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

    Cultural ecosystem services: A literature review and prospects for future research

    Milcu, A. I., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2013, In: Ecology and Society. 18, 3, 34 p., 44.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Cultural adaptation of internet interventions for refugees: Results from a user experience study in Germany

    Spanhel, K., Schweizer, J. S., Wirsching, D., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H., Bengel, J. & Sander, L., 01.12.2019, In: Internet Interventions. 18, 13 p., 100252.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Cultivation of the heterotrophic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria on food waste: A Life Cycle Assessment

    Thielemann, A. K., Smetana, S. & Pleissner, D., 01.11.2021, In: Bioresource Technology. 340, 7 p., 125637.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Cues from Facial Expressions for Emotional Interfaces

    Tews, T.-K., Oehl, M., Siebert, F., Faasch, H. & Höger, R., 20.06.2011, Human Centred Automation: HFES Europe Chapter. De Waard, D., Gérard, N., Onnasch, L., Wiczorek, R. & Manzey, D. (eds.). Shaker Publishing, p. 111-122 12 p.

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

  5. Published

    CSR zwischen unternehmerischer Vergangenheitsbewältigung und Zukunftsgestaltung

    Schaltegger, S. & Müller, M., 2008, Corporate Social Responsibility. Müller, M. & Schaltegger, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 17-35 19 p.

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

  6. 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

  7. Published

    CSR reporting as a communication signal contributing to the corporate reputation

    Hetze, K., 2013, CSR Communication Conference 2013 Proceedings. Nielsen, A.-E., Thomsen, C., Golob, U., Elving, W., Schultz, F. & Podnar, K. (eds.). 1 ed. Ljubljana: University of Ljubljana, Vol. 2013. p. 49-52 4 p.

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

  8. Published

    CSR, Nachhaltigkeit und Controlling - Zwischen Praxislücke und Forschungskonzepten

    Schaltegger, S., 2016, CSR und Controlling: Unternehmerische Verantwortung als Gestaltungsaufgabe des Controlling. Günther, E. & Steinke, K.-H. (eds.). Berlin: Gabler Verlag, p. 55-69 15 p. (Management-Reihe Corporate Social Responsibility).

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

  9. Published

    CSR communication on corporate websites compared across continents

    Hetze, K. & Winistörfer, H., 06.06.2016, In: International Journal of Bank Marketing. 34, 4, p. 501-528 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. 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