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

    Methoden und Methodologie in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Lang, D. J., Rode, H. & von Wehrden, H., 03.2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Michelsen, G. & Heinrichs, H. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 115-144 30 p.

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

  2. Published

    Postkonstruktivismus - Jenseits von Postmoderne und cultural turn

    Dörfler, T. & Rothfuß, E., 2013, In: Berichte zur deutschen Landeskunde. 87, 2, p. 195-203 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Zur Glaubwürdigkeit nachhaltiger Aktienfonds: Eine Untersuchung informationsökonomischer Probleme, konventioneller Lösungsansätze und konzeptioneller Weiterentwicklungen

    Kroschinski, J., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 150 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  4. Published

    Innovation und Evolution von Geschäftsmodellen dargestellt am Beispiel BP Solar

    Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2014, Kompendium Geschäftsmodell-Innovation: Grundlagen, aktuelle Ansätze und Fallbeispiele zur erfolgreichen Geschäftsmodell-Innovation. Schallmo, D. R. A. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Gabler Verlag, p. 257-281 25 p.

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

  5. Published

    How do individual farmers’ objectives influence the evaluation of rangeland management strategies under a variable climate?

    Jakoby, O., Quaas, M. F., Müller, B., Baumgärtner, S. & Frank, K., 04.2014, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 51, 2, p. 483-493 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The impact of nuclear accidents on provisioning ecosystem services

    Gralla, F., Abson, D., Moller, A. P., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 06.2014, In: Ecological Indicators. 41, p. 1-14 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Humanistic Management and Sustainable Transformation with Regional Scope on Germany, Austria and Switzerland

    Mader, C., 11.2013, World Humanism: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Ethical Practices in Organizations. Khan, S. & Amann, W. (eds.). London: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 81-95 15 p. 6. (Humanism in Business Series).

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

  8. Published

    Messung und Steuerung unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit

    Schaltegger, S., 2013, 3. Jahrbuch Nachhaltige Ökonomie: Im Brennpunkt: Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement . Rogall, H. (ed.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, p. 285-305 21 p. (Jahrbuch nachhaltige Ökonomie ; vol. 3.2013/14).

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

  9. Published

    Justice in environmental institutions - How do frameworks for institutional analysis consider ideas of justice?

    Stumpf, K. H., Hanger, S. & da Fonseca, I. F., 2012, Global Environmental Governance: Papers from the 2012 course. Vatn, A., Kjosavik, D., Kulindwa, K. & Vedeld, P. (eds.). Aas: Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Vol. 2. p. 114-132 18 p. (Student Papers. Thor Heyerdahl Summer School in Environmental Governance.; vol. 2).

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

  10. Published

    Was prägt das Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement: Gewinnmaximierung oder Legitimitätssicherung?

    Schaltegger, S. & Hörisch, J., 2013, In: Forum Wirtschaftsethik. 21, 4, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch