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

    Angebot und Allokation von „Entrepreneurship“: William Baumol und das Wechselverhältnis von Institutionen und Entrepreneuren

    Beckmann, M., 2011, William Baumols Marktheorie unternehmerischer Innovation. Pies, I. & Leschke , M. (eds.). Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck GmbH and Co. KG, p. 218-224 7 p. (Konzepte der Gesellschaftstheorie; vol. 17).

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

  2. Published

    Social Entrepreneurship – Altes Phänomen, neues Paradigma moderner Gesellschaften oder Vorbote eines Kapitalismus 2.0?

    Beckmann, M., 2011, Social Entrepreneurship – Social Business: Für die Gesellschaft unternehmen. Hackenberg, H. & Empter, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 67-85 19 p.

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

  3. Published

    Analysis, distribution and fate of PAH, polar PAHand NSO-heterocyclics in the aquifer of tar-contaminated sites

    Schlanges, I., Mänz, J. S., Meyer, D., Palm, W.-U. & Ruck, W., 2008, Gasworks Europe: Redevelopment, Site Management and Contaminant Issues of former MGPs and other Tar Oil Polluted Sites: Proceedings of MGP 2008 Conference. Werner, P., Bilitewski, B. & Hüsers, N. (eds.). Pirna: Forum für Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten, p. 277 1 p. (Beiträge zur Abfallwirtschaft, Altlasten; vol. 56).

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

  4. Published

    Raumnutzungskonflikte in der Küstenzone: Informelle Lösungsansätze am Beispiel der naturschutzrechtlichen Kompensation des JadeWeserPorts

    Busch, M., Kannen, A. & Striegnitz, M., 2010, Forschung für ein Integriertes Küstenzonenmanagement: Fallbeispiele Odermündungsregion und Offshore-Windkraft in der Nordsee. Kannen, A., Schernewski, G., Krämer, I., Lange, M., Janßen, H. & Strybel, N. (eds.). Rostock: EUCC – Die Küsten Union Deutschland e.V., p. 71-84 15 p. (Coastline reports; vol. 15).

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

  5. Published

    Natur in den Sozialwissenschaften – Eine Einleitung

    Baerlocher, B. & Kruse, S., 2011, Natur und Gesellschaft: Sozialwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Regulation und Gestaltung einer Wechselbeziehung. Kruse, S. & Baerlocher, B. (eds.). Basel: edition gesowip, p. 7-17 11 p.

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

  6. Published

    Kein totes Pferd reiten ! Vier Plädoyers zur Erforschung von Mensch-Natur-Verhältnissen

    Katz, C., 2011, Natur und Gesellschaft: Sozialwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Regulation und Gestaltung einer Wechselbeziehung. Kruse, S. & Baerlocher, B. (eds.). Basel: edition gesowip, p. 255-280 26 p.

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

  7. Published

    Ökoeffizienz in deutschen Unternehmen

    Zeyen, A., Klewitz, J. & Hansen, E. G., 31.08.2011, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 26, 3, p. 47-50 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  8. Published
  9. Published
  10. Published

    Was aber ist Wildnis? – Wildnis und kulturelle Vielfalt: Wildnis-Naturverständnisse in anderen Kulturen und von Menschen mit Migrationshintergrund

    Katz, C., 2010, Wildnis zwischen Natur und Kultur: Perspektiven und Handlungsfelder für den Naturschutz. Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege, p. 53-61 9 p. (Laufener Spezialbeiträge; vol. 2010, no. 1).

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