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

    Assessing Corporate Sustainability Through Ratings: Challenges and Their Causes

    Windolph, S. E., 09.2011, In: Journal of Environmental Sustainability. 1, 1, p. 61-80 22 p., 5.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Öko-Controlling als ökonomisch- ökologisches Führungsinstrument

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1992, In: IO-Management. 61, 6, p. 71-75 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  3. Published

    Optimal grazing management rules in semi-arid rangelands with uncertain rainfall

    Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 05.2012, In: Natural Resource Modeling. 25, 2, p. 364-387 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The effect of storage medium on the elution of monomers from composite materials

    Polydorou, O., Huberty, C., Wolkewitz, M., Bolek, R., Hellwig, E. & Kümmerer, K., 27.01.2012, In: Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials. 100B, 1, p. 68-74 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Die Energiewende als transdisziplinäre Herausforderung

    Heinrichs, H., Fischedick, M., Lechtenböhmer, S., Newig, J., Roßnagel, A., Ruck, W., Schomerus, T. & Thomas, S., 2011, In: GAIA. 20, 3, p. 202 - 204 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsTransfer

  6. Published

    Informationspflichten Privater nach dem Umweltinformationsgesetz: Anmerkung zum Beschluss des VG Frankfurt vom 7. Juni 2011

    Schomerus, T., 2011, In: ZUR - Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht. 22, 9, p. 440 - 442 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsNotes on court decisionsTransfer

  7. Published

    Utilities’ Business Models for Renewable Energy: Evidence from Germany

    Richter, M., 03.11.2011, Conference Proceedings of the World Renewable Energy Congress 2011: Policy Issues. Moshfegh, B. (ed.). Linköping: Linköping University Electronic Press, Vol. 10. p. 2385-2392 8 p. (Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings).

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

  8. Published

    Innovative Business Models for Offshore Wind Energy: The Case of German Municipal Utilities

    Richter, M., 2011, Sustainability in Innovation. Innovation Management Challenges: XXII ISPIM International Society for Professional Innovation Management ; Conference 2011 ; Hamburg, Germany (12 - 15 June 2011). Huizingh, E., Torkkeli, M., Conn, S. & Bitran, I. (eds.). Hamburg: International Society for Professional Innovation Management, 12 p.

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

  9. Published

    Koordiniertes Ökobilanzieren im KOPÖ

    Schaltegger, S., 01.07.1994, In: GAIA. 3, 4, p. 187 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsTransfer

  10. Published

    Cost-effective Biodiversity Conservation: Procurement Auctions and Payment-by-Results

    Groth, M., 04.08.2011, In: EuroChoices. 10, 2, p. 32-37 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review