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

    Wie sich Verantwortung auszahlt

    Schaltegger, S., 2010, In: Vis-à-vis. 3, p. 9-14 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  2. Published

    Sustainability Accounting for Companies: Catchphrase or Decision Support for Business Leaders?

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 10.2010, In: Journal of World Business. 45, 4, p. 375-384 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    § 29 Windenergie

    Schomerus, T., 2010, Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz. Frenz, W., Müggenborg, H.-J. & Altenschmidt, S. (eds.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 597-634 38 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  4. Published

    Mediatisierte Politikgestaltung: Expertise und politische Entscheidungsprozesse in wissenschaftsbasierten Themenfeldern

    Heinrichs, H. & Petersen, I., 2009, Medienorientierung biomedizinischer Forscher im internationalen Vergleich. Peters, H. P. (ed.). Jülich: Forschungszentrum, p. 177-227 51 p.

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

  5. Published

    § 30 Windenergie Repowering

    Schomerus, T., 2010, Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz. Frenz, W., Müggenborg, H.-J. & Altenschmidt, S. (eds.). Berlin: Erich Schmidt Verlag, p. 635-658 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  6. Published

    Pathways to energy sustainability: new instruments for promoting energy efficiency

    Schomerus, T., 2009, The Paradigm Shift towards Energy Sustainability: Climate Change, Innovation and the Optimal Instrument Mix. Rodi, M. (ed.). Berlin: Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft , p. 39-50 12 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  7. Published

    Kulturelle Dimension einer nachhaltigen Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2009, Nachhaltigkeit: Burnout eines revolutionären Anspruchs?. Evangelische Akademie Loccum, p. 65-81 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    Innovationsfeld Hochschule

    Michelsen, G., 01.09.2009, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 24, 3, p. 21-23 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Environmental Cost Accounting: Managerial Implications for Sustainability Accounting and Management

    Lee, K.-H., 2009, Book of proceedings from the 5th International Conference Environmental Accounting - Sustainable Development Indicators 2009, 5th EA-SDI International Conference, EMAN, Environmental Management Accounting Network, April 23 - 24, 2009, Prague, Czech Republic. Evangelista, J. (ed.). Prage: Purkyne University

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    Extent, perception and mitigation of damage due to high groundwater levels in the city of Dresden, Germany

    Kreibich, H., Thieken, A. H., Grunenberg, H., Ullrich, K. & Sommer, T., 27.07.2009, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences . 9, 4, p. 1247-1258 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review