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

    Die Dinge und wir

    Stoltenberg, U., 2010, In: Umwelt & Bildung. 3, p. 6-9 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  2. Published

    Transkulturalität, Hybridität und neue Ethnizitäten im Spiegel der Diskussion um „Kulturelle Vielfalt“ im Rahmen einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Holz, V., 2010, Wechselspiele: Kultur und Nachhaltigkeit: Annäherungen an ein Spannungsfeld. Parodi, O., Banse, G. & Schaffer, A. (eds.). Berlin: edition sigma, p. 275-292 18 p. (Global zukunftsfähige Entwicklung; vol. 15).

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

  3. Published

    Herausforderungen einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Spannungsfeld von Alltagstauglichkeit, strukturellen Bedingungen und dem Transfer konzeptueller Komplexität

    Holz, V. & Stoltenberg, U., 2011, Nachhaltige Entwicklung – transnational. Sichten und Erfahrungen aus Mitteleuropa. Banse, G., Janikowski, R. & Kiepas, A. (eds.). Berlin: edition sigma, p. 179-195 17 p. (Global zukunftsfähige Entwicklung – Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft; vol. 16, no. 1).

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

  4. Published

    Mit dem kulturellen Blick auf den Weg zu einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung

    Holz, V. & Stoltenberg, U., 2011, Die unsichtbare Dimension: Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im kulturellen Prozess. Sorgo, G. (ed.). Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, p. 15-34 20 p. (Forum Exkurse; no. 08).

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

  5. Published

    Ökologische und weibliche (Re)Produktivität: Der "blinde Fleck" in Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften und -politik

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2011, Wege und Irrwege in die Wissensgesellschaft: Forschungspolitik zwischen Standortsicherung und gesellschaftlicher Verantwortung. BdWi, fzs, GEW, Natwiss.-Initiative & ÖH (eds.). p. 55-57 3 p. (BdWi-Studienheft; vol. 7).

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

  6. Published

    Wildnisgebiete-Möglichkeitsräume für nachhaltige Entwicklung? Potenziale von Wildnis für einen integrativen Zugang zur nachhaltigen Regionalentwicklung

    Hofmeister, S., 2010, Wildnis zwischen Natur und Kultur: Perspektiven und Handlungsfelder für den Naturschutz. Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege (ed.). Bayerische Akademie für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege, p. 73-82 10 p. (Laufener Spezialbeiträge).

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

  7. Published

    Carbon Management Accounting: Explaining Practice in Leading German Companies

    Burritt, R., Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 03.2011, In: Australian Accounting Review. 21, 1, p. 80-98 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainable assessment of biofuels and agricultural production of biomass

    Lutzenberger, A. & Ruck, W., 2010, Frrom research to Industry and Markets: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference held in Lyon, France, 3 -7 May 2010. Spitzer, J., Dallemand, J. F., Baxter, D. & Ossenbrink, H. (eds.). Florence: ETA-Florence and WIP Renewable Energies, p. 2253-2258 6 p.

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

  9. Published

    Controlling im Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement: Unterstützung betrieblicher Entscheidungen

    Jänicke, N. T., 2011, Marburg: Tectum Verlag. 274 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Philantropie vs. Business Case for Sustainability ?

    Schaltegger, S., 2011, Corporate Volunteering: Freiwilliges Engagement von Unternehmen und Gesellschaft. F.A.Z. Institut (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: ACC Verlag & Services , p. 22-26 5 p. (Corporate Responsibility; vol. 2011).

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