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. 2011
  2. Published

    Corporate Sustainability Reporting

    Herzig, C. & Schaltegger, S., 2011, Sustainability Communication: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Theoretical Foundations. Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, p. 151-169 19 p.

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

  3. Published

    Crosscutting Issues and Conservation Strategies

    DellaSala, D. A., Alaback, P., Craighead, L., Krestov, P., Moola, F., Nakamura, Y., Nauman, R. S., Noss, R. F., Ronneberg, K., Spribille, T., Tecklin, D., von Wehrden, H., Goward, T., Holien, H., Kirkpatrick, J. & Paquet, P., 2011, Temperate and boreal rainforests of the world: ecology and conservation. DellaSala, D. A. (ed.). Washington: Island Press, p. 243-259 17 p.

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

  4. Published

    CSR und gesellschaftliche Wertschöpfung

    Beckmann, M., 2011, Was ist Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) ?. München: Roman Herzog Institut , p. 16-20 5 p. (Diskussion; no. 17).

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

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Demirovic, Alex, Julia Dück, Florian Becker u. Pauline Bader (Hg.), VielfachKrise im finanzmarktdominierten Kapitalismus, 2011

    Friedrich, B., 2011, In: Das Argument. 53, 4, p. 621-623 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch

  7. Published

    Der Kompass "Nachhaltiger Konsum"

    Fischer, D., 2011, Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum (Handreichung): Nachhaltigen Konsum fördern und Schulen verändern. Michelsen, G. & Nemnich, C. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, 24 p.

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

  8. Published

    Der Nachhaltigkeitsprozess der Universität Graz - analysiert durch das Grazer Modell für Integrative Entwicklung

    Mader, C., Mader, M. & Diethart, M., 2011, Nachhaltigkeit - Regionalentwicklung - Tourismus: Festschrift zum 60. Geburtstag von Friedrich M. Zimmermann. Zimmermann, F. (ed.). Graz: Institut für Geographie und Raumforschung, p. 63 - 69 7 p. (Grazer Schriften der Geographie und Raumforschung; vol. 46).

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

  9. Published

    Die Energiewende als transdisziplinäre Herausforderung

    Heinrichs, H., Fischedick, M., Lechtenböhmer, S., Newig, J., Roßnagel, A., Ruck, W., Schomerus, T. & Thomas, S., 2011, In: GAIA. 20, 3, p. 202 - 204 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsTransfer

  10. Published

    Die Kategorie Geschlecht in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung: Eine andere Perspektive auf nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Hofmeister, S. & van Riesen, K., 2011, Vielfalt und Geschlecht - relevante Kategorien in der Wissenschaft. Jansen-Schulz, B. & Ardner, R. (eds.). Opladen, Farmingtin Hills: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 151-169 19 p.

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

  11. Published