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

    Linking stakeholder survey, scenario analysis, and simulation modeling to explore the long-term impacts of regional water governance regimes

    Withycombe Keeler, L., Wiek, A., White, D. D. & Sampson, D. A., 04.2015, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 48, p. 237-249 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Model choice and size distribution: a Bayequentist approach

    Engler, J.-O. & Baumgärtner, S., 04.2015, In: American Journal of Agricultural Economics. 97, 3, p. 978-997 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Natural habitat does not mediate vertebrate seed predation as an ecosystem dis-service to agriculture

    Schäckermann, J., Mandelik, Y., Weiss, N., von Wehrden, H. & Klein, A. M., 04.2015, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 52, 2, p. 291-299 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Sprachpraxis in universitären Lehr-Lern-Kontexten: Ergebnisse eines Lehrforschungsprojektes

    Gburzynski, A., Stolzke, L., Strauß, A., Fischer, D. & Weitzel, J., 30.03.2015, In: Zeitschrift für Hochschulentwicklung. 10, 1, p. 199-224 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Facilitative-competitive interactions in an Old-Growth Forest: The Importance of Large-Diameter Trees as Benefactors and Stimulators for Forest Community Assembly

    Fichtner, A., Forrester, D. I., Härdtle, W., Sturm, K. & Oheimb, G., 24.03.2015, In: PLoS ONE. 10, 3, 18 p., e0120335.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nitrogen deposition and drought events have non-additive effects on plant growth – Evidence from greenhouse experiments

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Friedrich, U., Klotz, M., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 04.03.2015, In: Plant Biosystems. 149, 2, p. 424-432 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Comment on "The environmental photolysis of perfluorooctanesulfonate, perfluorooctanoate, and related fluorochemicals"

    Wang, Z., Cousins, I. T. & Scheringer, M., 01.03.2015, In: Chemosphere. 122, p. 301-303 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Critical reflection on knowledge and narratives of conservation agriculture

    Whitfield, S., Dougill, A. J., Dyer, J., Kalaba, F. K., Leventon, J. & Stringer, L. C., 01.03.2015, In: Geoforum. 60, 3, p. 133-142 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Energy transitions in small-scale regions – What we can learn from a regional innovation systems perspective.

    Mattes, J., Huber, A. & Koehrensen, J., 01.03.2015, In: Energy Policy. 78, 78, p. 255-264 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Long-Range and Regional Atmospheric Transport of POPs and Implications for Global Cycling

    Hageman, K., Bogdal, C. & Scheringer, M., 01.03.2015, Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs): Analytical Techniques, Environmental Fate and Biological Effects. Zeng, E. (ed.). 1 ed. Elsevier B.V., Vol. 67. p. 363-387 25 p. (Comprehensive Analytical Chemistry; vol. 67).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  12. Published
  13. Published

    Telomere length is a strong predictor of foraging behavior in a long-lived seabird

    Young, R. C., Kitaysky, A. S., Barger, C. P., Dorresteijn, I., Ito, M. & Watanuki, Y., 01.03.2015, In: Ecosphere. 6, 3, 26 p., 39.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Cortisol Effects on Flow-Experience

    Peifer, C., Schächinger, H., Engeser, S. & Antoni, C. H., 03.2015, In: Psychopharmacology. 232, 6, p. 1165-1173 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published
  16. Published
  17. Published

    Actor Analysis in Case Studies for (regional) Sustainable Development

    Burandt, S., Gralla, F. & John, B., 19.02.2015, In: Envigogika. 10, 1, 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Emissions of polychlorinated biphenyls in Switzerland: a combination of long-term measurements and modeling

    Diefenbacher, P. S., Bogdal, C., Gerecke, A. C., Glüge, J., Schmid, P., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 17.02.2015, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 49, 4, p. 2199 - 2206 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Pragmatism and new Directions in Social and Environmental Accountability Research

    Baker, M. & Schaltegger, S., 16.02.2015, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 28, 2, p. 263-294 32 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published
  21. Published

    Nachhaltige und demokratische Gestaltung der Energiewende: Der Beitrag sozial-ökologischer Regionalplanungsforschung

    Heilmann, S., 10.02.2015, In: vhw Forum Wohneigentum. 7, 1, p. 49-54 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch