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
  2. Published

    Legume intercropping with the bioenergy crop sida hermaphrodita on marginal soil

    Nabel, M., Schrey, S. D., Temperton, V. M., Harrison, L. & Jablonowski, N. D., 02.07.2018, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 9, 9 p., 905.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Legitimizing climate policy: The "risk construct" of global climate change in the German mass media

    Peters, H. P. & Heinrichs, H., 06.2008, In: International Journal of Sustainability Communication. 3, p. 14-36 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Legitimacion retorica de la politica clematica: El cambio climatico en los medios alemanes

    Peters, H. P. & Heinrichs, H., 02.07.2009, In: Infoamerica: Iberoamerican Communication Review. 1, p. 59-78 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Legal Systems, Internationalization and Corporate Sustainability: An empirical analysis of the influence of national and international authorities

    Hörisch, J., Burritt, R., Christ, K. & Schaltegger, S., 2017, In: Corporate Governance. 17, 5, p. 861 - 875 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Legal regimes for regional climate protection and the protection of the seas as dominant topics in international environmental policy and law-conclusion

    Sanden, J. & Verheyen, R., 07.08.2015, Legal Regimes for Environmental Protection: Governance for Climate Change and Ocean Resources. Koch, H.-J., König, D., Sanden, J. & Verheyen, R. (eds.). Brill Rodopi, p. 341-344 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Legal Regimes for Environmental Protection: Governance for Climate Change and Ocean Resources

    Koch, H.-J. (Editor), König, D., Sanden, J. (Editor) & Verheyen, R. (Editor), 07.08.2015, 1 ed. Leiden; Boston: Brill. 351 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  8. Published

    Legal aspects of local engagement: Land planning and citizens‘ financial participation in wind energy projects

    Maly, C., 26.12.2014, Renewable Energy Law in the EU: Legal Perspectives on Bottom Up Approaches. Peeters, M. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 210-231 22 p. (New horizons in environmental and energy law).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Legal Aspects of Electricity Tariff Fixation in Germany

    Schomerus, T., 2004, In: Mountbatten Journal of Legal Studies. 8, 2, p. 20-35 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  10. Published

    Legal and political arguments on aquatic ecosystem services and hydropower development – A case study on Kemi River basin, Finland

    Albrecht, E., Isaac, R. & Räsänen, A., 01.06.2024, In: Ecosystem Services. 67, 14 p., 101623.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review