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

    Preserving Colias myrmidone in European cultural landscapes: requirements for the successful development from egg to higher larval stages at a Natura 2000 site in Romania

    Nippen, P., Dolek, M. & Loos, J., 08.2021, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 25, 4, p. 643-655 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Linking Sustainable Business Models and Supply Chains – Toward an Integrated Value Creation Framework

    Norris, S., Hagenbeck, J. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2021, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 30, 8, p. 3960-3974 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Corrigendum to “Flexible electricity generation, grid exchange and storage for the transition to a 100% renewable energy system in Europe” [Renew. Energy 139 (2019) 80-101]

    Child, M., Kemfert, C., Bogdanov, D. & Breyer, C., 01.04.2021, In: Renewable Energy. 167, p. 960 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    A Real Chance for the Transatlantic Partnership on Climate Policy

    Kemfert, C., 01.01.2021, In: Intereconomics. 56, 1, p. 20-22 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    'Climate neutral' is a lie - abandon it as a goal

    Kemfert, C., 04.03.2021, In: Nature. 591, 7848, p. 34 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Investing into third generation nuclear power plants - Review of recent trends and analysis of future investments using Monte Carlo Simulation

    Wealer, B., Bauer, S., Hirschhausen, C. V., Kemfert, C. & Göke, L., 01.06.2021, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 143, 110836.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Purpose durch Nachhaltigkeit: Zukunftsfähige Zweckbestimmung für Unternehmen und Controlling

    Petersen, H., Schaltegger, S. & Nuzum, A.-K., 2021, In: Controlling. 33, S, p. 26-30 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Quality and Adoption of COVID-19 Tracing Apps and Recommendations for Development: Systematic Interdisciplinary Review of European Apps

    Kahnbach, L., Lehr, D., Brandenburger, J., Mallwitz, T., Jent, S., Hannibal, S., Funk, B. & Janneck, M., 02.06.2021, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 23, 6, 18 p., e27989.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Tectono-climatic controls of the early rift alluvial succession: Plio-Pleistocene Corinth Rift (Greece)

    Hemelsdaël, R., Charreau, J., Ford, M., Sekar Proborukmi, M., Malartre, F., Urban, B. & Blard, P.-H., 15.08.2021, In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 576, 21 p., 110507.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review