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

    Functional Involvement in Corporate Sustainability Management: Contribution of Corporate Functions to the Sustainable Development of Companies

    Schaltegger, S., Harms, D., Windolph, S. E. & Hörisch, J., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). 1 ed. Basel: edition gesowip, p. 59 - 62 4 p.

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

  2. Published

    Ignorant or Gatekeeper? What Role do Accountants play in the Sustainability Accounting Practice?

    Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). edition gesowip, p. 146-148

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

  3. Published

    Role-Determined Information Needs of Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S., Burritt, R., Zvezdov, D., Tingey-Holyoak, J. & Hörisch, J., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). edition gesowip, p. 129-131 3 p.

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

  4. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit - Bislang kein Wettbewerbsfaktor?

    Schaltegger, S., Hörisch, J., Windolph, S. E. & Harms, D., 2013, In: Forum Nachhaltig Wirtschaften. 02, p. 94 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  5. Published

    Achsen adoleszenter Zugehörigkeitsarbeit: Geschlecht und sexuelle Orientierung im Blick politischer Bildung

    Offen, S., 2013, Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 238 p. (Adoleszenzforschung. Zur Theorie und Empirie der Jugend aus transdisziplinärer Perspektive; no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  6. Published

    Zugänge zur Bildung von Lehrerinnen und Lehrern in der Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: professionelle Anforderungen an einen Sachunterricht in Bildungslandschaften

    Offen, S., 2013, Der Sachunterricht und seine Didaktik: Bestände prüfen und Perspektiven entwickeln. Fischer, H.-J., Giest, H. & Pech, D. (eds.). 1 ed. Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, p. 114-116 3 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 23).

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

  7. Published

    Natur- und Kulturlandschaften zwischen Einheit und Differenz. Das Beispiel Biosphärenreservat Mittelelbe

    Mölders, T., 2013, Wie werden Landschaften gemacht? Sozialwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Konstituierung von Kulturlandschaften. Leibenath, M., Heiland, S., Kilper, H. & Tzschaschel, S. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 61-95 34 p.

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

  8. Published

    Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften

    Biesecker, A. & Gottschlich, D., 2012, ABC der Alternativen 2.0: Von Alltagskultur bis Zivilgesellschaft. Brand, U., Lösch, B., Opratko, B. & Thimmel, S. (eds.). Hamburg: VSA-Verlag, p. 320-322 2 p.

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

  9. Published

    Emotion understanding and cognitive abilities in young children

    von Salisch, M., Hänel, M. & Freund, P. A., 08.2013, In: Learning and Individual Differences. 26, p. 15-19 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    To Own or to Use? How Product-Service Systems Facilitate Eco-Innovation Behavior

    Tietze, F. & Hansen, E. G., 2013, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2013, 1, 1 p., Article no. 12213.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review