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

    Effects of anthropogenic disturbances on soil microbial communities in oak forests persist for more than 100 years

    Fichtner, A., Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Wilken, C. & Gutknecht, J., 03.2014, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 70, p. 79-87 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The First-Mover Disadvantage: The Folly of Revealing Compatible Preferences

    Loschelder, D. D., Swaab, R., Trötschel, R. & Galinsky, A. D., 04.2014, In: Psychological Science. 25, 4, p. 954-962 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Does Carbon Disclosure Drive Carbon Performance: An Empirical Analysis

    Qian, W. & Schaltegger, S., 2014, From Sustainability Reporting to Sustainability Management Control: Proceedings of the 17th EMAN Conference 2014. Rotterdam: Environmental and Sustainability Management Accounting Network, 5 p.

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

  4. 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

  5. Published

    Income distribution and willingness to pay for ecosystem services

    Baumgärtner, S., Drupp, M., Munz, J., Meya, J. & Quaas, M. F., 2011, 13th Annual BIOECON Conference “Resource Economics, Biodiversity Conservation and Development: 11-13 September 2011, programme and papers. Bioecon, 21 p.

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

  6. Published

    Influences of entrainers to engine oil to improve the drag-out of biodiesel: Experiments and simulations

    Mäder, A., Zimon, A., Fleischmann, A., Munack, A., Ruck, W. & Krahl, J., 01.01.2014, In: Fuel. 117, PART A, p. 488-498 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    In Control of Sustainability Information: Untangling the Role of Accountants

    Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 2013, Accounting and Control for Sustainability. Songini, L., Pistoni, A. & Herzig, C. (eds.). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, p. 265-296 32 p. 17100582. (Studies in Managerial and Financial Accounting; vol. 26).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  8. Published

    Methoden und Methodologie in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Lang, D. J., Rode, H. & von Wehrden, H., 03.2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Michelsen, G. & Heinrichs, H. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 115-144 30 p.

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

  9. Published

    Postkonstruktivismus - Jenseits von Postmoderne und cultural turn

    Dörfler, T. & Rothfuß, E., 2013, In: Berichte zur deutschen Landeskunde. 87, 2, p. 195-203 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Zur Glaubwürdigkeit nachhaltiger Aktienfonds: Eine Untersuchung informationsökonomischer Probleme, konventioneller Lösungsansätze und konzeptioneller Weiterentwicklungen

    Kroschinski, J., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 150 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers