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

    Historical emissions of octachlorodibenzodioxin in a watershed in Queensland, Australia: estimation from field data and an environmental fate model

    Camenzuli, L., Scheringer, M., Gaus, C., Grant, S., Zennegg, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.01.2015, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 502, p. 680-687 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Celebrating Bidleman's 1988 "atmospheric processes"

    Galarneau, E., Arey, J., Atkinson, R., Dachs, J., Eisenreich, S., Harner, T., Hites, R. A., Lammel, G., Lohmann, R., Mackay, D., Odabasi, M., Pankow, J. F., Scheringer, M., Swackhamer, D., Tasdemir, Y. & Wania, F., 03.02.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 3, p. 1235 - 1236 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls in Switzerland: a combination of long-term measurements and modeling

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 17.02.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 4, p. 2199 - 2206 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Addressing the complexity of water chemistry in environmental fate modeling for engineered nanoparticles

    Sani-Kast, N., Scheringer, M., Slomberg, D., Labille, J., Praetorius, A., Ollivier, P. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.12.2015, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 535, p. 150 - 159 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Exploring the planetary boundary for chemical pollution

    Diamond, M. L., de Wit, C. A., Molander, S., Scheringer, M., Backhaus, T., Lohmann, R., Arvidsson, R., Bergman, Å., Hauschild, M., Holoubek, I., Persson, L., Suzuki, N., Vighi, M. & Zetzsch, C., 01.05.2015, In: Environmental international. 78, p. 8 - 15 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Insights into PBDE Uptake, Body Burden, and Elimination Gained from Australian Age-Concentration Trends Observed Shortly after Peak Exposure

    Gyalpo, T., Toms, L.-M., Mueller, J. F., Harden, F. A., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 10.2015, In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 123, 10, p. 978 - 984 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Atmospheric fate of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs): I. Day-night patterns of air concentrations in summer in Zurich, Switzerland

    Müller, C., Gerecke, A., Bogdal, C., Wang, Z., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 10.2012, In: Environmental Pollution. 169, p. 196-203 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Atmospheric fate of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs): II. Emission source strength in summer in Zurich, Switzerland

    Wang, Z., Scheringer, M., MacLeod, M., Bogdal, C., Müller, C., Gerecke, A. & Hungerbuehler, K., 10.2012, In: Environmental Pollution. 169, p. 204-209 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Estimating the aquatic emissions and fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) into the river Rhine

    Paul, A., Scheringer, M., Hungerbühler, K., Loos, R., Jones, K. & Sweetman, A., 02.2012, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 14, 2, p. 524-530 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Good modeling practice guidelines for applying multimedia models in chemical assessments

    Buser, A., MacLeod, M., Scheringer, M., Mackay, D., Bonnell, M., Russell, M., DePinto, J. & Hungerbuehler, K., 10.2012, In: International Environmental Assessment Policy & Management. 8, 4, p. 703-708 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review