Naturierung: Gesellschaft im Einklang mit der Natur

    Leitschuh, H. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor), Simonis, U. E. (Editor), Sommer, J. (Editor) & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (Editor), 2014, 1. Auflage ed. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag. 256 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2015)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    How interest groups adapt to the changing forest governance landscape in the EU: A case study from Germany

    Jürges, N. & Newig, J., 01.01.2015, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 50, p. 228-235 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Kommende Nachhaltigkeit: nachhaltige Entwicklung aus kritisch-emanzipatorischer Perspektive

    Gottschlich, D., 2017, 1 ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. 576 p. (Feminist and critical political economy; vol. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    A caring and sustainable economy: A concept note from a feminist perspective

    Biesecker, A., Darooka, P., Gottschlich, D., Lanuza, M., Röhr, U., Schildberg, C., Tovar-Restrepo, M. & Ventura Dias, V., 2014, Berlin: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung, 18 p. (International policy analysis).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  6. Published

    The importance of ecosystem services for rural inhabitants in a changing cultural landscape in Romania

    Hartel, T., Fischer, J., Câmpeanu, C., Milcu, A. I., Hanspach, J. & Fazey, I., 01.01.2014, In: Ecology and Society. 19, 2, 9 p., 42.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Navigating conflicting landscape aspirations: Application of a photo-based Q-method in Transylvania (Central Romania)

    Milcu, A. I., Sherren, K., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. & Fischer, J., 11.2014, In: Land Use Policy. 41, p. 408-422 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    General Patterns and Conclusions

    Schaltegger, S. & Harms, D., 2014, Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges. Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E., Harms, D. & Hörisch, J. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 241-252 12 p. (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science; vol. 31).

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

  9. Published

    The Case of Corporate Sustainability in the United States of America

    Morelli, J. & Harms, D., 2014, Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges. Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E., Harms, D. & Hörisch, J. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 223-237 15 p. (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science; vol. 31).

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

  10. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Management in Large German Companies

    Hörisch, J., Windolph, S. E. & Schaltegger, S., 2014, Corporate Sustainability in International Comparison: State of Practice, Opportunities and Challenges. Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E., Harms, D. & Hörisch, J. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 93-104 12 p. (Eco-Efficiency in Industry and Science; vol. 31).

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