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. 2016
  2. Published

    Nutzung von Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement-Software in kleinen und mittleren Unternehmen

    Johnson, M., 2016, Bewertung unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit: Modelle und Methoden zur Selbstbewertung. Grothe, A. (ed.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 139-155 17 p.

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

  3. Published

    Online CSR communication by listed companies: a factor for enthusiasm or disappointment?

    Hetze, K., Bögel, P. M., Glock, Y. & Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., 2016, 20th EMAN Conference: Two Decades of Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Accounting - What has been accieved?; Proceedings of the 20 th Conference of the Environmental and Sustainability Management Accounting Network (EMAN), Lüneburg, 2016. Schaltegger, S. (ed.). Centre for Sustainability Management, p. 119-120 2 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Online-CSR-Kommunikation: Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede börsennotierter Unternehmen in der DACH-Region

    Hetze, K., Bögel, P. M., Glock, Y. & Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., 2016, In: Umweltwirtschaftsforum. 24, 2, p. 223-236 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    On the way to greener ionic liquids: Identification of a fully mineralizable phenylalanine-based ionic liquid

    Haiß, A., Jordan, A., Westphal, J., Logunova, E., Gathergood, N. & Kümmerer, K., 2016, In: Green Chemistry . 18, 16, p. 4361-4373 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    On the Western Narrative of Empowerment Through ICT: A Comment to Amanda Atwood

    Leistert, O., 2016, In: spheres - Journal for Digital Cultures. 3, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Policy, politics and polity in higher education for sustainable development

    Michelsen, G., 2016, Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development. Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. & Thomas, I. (eds.). London and New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 40 - 55 16 p. 3. (Routledge international handbooks).

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

  8. Published

    Praxis essen Wissenschaft auf? Von den Gefahren des Gelingens einer transdisziplinären Zusammenarbeit

    Nemnich, C. & Fischer, D., 2016, Transdisziplinär forschen - zwischen Ideal und gelebter Praxis: Hotspots, Geschichten, Wirkungen. Defila, R. & Di Giulio, A. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag, p. 145-187 43 p.

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

  9. Published

    Problem-Based and Project-Based Learning for Sustainable Development

    Cörvers, R., Wiek, A., de Kraker, J. & Lang, D. J., 2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland, p. 349-358 10 p. 29

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

  10. Published

    Ressourcenschutz und Welthandelsrecht

    Schomerus, C.-T., 2016, Globalisierung, Freihandel und Umweltschutz im Zeichen von TTIP: Ökonomische, rechtliche und politische Perspektiven. Ekardt, F., Unnerstall, H. & Garske, B. (eds.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag, p. 169-195 27 p. (Beiträge zur sozialwissenschaftlichen Nachhaltigkeitsforschung ; vol. 19).

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

  11. Published

    Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), Barth, M. (Editor), Rieckmann, M. (Editor) & Thomas, I. (Editor), 2016, London and New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 477 p. (Routledge international handbooks)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch