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. 2012
  2. Published

    Biodiversität erfolgreich managen

    Schaltegger, S., 23.11.2012, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 27, 4, p. 10-11 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Lessons from community-based payment for ecosystem service schemes: From forests to rangelands

    Dougill, A. J., Stringer, L. C., Leventon, J., Riddell, M., Rueff, H., Spracklen, D. V. & Butt, E., 19.11.2012, In: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 367, 1606, p. 3178-3190 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Measuring the (Un-)Sustainability of Industrial Biomass Production and Use

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 16.11.2012, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 3, 2, p. 109-133 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bats in a Farming Landscape Benefit from Linear Remnants and Unimproved Pastures

    Lentini, P. E., Gibbons, P., Fischer, J., Law, B., Hanspach, J. & Martin, T. G., 14.11.2012, In: PLoS ONE. 7, 11, 13 p., e48201.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    An academia beyond quantity: a reply to Loyola et al. and Halme et al.

    Fischer, J., Hanspach, J. & Ritchie, E. G., 01.11.2012, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 27, 11, p. 587-588 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Decline of an endangered amphibian during an extreme climatic event

    Scheele, B. C., Driscoll, D. A., Fischer, J. & Hunter, D. A., 01.11.2012, In: Ecosphere. 3, 11, p. 1-15 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Fukushima disaster indirectly threatens lake ecosystems

    Matsuzaki, S.-I., Von Wehrden, H., Møller, A. P. & Takamura, N., 01.11.2012, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10, 9, p. 464-464 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Functional trait similarity of native and invasive herb species in subtropical China-Environment-specific differences are the key

    Bachmann, D., Both, S., Bruelheide, H., Erfmeier, A., Ding, B.-Y., Gao, M., Härdtle, W. & Scherer-Lorenzen, M., 01.11.2012, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 83, p. 82-92 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Carbon Accounting for Sustainability and Management: Status Quo and Challenges

    Schaltegger, S. & Csutora, M., 11.2012, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 36, p. 1-16 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Climate Accounting and Sustainability Management

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Csutora, M. (Editor), 11.2012, London: Elsevier B.V. 112 p. (Journal of Cleaner Production; no. 36)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  12. Published

    Comparison of nutrient removal capacity and biomass settleability of four high-potential microalgal species.

    Su, Y., Mennerich, A. & Urban, B., 11.2012, In: Bioresource Technology. 124, p. 157-162 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Photodegradation, Photocatalytic and Aerobic Biodegradation of Sulfisomidine and Identification of Transformation Products By LC–UV-MS/MS

    Sleman, F., Mahmoud, W. M. M., Schubert, R. & Kümmerer, K., 11.2012, In: Clean - Soil, Air, Water. 40, 11, p. 1244-1249 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Predator assemblage structure and temporal variability of species richness and abundance in forests of high tree diversity

    Schuldt, A., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 11.2012, In: Biotropica. 44, 6, p. 793-800 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published
  16. Published

    Entwicklung eines Regelungskonzepts für ein Ressourcenschutzrecht des Bundes: Forschungsbericht 3709181521

    Sanden, J., Schomerus, T. & Schulze, F., 24.10.2012, Erich Schmidt Verlag. 661 p. (Berichte des Umweltbundesamtes; vol. 2012,1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  17. Published

    Assessing ecosystem function of restoration plantings in south-eastern Australia

    Munro, N. T., Wood, J., Lindenmayer, D. B. & Fischer, J., 15.10.2012, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 282, p. 36-45 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    A comprehensive method for determination of fatty acids in the initial oral biofilm (pellicle)

    Reich, M., Hannig, C., Al-Ahmad, A., Bolek, R. & Kuemmerer, K., 01.10.2012, In: Journal of Lipid Research. 53, 10, p. 2226-2230 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Occurrence and fate of the antidiabetic drug metformin and its metabolite guanylurea in the environment and during drinking water treatment

    Scheurer, M., Michel, A., Brauch, H.-J., Ruck, W. & Sacher, F., 01.10.2012, In: Water Research. 46, 15, p. 4790-4802 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    A new method for collecting agile tiger beetles by live pitfall trapping

    Taboada Palomares, A., Pérez-Aguirre, C. & Aßmann, T., 10.2012, In: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 145, 1, p. 82-87 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Atmospheric fate of poly- and perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs): II. Emission source strength in summer in Zurich, Switzerland

    Wang, Z., Scheringer, M., MacLeod, M., Bogdal, C., Müller, C., Gerecke, A. & Hungerbuehler, K., 10.2012, In: Environmental Pollution. 169, p. 204-209 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review