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

    Sustainability, Innovation and Information Technology as Sources of Value Generation

    Hack, S., 2011, In: Journal of Management and Financial Sciences. IV, 5, p. 16-35 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Sustainability in Higher Education: Psychological Research for Effective Pedagogy

    Myers, O. E. & Beringer, A., 2010, In: Canadian Journal of Higher Education. 40, 2, p. 51-77 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Sustainability in Higher Education

    Barth, M., 21.04.2021, Oxford Bibliographies in "Education". Hynds, A. & Meyer, L. (eds.). Oxford University Press, (Oxford Bibliographies in "Education").

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  4. Published

    Sustainability Index to Assess the Environmental Impact of Heat Supply Systems

    Hehenberger-Risse, D., Straub, J., Niechoj, D. & Lutzenberger, A., 09.2019, In: Chemical Engineering & Technology. 42, 9, p. 1923-1927 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sustainability in Business: Integrated Management of Value Creation and Disvalue Mitigation

    Beckmann, M. & Schaltegger, S., 28.06.2021, Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management. Aldag, R. J. (ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 24 p. (Oxford Research Encyclopedias).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    Sustainability in African higher education institutions (HEIs): Shifting the focus from researching the gaps to existing activities

    Ulmer, N. & Wydra, K., 09.01.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 1, p. 18-33 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. 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

  8. Published

    Sustainability Ethics

    Oermann, N. O. & Weinert, A., 2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 175-192 18 p.

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

  9. Published

    Sustainability entrepreneurship to address large distances in international food supply

    Weber, H., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 01.09.2020, In: Business Strategy and Development. 3, 3, p. 318-331 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability Entrepreneurship in the Context of Emissions Trading

    Gerlach, A., 2006, Emissions Trading and Business. Antes, R. & Hansjürgens, B. (eds.). Heidelberg [u.a.]: Physica-Verlag, p. 73-87 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review