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

    Academia's obsession with quantity

    Fischer, J., Ritchie, E. G. & Hanspach, J., 01.09.2012, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 27, 9, p. 473-474 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Fürsorgerationalität statt Wachstumslogik: Das Konzept der Green Economy aus feministischer Care-Perspektive

    Gottschlich, D., 2012, In: Forum Wissenschaft. 29, 2, p. 17-20 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Learning to change universities from within: A service-learning perspective on promoting sustainable consumption in higher education

    Barth, M., Adomßent, M., Fischer, D., Richter, S. & Rieckmann, M., 01.01.2014, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 62, 1, p. 72-81 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Nachhaltigkeits- und CSR-Berichterstattung als Beitrag zur Unternehmensreputation: Ausgewählte Untersuchungen bei europäischen Großunternehmen

    Hetze, K., 2013, Nachhaltigkeit in der Wirtschaftskommunikation. Nielsen, M., Rittenhofer, I., Grove Ditlevsen, M., Pollach, I. & Esmann Andersen, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 137-157 21 p. (Europäische Kulturen in der Wirtschaftskommunikation ; vol. 24).

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

  5. Published

    Partnerships in Support of an Integrated Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility: South African Case Study

    Rollin, C., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 99 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  6. Published

    Offshore Oil and LNG Terminals

    Brinkmann, B., 2006, Second Sino-German Joint Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Engineering. Yixin, Y. (ed.). China Ocean Press, p. 400-410 11 p.

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

  7. Published

    Construction of Container Terminal 4: Port of Bremerhaven, Germany

    Brinkmann, B. & Woltering, S., 2006, Proceedings of the Third Chinese-German Joint Symposium on Coastal and Ocean Engineering, National Cheng Kung University Tainan, Taiwan. Ou, S.-H., Kao, C. C. & Hsu, T.-W. (eds.). Tainan: National Cheng Kung University, 12 p.

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

  8. Published

    Socio-economic Context of Forest Biodiversity Use along a Town–Forest Gradient in Cambodia

    Motzke, I., Wanger, T. C., Zanre, E., Tscharntke, T. & Barkmann, J., 2012, In: Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. SUPPL.25, p. 37-53 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The Role of the Accountants in Corporate Sustainability Accounting. An Analysis from a Promotor Perspective

    Zvezdov, D., 2012, European Academy of Management (EURAM) : EURAM 2012 Social Innovation for Competitiveness, Organisational Performance and Human Excellence. Rotterdam: Erasmus University Rotterdam, p. 97 1 p. (European Academy of Management (EURAM) Conference; vol. 2012).

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

  10. Published

    UNESCO chairs for (higher) education for sustainable development

    Michelsen, G. & Rieckmann, M., 2012, In: IAU Horizons. 18, 2, p. 16-17 2 p.

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