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

    Was bewegt die Jugend? Greenpeace Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer

    Michelsen, G., Grunenberg, H. & Rode, H., 2012, Homburg/ Taunus: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 213 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  2. Published

    Energiewende umsetzen - Kommunen in der Pflicht

    Manns, M., 2012, In: NordÖR. 12, p. 531-533 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Prozesse der Energiewende wissenschaftlich gestalten: Wichtige Impulse aus den NaWis-Institutionen

    Heinrichs, H., Mans, U., Alvarez, A., Schomerus, T. & Goldammer, K., 12.2012, In: GAIA. 21, 4, p. 316-318 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Mehr Partizipation wagen? Wirkungen und Potenziale einer intensiven Einbindung von Stakeholdern in Unternehmen

    Windolph, S. E., Hörisch, J., Harms, D. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, In: Umweltwirtschaftsforum. 21, 1-2, p. 119-126 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Cross-pollination benefits differ among oilseed rape varieties

    Hudewenz, A., Pufal, G., Bögeholz, A.-L. & Klein, A.-M., 14.10.2014, In: The Journal of Agricultural Science. 152, 5, p. 770-778 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung innovativ gestalten

    Fischer, D. & Nemnich, C., 2013, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung: Lebenslanges Lernen, Kompetenz und gesellschaftliche Teilhabe. Overwien, B. & Rode, H. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 169-183 15 p. (Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft).

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

  7. Published

    Das Bild der Anderen erforschen: Fotografisch-visuelle Methoden zum partizipativen Erforschen von Lebenswelten

    Vilsmaier, U. (Contributor) & Brandner, V., 2014, Qualitative Methoden in der Entwicklungsforschung. Dannecker, P. & Englert, B. (eds.). Wien: Mandelbaum Verlag, p. 197-214 18 p.

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

  8. Published

    Business Cases for Sustainability

    Schaltegger, S. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Berlin/Heidelberg: Springer, Vol. 1. p. 245-252 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  9. Published

    Decline of an endangered amphibian during an extreme climatic event

    Scheele, B. C., Driscoll, D. A., Fischer, J. & Hunter, D. A., 01.11.2012, In: Ecosphere. 3, 11, p. 1-15 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The influence of native versus exotic streetscape vegetation on the spatial distribution of birds in suburbs and reserves

    Ikin, K., Knight, E., Lindenmayer, D. B., Fischer, J. & Manning, A. D., 03.2013, In: Diversity and Distributions. 19, 3, p. 294-306 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review