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

    Food waste and manure

    Lin, C. S. K., Ashokkumar, M., Kaur, G., Li, C., Li, X., Ong, K. L. & Pleissner, D., 01.01.2020, Handbook on Characterization of Biomass, Biowaste and Related By-products. Nzihou, A. (ed.). Cham: Springer Schweiz, p. 899-938 40 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Responsible Management Learning and Education in Need of Inter- and Transdisciplinarity

    Beckmann, M. & Schaltegger, S., 2020, The SAGE Handbook of Responsible Management Learning and Education. Moosmeyer, D. C., Laasch, O., Parkes, C. & Brown, K. G. (eds.). Los Angeles: SAGE Publications Inc., p. 561-577 17 p.

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

  3. Published

    Chances and challenges of the biologization of the economy of rural areas

    Pleissner, D., 01.06.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 23, p. 46-49 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    “A Future to Believe in”: Introducing Varieties of Advocacy Journalism. The Examples Sustainability and the Sanders Campaign

    Laws, N. & Chojnicka, J., 03.07.2020, In: Journalism Studies. 21, 9, p. 1261-1283 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Whistle-Blowing heißt nicht: "verpfeifen": Ordonomische Überlegungen zur Korruptionsprävention durch und in Unternehmen

    Pies, I. & Beckmann, M., 2012, Korruption als internationales Phänomen: Ursachen, Auswirkungen und Bekämpfung eines weltweiten Problems. Fifka, M. S. & Falke, A. (eds.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 67-94 28 p.

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

  6. Published

    Need Satisfaction and Optimal Functioning at Leisure and Work: A Longitudinal Validation Study of the DRAMMA Model

    Kujanpaa, M., Syrek, C., Lehr, D., Kinnunen, U., Reins, J. A. & de Bloom, J., 02.2021, In: Journal of Happiness Studies. 22, 2, p. 681-707 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Solvable problems or problematic solvability? Problem conceptualization in transdisciplinary sustainability research and a possible epistemological contribution

    Meyer, E., 03.2020, In: GAIA. 29, 1, p. 34-39 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Wasted money, wasted time? The sustainability of EU assistance to Hungary and Poland’s waste management sector

    Cotta, B., 01.03.2018, In: EMECON - Employment and economy in Central and Eastern Europe. 7, 1, p. 1-18 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Special issue on Responsible Management Learning: Change and Innovation for Sustainability, Responsibility, Ethics

    Laasch, O. (Editor), Moosmayer, D. C. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Antonacopoulou, E. (Editor), 04.2020, Dordrecht: Springer. (Journal of Business Ethics; vol. 162, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

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