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

    Conservation: Limits of land sparing

    Fischer, J., Batáry, P., Bawa, K. S., Brussaard, L., Chappell, M. J., Clough, Y., Daily, G. C., Dorrough, J., Hartel, T., Jackson, L. E., Klein, A. M., Kremen, C., Kuemmerle, T., Lindenmayer, D. B., Mooney, H. A., Perfecto, I., Philpott, S. M., Tscharntke, T., Vandermeer, J., Wanger, T. C. & von Wehrden, H., 04.11.2011, In: Science. 334, 6056, p. 593-594 1 p.

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

  2. Published

    The Interaction of Global Value Chains and Rural Livelihoods: The case of smallholder raspberry growers in Chile

    Challies, E. R. T. & Murray, W. E., 01.2011, In: Journal of Agrarian Change. 11, 1, p. 29-59 31 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Bildungsorganisationale Konsumkultur als Kontext jugendlichen Konsumlernens

    Barth, M., Fischer, D., Michelsen, G. & Rode, H., 2011, Wesen und Wege nachhaltigen Konsums: Ergebnisse aus dem Themenschwerpunkt "Vom Wissen zum Handeln - Neue Wege zum nachhaltigen Konsum". Defila, R., DeGiulio, A. & Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 247–263 17 p.

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

  4. Published

    Methodenkombination in der Forschung zu nachhaltigem Konsum: Herangehensweisen, Herausforderungen und Mehrwert

    Jäger-Erben, M., Schäfer, M., Dalichau, D., Dehmel, C., Götz, K., Fischer, D., Homburg, A., Schulz, M. & Zundel, S., 2011, Wesen und Wege nachhaltigen Konsums: Ergebnisse aus dem Themenschwerpunkt "Vom Wissen zum Handeln - Neue Wege zum nachhaltigen Konsum". Defila, R., DiGiulio, A. & Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. (eds.). oekom verlag GmbH, p. 157–175 19 p.

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

  5. Published

    Sustainability Reporting in the German Banking Sector during the Financial Crisis

    Herzig, C., Giese, N., Hetze, K. & Godemann, J., 05.2012, In: International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development. 6, 2, p. 184-218 35 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Naturverhältnisse, Geschlechterverhältnisse, Nachhaltigkeit

    Hofmeister, S. & Katz, C., 2011, Handbuch Umweltsoziologie. Groß, M. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 365-398 34 p.

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

  7. Published

    Die Kategorie Geschlecht in der Nachhaltigkeitsforschung: Eine andere Perspektive auf nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Hofmeister, S. & van Riesen, K., 2011, Vielfalt und Geschlecht - relevante Kategorien in der Wissenschaft. Jansen-Schulz, B. & Ardner, R. (eds.). Opladen, Farmingtin Hills: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 151-169 19 p.

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

  8. Published

    Nachhaltig beeindruckt? Frauenaktivitäten rund um den Weltgipfel in Johannesburg

    Mölders, T., Brinkmann, V. & Grüning, J., 2003, In: Wir Frauen. 22, 1, p. 16-18 3 p.

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

  9. Published

    Jugendhilfe im Wandel: Neun Jahre Kinder- und Jugendhilfeforschung

    Baros, W., Bock, K., Coelen, T., Heite, C., Munsch, C., Oelkers, N. & Rosenbauer, N., 2011, Jugendhilfeforschung: Kontroversen – Transformationen – Adressierungen. A. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 11-17 7 p.

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

  10. Published

    Personal norms of sustainability and their impact on management – The case of rangeland management in semi-arid regions

    Olbrich, R., Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 2011, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 41 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 209).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers