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

    Computerspiele mit und ohne Gewalt: Auswahl und Wirkung bei Kindern

    Salisch, M., Kristen, A., Oppl, C. & Lehmann, A., 2007, 1. ed. Stuttgart: Kohlhammer Verlag GmbH. 212 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  2. Published

    Wohin führt die Entwicklung der Analysemethoden für nachhaltige Finanzdienstleistungen?

    Schaltegger, S. & Figge, F., 01.06.2000, In: GAIA. 9, 2, p. 122-127 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Sustainable forest management augments diversity of vascular plants in German forests

    Oheimb, G., Ellenberg, H., Heuveldop, J. & Kriebitzsch, W.-U., 2001, Assessment, conservation and sustainable use of forest biodiversity. Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, p. 88-90 3 p. (VBD Technical Series; no. 3).

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

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Internationaler Masterstudiengang 'Sustainable Development and Management': Band 1: Handbuch für den Masterstudiengang

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2008, 1. ed. Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 312 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Effects of prescribed burning on plant available nutrients in dry heathland ecosystems

    Mohamed, A., Haerdtle, W., Jirjahn, B., Niemeyer, T. & von Oheimb, G., 04.2007, In: Plant Ecology. 189, 2, p. 279-289 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Einfluss der Beweidung auf die Nährstoffdynamik von Sandheiden

    Fottner, S., Niemeyer, T., Sieber, M. & Härdtle, W., 2004, Feuer und Beweidung als Instrumente zur Erhaltung magerer Offenlandschaften in Nordwestdeutschland: ökologische und sozioökonomische Grundlagen des Heidemanagements auf Sand- und Hochmoorstandorten. Keienburg, T. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 80-91 12 p. (NNA-Berichte; vol. 17, no. 2).

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

  8. Published

    La Sostenibilità si può fare

    Stoltenberg, U., 2005, La Sostenibilità si può fare: la "vetrina per uno sviluppo sostenibile": un progetto innovativo per la comunicazione e lo sviluppo della sostenibilità. Stoltenberg, U., Muraca, B. & Nora, E. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 11-13 3 p.

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

  9. Published

    Management des universitären Auftrags mit der Sustainability Balanced Scorecard

    Schaltegger, S., 2007, Zukunft Bologna!?: Gender und Nachhaltigkeit als Leitideen für eine neue Hochschulkultur. Dudeck, A. & Jansen-Schulz, B. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main, p. 127-145 19 p.

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

  10. Published

    Informationsversorgung eines erweiterten Umweltcontrollings

    Möller, A. & Rolf, A., 2003, Umweltschutz und strategisches Handeln: Ansätze zur Integration in das betriebliche Management. Schmidt, M. & Schwegler, R. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Dr. Gabler Verlag, p. 155-238 84 p.

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