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

    INSA Indicator System Sustainable Agriculture

    Lutzenberger, A., Buettner, C., Eichhoff, N., Enger, J., Erbs, M., Fichte, K., Gruen, J., Hillebrecht, C., Ingenillem, J., Klein, L., Meyer, N., Pitz, W., Pützstück, M., Schäffler, A. & Schwellinger, S., 2013, 21st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition: EUBCE 2013 Online Conference Proceedings. ETA-Florence Renewable Energies, p. 2001-2006 6 p. (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition (EUBCE)).

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

  2. Published

    Die Vorbereitung zur Wiederverwendung von Elektro-Altgeräten: Ein Stiefkind des zukünftigen ElektroG?

    Schomerus, T. & Fabian, M., 2014, In: AbfallR. 13, 6, p. 270-279 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains: The British Accounting Review

    Burritt, R. (Editor) & Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2014, Amsterdam: Elsevier B.V. 93 p. (The British Accounting Review ; vol. 46, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  4. Published

    Accounting towards Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2014, In: The British Accounting Review. 46, 4, p. 327-343 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sharing Economy: Potenzial für eine nachhaltige Wirtschaft

    Heinrichs, H., 2014, In: ifo Schnelldienst. 67, 21/2014, p. 15-17 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains: Editorial

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2014, In: The British Accounting Review. 46, 4, p. 323-326 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  7. Published

    Entwicklung eines Integrated Assessment Modells: Nachhaltige Entwicklung in Deutschland. Band 2: Modelldokumentation

    Neumann, K., Grimm, F. & Heinrichs, H., 11.2014, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 29 p. (Texte; no. 75/2014).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Entwicklung eines Integrated Assessment Modells: Nachhaltige Entwicklung in Deutschland. Band 1: Hauptband

    Neumann, K., Grimm, F. & Heinrichs, H., 11.2014, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 66 p. (Texte; no. 74/2014).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Altlastenbearbeitung in Hamburg

    Kilger, R., Oechtering, E. & Sanden, J., 2013, Handbuch Altlastensanierung und Flächenmanagement: HdA. Franzius, V., Altenbockum, M. & Thomas Gerhold, T. (eds.). Heidelberg: C.F. Müller, p. 1-18 19 p.

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

  10. Published

    § 43 Erlaubnisfreie Benutzungen von Küstengewässern

    Sanden, J., 2014, Beck'scher Online-Kommentar Umweltrecht. Giesberts, L. & Reinhardt, M. (eds.). Ed. 34 ed. München: C.H. Beck Verlag

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch