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

    Two Decades of Sustainability Management Tools for SMEs: How Far Have We Come?

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.04.2016, In: Journal of Small Business Management. 54, 2, p. 481-505 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Subsistence and substitutability in consumer preferences

    Baumgärtner, S., Drupp, M. & Quaas, M. F., 12.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 28 p. (University of Lüneburg Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 290).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Kritische Wissenschaften zwischen Krise und Vision

    Gottschlich, D., 2013, Wohlstand – Wie anders? Linke Perspektiven. Brand, U., Pühl, K. & Thimmel, S. (eds.). Berlin: Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, p. 32-36 5 p. (Manuskripte – der Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung; vol. 5).

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

  4. Published

    Plausibility indications in future scenarios

    Wiek, A., Withycombe Keeler, L., Schweizer, V. & Lang, D. J., 2013, In: International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy. 9, 2-4, p. 133-147 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Land sparing versus land sharing: moving forward

    Fischer, J., Abson, D., Butsic, V., Chappell, M. J., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Smith, H. G. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, In: Conservation Letters. 7, 3, p. 149-157 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Heinrichs, H. (Editor) & Michelsen, G. (Editor), 02.2014, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum. 608 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesEducation

  7. Published

    Educating Change Agents for Sustainability: Learnings from the First Sustainability Management Master of Business Administration

    Hesselbarth, C. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2014, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 62, 1, p. 24-36 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Pollination of two oil-producing plant species: Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) double-cropping in Germany

    Groeneveld, J. H. & Klein, A.-M., 05.2014, In: Global Change Biology : Bioenergy. 6, 3, p. 242-251 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Uncertainty in the river export modelling of pesticides and transformation products

    Gassmann, M., Khodorkovsky, M., Friedler, E., Dubowski, Y. & Olsson, O., 01.2014, In: Environmental Modelling & Software. 51, p. 35-44 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Cross-level Information and Influence in Mandated Participatory Planning: Alternative Pathways to Sustainable Water Management in Germany’s Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

    Koontz, T. M. & Newig, J., 01.05.2014, In: Land Use Policy. 38, p. 594–604 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review