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. 2010
  2. Published
  3. Published

    Value of semi-open corridors for simultaneously connecting open and wooded habitats: A case study with ground beetles

    Eggers, B., Matern, A., Drees, C., Eggers, J., Haerdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 02.2010, In: Conservation Biology. 24, 1, p. 256-266 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    What is sustainability economics?

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M., 15.01.2010, In: Ecological Economics. 69, 3, p. 445-450 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    Attitude-Based Target Groups to Reduce the Ecological Impact of Daily Mobility Behavior

    Hunecke, M., Haustein, S., Böhler, S. & Grischkat, S., 01.01.2010, In: Environment and Behavior. 42, 1, p. 3-43 41 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Classifying Entrepreneurship for the Public Good: Empirical Analysis of a Conceptual Framework

    Wagner, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2010, In: Journal of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. 23, 3, p. 431-443 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    CSR: von der Vision zur Verankerung unternehmerischer Nachhaltigkeit - Eine Frage von Managementbildung

    Schaltegger, S. & Petersen, H., 01.01.2010, CSR-Bildung. Theis, F. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 139-152 14 p.

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

  8. Published

    Universities as learning organizations for sustainability? The task of climate protection

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Burandt, S., 01.01.2010, Universities and climate change: introducing climate change to university programmes. Leal Filho, W. (ed.). Berlin; London: Springer, p. 179-192 14 p. (Climate Change Management).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Vorsorgendes Hochwassermanagement im Wandel: ein sozial-ökologisches Raumkonzept für den Umgang mit Hochwasser

    Kruse, S., 01.01.2010, 1 ed. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften. 261 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Anaerobic biodegradation of organochlorine pesticides in contaminated soil: Significance of temperature and availability

    Baczynski, T. P., Pleissner, D. & Grotenhuis, T., 01.2010, In: Chemosphere. 78, 1, p. 22-28 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Applicability of adapted reservoir operation for water stress mitigation under dry year conditions

    Olsson, O., Ikramova, M., Bauer, M. & Froebrich, J., 01.2010, In: Water Resources Management. 24, 2, p. 277-297 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review