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

    Economics of Life Cycle Assessment: Inefficiency of the Present Approach

    Schaltegger, S., 1995, Basel: Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Zentrum (WWZ) der Universität Basel, 11 p. (WWZ-Discussion Paper; no. 9515).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Standortwettbewerb, institutioneller Wandel und private Kommunen

    Schaltegger, S., 1997, Basel: Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Zentrum (WWZ) der Universität Basel, p. 1-14, 14 p. (WWZ-Discussion Paper; no. 9709).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    A Cash Flow Based Analysis of Government Finance: How Well Balanced Is the Locationholders' Budget?

    Schaltegger, S., 1999, Basel: Wirtschaftswissenschaftliches Zentrum (WWZ) der Universität Basel, p. 1-16, 16 p. (WWZ-Discussion Paper ; no. 9904).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  4. Published

    Wie aktuell sind Umwelterklärungen und -berichte bezüglich der umweltpolitischen Diskussion? Untersucht am Beispiel von Angaben über CO2-Emissionen und Energieverbrauch

    Hroch, N. & Schaltegger, S., 1999, Lüneburg: Institut für Umweltkommunikation der Universität Lüneburg, 32 p. (INFU-Diskussionsbeiträge; vol. 9/99).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    Was ist Stakeholder Value? Vom Schlagwort zur Messung

    Figge, F. & Schaltegger, S., 1999, Lüneburg: Universität Lüneburg, 51 p. (Arbeitsbericht Universität Lüneburg Fachbereich Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften; no. 219).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  6. Published

    Stability of pollination services decreases with isolation from natural areas despite honey bee visits

    Garibaldi, L. A., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Kremen, C., Morales, J. M., Bommarco, R., Cunningham, S. A., Carvalheiro, L. G., Chacoff, N. P., Dudenhöffer, J. H., Greenleaf, S. S., Holzschuh, A., Isaacs, R., Krewenka, K., Mandelik, Y., Mayfield, M. M., Morandin, L. A., Potts, S. G., Ricketts, T. H., Szentgyörgyi, H., Viana, B. F., Westphal, C., Winfree, R. & Klein, A. M., 10.2011, In: Ecology Letters. 14, 10, p. 1062-1072 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Ökologische Rationalität: Ansatzpunkte zur Ausgestaltung von ökologieorientierten Managementinstrumenten

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1990, In: Die Unternehmung. 44, 4, p. 273-290 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Erfolgskriterien ökologieorientierten Managements: Die Notwendigkeit einer ökologischen Rechnungslegung

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1992, In: Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht. 15, 2, p. 131-154 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Erfahrungen aus der ökologischen Schwachstellenanalyse nach dem B.A.U.M.-Modell und Vergleich mit dem Öko-Audit

    Wruk, H.-P., 1993, In: Umweltwirtschaftsforum. 1, 3, p. 58-62 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    PACT für einen Schadschöpfungs-Zertifikatshandel

    Schaltegger, S. & Thomas, T., 1994, In: Zeitschrift für Umweltpolitik & Umweltrecht. 17, 3, p. 357-381 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review