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

    The Interplay Between Supply Chain Transparency and NGO Pressure: A Quantitative Analysis in the Fashion Industry Context

    Schäfer, N., Petersen, L. & Hörisch, J., 07.2024, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 192, 4, p. 713-727 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Social justice for traditional knowledge holders will help conserve Europe's nature

    Molnár, Z., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Schunko, C., Teixidor-Toneu, I., Jarić, I., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Ivascu, C., Babai, D., Sáfián, L., Karlsen, P., Dai, H. & Hill, R., 01.09.2023, In: Biological Conservation. 285, 10 p., 110190.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Toward a modular evaluation approach of real-world laboratories: Findings from a literature review

    Kampfmann, T., Bernert, P. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2023, In: Research Evaluation. 32, 1, p. 128-143 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Vernetzen, fördern, konsolidieren, stärken – zur Gründung der Gesellschaft für transdisziplinäre und partizipative Forschung

    Bergmann, M., Lang, D. J., Mbah, M. & Schäfer, M., 20.05.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 1, p. 207-209 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Can we have it all? The role of grassland conservation in supporting forage production and plant diversity

    Kachler, J., Benra, F., Bolliger, R., Isaac, R., Bonn, A. & Felipe-Lucia, M. R., 12.2023, In: Landscape Ecology. 38, 12, p. 4451-4465 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Assessing protected area effectiveness in western Tanzania: Insights from repeated line transect surveys

    Kiffner, C., Giliba, R. A., Fust, P., Loos, J. & Waltert, M., 12.2023, In: African Journal of Ecology. 61, 4, p. 966-979 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    L'université orientée vers le soin de la richesse et les mères chercheuses durant la pandémie du Covid-19

    Sander, A. & Grauer, C., 02.2023, In: Revue Philosophique de Louvain. 120, 1, p. 41-60 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    An IAD framework analysis of minigrid institutions for sustainable rural electrification in East Africa: A comparative study of Uganda and Tanzania

    Namujju, L. D., Acquah-Swanzy, H. & Ngoti, I. F., 01.11.2023, In: Energy Policy. 182, 17 p., 113742.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Promising practices for dealing with complexity in research for development

    Abad, C. R., Bieri, S., Eschen, R., Fuerst, S., Jacobi, J., Jiménez, E., Zonta, A. L., Naughton, M., Schaffner, U., Winkler, M. S. & Flury, M., 20.05.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 1, p. 115-124 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Revisiting Renewable Energies: Liberating, Pacifying, and Democratizing

    Schaltegger, S., Linnenluecke, M. K., Dijkstra-Silva, S. & Christ, K. L., 07.2024, In: Business and Society. 63, 6, p. 1295-1301 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Methane yield of biomass from extensive grassland is affected by compositional changes induced by order of arrival
  2. Netzwerk, zwischenbetriebliche Kooperation und Genossenschaft - Entwicklung eines integrativen Begriffsverständnisses
  3. Thesenpapier zum Fachgespräch zum Thema „Weiterentwicklung des Parlamentarischen Beirats für nachhaltige Entwicklung“
  4. Legacy effects of past land use on current biodiversity in a low-intensity farming landscape in Transylvania (Romania)
  5. Log in and breathe out: cost-effectiveness of internet-based recreation training for better sleep in stressed employees
  6. A genetic algorithm for a self-learning parameterization of an aerodynamic part feeding system for high-speed assembly
  7. People incorrectly correcting other people: The pragmatics of (re-)corrections and their negotiation in a Facebook group
  8. Parametric finite element model and mechanical characterisation of electrospun materials for biomedical applications
  9. Average wage, qualification of the workforce and export performance in German enterprises: evidence from KombiFiD data
  10. Life satisfaction and the consumption values of partners and friends: Empirical evidence from German panel survey data
  11. Zulässigkeit eines Blanko-Eigenwechsels als Sicherheit im Verbrauchervertrag und Klage auf Zahlung einer Wechselschuld
  12. Predictive mapping of plant species and communities using GIS and Landsat data in a southern Mongolian mountain range
  13. Zukünftige Kompetenzfelder für Führungskräfte - Einblicke in eine Bedarfsanalyse für Weiterbildung und Wissenstransfer