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

    Unterricht zum Thema "Flucht und Flüchtlinge"? eine Analyse von Lehrmaterialien aus dem Internet

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 09.2018, In: Zeitschrift für Bildungsforschung. 8, 2, p. 137 - 152 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship – Creating Environmental Solutions: Part 1

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Beckmann, M. (Editor) & Hockerts, K. (Editor), 2018, Olney: Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. 129 p. (International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing; vol. 10, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  4. Published

    How can sustainable chemistry contribute to a circular economy?

    Pleißner, D., 06.09.2018, In: Detritus - Multidisciplinary Journal for Waste Resource & Residues. 3, September, p. 4-6 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Green thinking but thoughtless buying? An empirical extension of the value-attitude-behaviour hierarchy in sustainable clothing

    Jacobs, K., Petersen, L., Hörisch, J. & Battenfeld, D., 01.12.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 203, p. 1155-1169 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Plant density modifies root system architecture in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through a change in nodal root number

    Hecht, V. L., Temperton, V. M., Nagel, K. A., Rascher, U., Pude, R. & Postma, J. A., 15.06.2019, In: Plant and Soil. 439, 1-2, p. 179-200 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Hydrolyzed organic residues as sources of secondary raw materials

    Pleißner, D. & Peinemann, J. C., 29.08.2018, In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik. 90, 9, p. 1161-1161 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research: finding the common ground of multi-faceted concepts

    von Wehrden, H., Guimarães, M. H., Bina, O., Varanda, M., Lang, D. J., John, B., Gralla, F., Alexander, D., Raines, D., White, A. & Lawrence, R. J., 07.05.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 3, p. 875-888 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Business Model Experimentation for Circularity: Driving sustainability in a large international clothing retailer

    Bocken, N. M. P., Miller, K., Weissbrod, I., Holgado, M. & Evans, S., 12.2017, In: Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment. 2017, 1, p. 85-122 38 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review