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

    Second comment on 'The climate mitigation gap: education and government recommendations miss the most effective individual actions'

    Pedersen, R. L. & Lam, D. P. M., 13.06.2018, In: Environmental Research Letters. 13, 6, 5 p., 068001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Bachelor Betriebswirtschaftslehre im Wandel: Integration der verantwortungsvollen Managementausbildung in die akademische Bildung

    Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., Hetze, K. & Klapper, R., 2018, CSR und Hochschulmanagement: Sustainable Education als neues Paradigma in Forschung und Lehre. Raueisen, M. & Kolb, M. (eds.). Berlin/Heidelberg: Gabler Verlag, p. 46-67 21 p. (Management-Reihe Corporate Social Responsibility).

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

  3. Published

    Salivary cues: simulated roe deer browsing induces systemic changes in phytohormones and defence chemistry in wild‐grown maple and beech saplings

    Ohse, B., Hammerbacher, A., Seele, C., Meldau, S., Reichelt, M., Ortmann, S. & Wirth, C., 01.02.2017, In: Functional Ecology. 31, 2, p. 340-349 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Higher drought sensitivity of radial growth of European beech in managed than in unmanaged forests

    Mausolf, K., Wilm, P., Härdtle, W., Jansen, K., Schuldt, B., Sturm, K., von Oheimb, G., Hertel, D., Leuschner, C. & Fichtner, A., 15.11.2018, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 642, p. 1201-1208 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bioavailability of Antibiotics at Soil-Water Interfaces: A Comparison of Measured Activities and Equilibrium Partitioning Estimates

    Menz, J., Müller, J., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 05.06.2018, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 52, 11, p. 6555-6564 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Human–nature connectedness as a ‘treatment’ for pro-environmental behavior: making the case for spatial considerations

    Klaniecki, K., Leventon, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1375-1388 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    RSE, management responsable et isomorphisme institutionnel : une analyse à partir des résultats d’une enquête internationale

    Ben Rhouma, A., Koleva, P. & Schaltegger, S., 2018, In: Management International. 22, 3, p. 65-78 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness: Active Methodology Toolkit 9

    Fritzsche, J., Fischer, D., Böhme, T. & Grossman, P., 2018, Elverum: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. 44 p. (Images and Objects - Active Learning Methodology; vol. 9)(Responsible and sustainable living)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  9. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltigen Konsum durch Achtsamkeit: toolkit #9

    Fritzsche, J., Fischer, D., Böhme, T. & Grossman, P., 2018, Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 44 p. (Images and Objects - Active Learning Methodology; vol. 9)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  10. Published

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Deutschland: vom Projekt zur Struktur?

    Stoltenberg, U. & Fischer, D., 2018, Perspektive wechseln. : Jahrbuch Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, p. 76–89

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