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. 2015
  2. Published

    Characteristics, emerging needs, and challenges of transdisciplinary sustainability science: experiences from the German Social-Ecological Research Program

    Ruppert-Winkel, C., Arlinghaus, R., Deppisch, S., Eisenack, K., Gottschlich, D., Hirschl, B., Matzdorf, B., Mölders, T., Padmanabhan, M., Selbmann, K., Ziegler, R. & Plieninger, T., 09.2015, In: Ecology and Society. 20, 3, 17 p., 13.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Duldungsverfügungen im Bodenschutz- und Altlastenrecht, insbesondere bei der Altlastenerkundung und-sanierung

    Sanden, J., 09.2015, In: Natur und Recht. 37, 9, p. 606-614 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Estimation of risk measures on electricity markets with fat-tailed distributions

    Fianu, E. S. & Grossi, L., 09.2015, In: Journal of Energy Markets. 8, 3, p. 29-54 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Impacts of drought and nitrogen addition on Calluna heathlands differ with plant life-history stage

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 09.2015, In: Journal of Ecology. 103, 5, p. 1141-1152 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Inside-Out and Outside-In: Twins between Sustainability Strategy, Performance Management, Reporting and Stakeholder Involvement

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 09.2015, BAM2015 Conference Proceedings: The Value of Pluralism in Advancing Management Research, Education and Practice. British Academy of Management, 8 p.

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

  7. Published

    Umweltverschmutzung durch Licht: Die Ausweisung von Lichtschutzgebieten als Instrument zur Reduktion von Lichtimmissionen

    Borchers, K. C. & Schomerus, T., 09.2015, In: Natur und Recht. 37, 9, p. 614-621 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Management Education for Sustainability: Deriving learning formats from competence requirements

    Hesselbarth, C., Buhr, M. & Schaltegger, S., 24.08.2015, Sustainability in Higher Education. Davim, J. P. (ed.). Waltham: Elsevier B.V., p. 21-49 29 p. (Chandos information professional series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Getting an empirical hold of the sustainable university: a comparative analysis of evaluation frameworks across 12 contemporary sustainability assessment tools

    Fischer, D., Jenssen, S. & Tappeser, V., 18.08.2015, In: Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education. 40, 6, p. 785-800 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Zurich, Switzerland: Atmospheric Concentrations and Emissions

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 18.08.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 16, p. 9778 - 9786 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Influence of rhizobacterial volatiles on the root system architecture and the production and allocation of biomass in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P. Beauv

    Delaplace, P., Delory, B. M., Baudson, C., Mendaluk-Saunier de Cazenave, M., Spaepen, S., Varin, S., Brostaux, Y. & du Jardin, P., 12.08.2015, In: BMC Plant Biology. 15, 1, 15 p., 195.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Legal Regimes for Environmental Protection: Governance for Climate Change and Ocean Resources

    Koch, H.-J. (Editor), König, D., Sanden, J. (Editor) & Verheyen, R. (Editor), 07.08.2015, 1 ed. Leiden; Boston: Brill Verlag. 351 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  13. Published

    Legal regimes for regional climate protection and the protection of the seas as dominant topics in international environmental policy and law-conclusion

    Sanden, J. & Verheyen, R., 07.08.2015, Legal Regimes for Environmental Protection: Governance for Climate Change and Ocean Resources. Koch, H.-J., König, D., Sanden, J. & Verheyen, R. (eds.). Brill Rodopi, p. 341-344 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  14. Published

    Aging studies of biodiesel and HVO and their testing as neat fuel and blends for exhaust emissions in heavy-duty engines and passenger cars

    Singer, A., Schroeder, O., Pabst, C., Munack, A., Buenger, J., Ruck, W. & Krahl, J., 01.08.2015, In: Fuel. 153, p. 595-603 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  15. Published

    A review of urban ecosystem services: six key challenges for future research

    Lüderitz, C., Brink, E., Gralla, F., Hermelingmeier, V., Rau, A.-L., Abson, D., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Wamsler, C., Sasaki, R., Partelow, S., Meyer, M., Lisa, N. & Panzer, L., 01.08.2015, In: Ecosystem Services. 14, p. 98-112 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  16. Published

    Atmospheric gas-particle partitioning versus gaseous/particle-bound deposition of SVOCs: Why they are not equivalent

    Glüge, J., Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 08.2015, In: Atmospheric Environment. 115, p. 317-324 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Pennycress double-cropping does not negatively impact spider diversity

    Groeneveld, J. H., Lührs, H. P. & Klein, A. M., 08.2015, In: Agricultural and Forest Entomology. 17, 3, p. 247-257 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    The ground beetle tribe Cyclosomini s.l. in Israel (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Aßmann, T., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Chikatunov, V., Drees, C., Friedman, A.-L.-L., Härdtle, W., Homburg, K., Marcus, T., Renan, I. & Wrase, D. W., 08.2015, In: Spixiana. 38, 1, p. 49-69 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Zur Integration von Wissenschaft und Praxis als Forschungsmodus: Ein Literaturüberblick

    Bergmann, M., Brinkmann, C., Huang-Lachenmann, J.-T., Rödder, S. & Schuck-Zöller, S., 08.2015, Hamburg: Climate Service Center Germany, 76 p. (Report; vol. 23).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  20. Published

    Resolving potential conflicts between different heathland ecosystem services through adaptive management

    Alonso, I. & Härdtle, W., 14.07.2015, In: Ecological Questions. 21, p. 101-103 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    What restricts generative rejuvenation of Calluna vulgaris in continental, dry heathland ecosystems: Seed production, germination ability or safe site conditions?

    Henning, K., Von Oheimb, G. & Sabine, T., 10.07.2015, In: Ecological Questions. 21, p. 25-28 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review