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

    Interview mit Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas Schomerus

    Schomerus, T., 15.11.2022, In: Fachzeitschrift für Energierecht. 2022, 6, p. 246-247 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Auswirkungen illegaler Altfahrzeugverwertung: Ermittlung der ökologischen, volkswirtschaftlichen und betriebswirtschaftlichen Auswirkungen der nicht anerkannten Demontage von Altfahrzeugen und der illegalen Altfahrzeugverbringung sowie Ableitung von Maßnahmen zur Adressierung möglicher Auswirkungen; Abschlussbericht

    Zimmermann, T., Sander, K., Memelink, R., Knode, M., Freier, M., Porsch, L., Schomerus, T., Wilkes, S. & Flormann, P., 11.2022, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 303 p. (Texte/Umweltbundesamt; vol. 129).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  3. Published

    Reduction of the Microbial Load of Digestate by the Cultivation of Galdieria sulphuraria Under Acidic Conditions

    Pleissner, D. & Händel, N., 08.2023, In: Waste and Biomass Valorization. 14, 8, p. 2621-2627 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Räumliche Mixturen. (Stadt-)Räumliche Einschreibungen sozial-ökologischer Trennungs- und Vermittlungsverhältnisse in Zeiten der Corona-Pandemie

    Mölders, T. & Hofmeister, S., 01.2024, Urbane Mixturen : Städtebau und Stadtplanung als relationales Handlungsfeld. Peer, C. & Psenner, A. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 216-241 26 p. (Urban studies ).

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

  5. Published

    (Re)Produktivität

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 07.11.2022, Handbuch Politische Ökologie: Theorien, Konflikte, Begriffe, Methoden. Daniela, G., Hackfort, S., Schmitt, T. & von Winterfeld, U. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 433-440 8 p. (Edition Politik; vol. 110).

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

  6. Published

    Are Si-C bonds cleaved by microorganisms? A critical review on biodegradation of methylsiloxanes

    Rücker, C., Grabitz, E. & Kümmerer, K., 01.04.2023, In: Chemosphere. 321, 137858.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Climate Change Law in Germany - Legislation, Iurisdiction, and Governmental Ambitions

    Schomerus, T., 09.2022, In: Public law. 2, p. 1-21 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  8. Published

    Individual change agents for corporate sustainability transformation: a systematic literature review

    Buhr, M., Harms, D. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2023, In: Benchmarking: An International Journal. 30, 10, p. 4221–4247 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    The role of institutions in food system transformations: lessons learned from transdisciplinary engagements in Ethiopia, the Philippines, and Indonesia

    Manlosa, A. O., Partelow, S., Jiren, T. S., Riechers, M. & Paramita, A. O., 01.01.2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 15 p., 2146753.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability impact assessment of new ventures: An emerging field of research

    Fichter, K., Lüdeke-Freund, F., Schaltegger, S. & Schillebeeckx, S. J. D., 15.01.2023, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 384, 12 p., 135452.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review