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 European Forest Plant Species List (EuForPlant): Concept and applications

    Heinken, T., Diekmann, M., Liira, J., Orczewska, A., Schmidt, M., Brunet, J., Chytrý, M., Chabrerie, O., Decocq, G., De Frenne, P., Drevojan, P., Dzwonko, Z., Ewald, J., Feilberg, J., Graae, B. J., Grytnes, J. A., Hermy, M., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Laivins, M., Lenoir, J., Lindmo, S., Marage, D., Marozas, V., Niemeyer, T., Paal, J., Pyšek, P., Roosaluste, E., Sadlo, J., Schaminée, J. H. J., Tyler, T., Verheyen, K., Wulf, M. & Vanneste, T., 16.05.2022, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 33, 3, 16 p., e13132.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The ethics of offsetting nature

    Ives, C. D. & Bekessy, S. A., 12.2015, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 13, 10, p. 568-573 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The erosion of relational values resulting from landscape simplification

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., Betz, L., Jiren, T. S. & Fischer, J., 01.11.2020, In: Landscape Ecology. 35, 11, p. 2601-2612 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The environmental performance of participatory and collaborative governance: A framework of causal mechanisms

    Newig, J., Challies, E., Jager, N. W., Kochskämper, E. & Adzersen, A., 05.2018, In: Policy Studies Journal. 46, 2, p. 269-297 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The Environmental Efficacy of Sustainability Management Tools

    Hörisch, J., Schaltegger, S., Alvarez, I. & Ortas, E., 2014, From Sustainability Reporting to Sustainability Management Control: Conference on Sustainability Reporting and Sustainability Management Control. Rotterdam: Environmental and Sustainability Management Accounting Network, 4 p.

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

  6. Published

    The Energy Situation in the Federal Republic of Germany: Analysis of the Current Situation and Perspectives for a Non-Fossil Energy Supply

    Atzler, F., Türck, J., Türck, R. & Krahl, J., 07.06.2023, In: Energies. 16, 12, 8 p., 4569.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The Energy Security of Lithuania

    Laws, N., 2012, Saarbrücken: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing. 80 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published

    The emotional side of sharing, social support and conflict negotiation between siblings and between friends

    Salisch, M., 2000, The developmental psychology of personal relationships. Mills, R. S. L. & Duck, S. (eds.). Chichester [u.a.]: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., p. 49-69 21 p.

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

  9. Published

    The Emerging Roles of Management for Corporate Sustainability: The Realm of Sustainable Supply Chain Management and the Implications for Sustainability Accounting

    Lee, K.-H., 2008, Proceedings of the 7the Australasian Conference for Social and Environmental Accounting Research (A-CSEAR 2008), 7 - 9 December 2008, Adelaide, South Australia. Burritt, R. L. (ed.). Adelaide: University of South Austrialia, p. 336-350 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    The Emerging Research Field of Experimentation for Circular Business Model Innovation

    Bocken, N. M. P., Weissbrod, I. & Antikainen, M., 02.07.2020, 5th International Online Conference on New Business Models: Sustainable. Circular. Inclusive. 1-2 July 2020. Conference Proceedings: Book of Abstracts. Jonker, J. & Faber, N. (eds.). Nijmegen: Radboud University Nijmegen, p. 106-110 5 p.

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