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. 2010
  2. Published

    Synthesis of Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids with the Weakly Coordinating [Al(ORF)(4)](-) Anion (R-F = C(H)(CF3)(2)) and the Determination of Their Principal Physical Properties

    Bulut, S., Klose, P., Huang, M.-M., Weingartner, H., Dyson, P. J., Laurenczy, G., Friedrich, C., Menz, J., Kummerer, K. & Krossing, I., 22.11.2010, In: Chemistry - A European Journal. 16, 44, p. 13139-13154 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The State of Multimedia Mass-Balance Modeling in Environmental science and decision-making

    MacLeod, M., Scheringer, M., McKone, T. E. & Hungerbuhler, K., 15.11.2010, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 44, 22, p. 8360-8364 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Accumulation of total trace metals due to rapid urbanization in microtidal zone of Pallikaranai marsh, South of Chennai, India

    Muthumanickam, J., Urban, B., Velmurugan, P. M. & Srinivasalu, S., 01.11.2010, In: Environmental Monitoring and Assessment. 170, 1-4, p. 609-629 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Mass-Mediated Expertise as Informal Policy Advice

    Petersen, I., Heinrichs, H. & Peters, H. P., 01.11.2010, In: Science, Technology and Human Values. 35, 6, p. 865-887 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Polyfluorinated compounds in residential and nonresidential indoor air

    Langer, V., Dreyer, A. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.11.2010, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 44, 21, p. 8075-8081 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Spatial distribution models in a frugivorous carnivore, the stone marten (Martes foina): Is the fleshy-fruit availability a useful predictor?

    Virgós, E., Cabezas-Díaz, S., Mangas, J. G. & Lozano, J., 01.11.2010, In: Animal Biology. 60, 4, p. 423-436 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Invertebrate diversity and national responsibility for species conservation across Europe: A multi-taxon approach

    Schuldt, A. & Aßmann, T., 11.2010, In: Biological Conservation. 143, 11, p. 2747-2756 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Late developers and the inequity of "equitable utilization" and the harm of "do no harm"

    Wegerich, K. & Olsson, O., 11.2010, In: Water International. 35, 6, p. 707-717 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Ein integratives Planungsinstrument für das Hochwasserrisikomanagement - der gewässerbezogene Gebietsentwicklungsplan

    Evers, M. & Krause, K.-U., 31.10.2010, In: Raumforschung und Raumordnung. 68, 5, p. 409-418 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Tree morphology responds to neighbourhood competition and slope in species-rich forests of subtropical China

    Lang, A. C., Haerdtle, W., Bruelheide, H., Geissler, C., Nadrowski, K., Schuldt, A., Yu, M. & von Oheimb, G., 15.10.2010, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 260, 10, p. 1708-1715 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Noah's ark or world wild web? Cultural perspectives in global scenario studies and their function for biodiversity conservation in a changing world

    Beumer, C. & Martens, P., 14.10.2010, In: Sustainability. 2, 10, p. 3211-3238 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  14. Published

    Sustainability, science, and higher education: The need for new paradigms

    Martens, P., Roorda, N. & Cörvers, R., 11.10.2010, In: Sustainability. 3, 5, p. 294-303 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Quantification of sources of PCBs to the atmosphere in urban areas: a comparison of cities in North America, Western Europe and former Yugoslavia

    Gasic, B., MacLeod, M., Klanova, J., Scheringer, M., Ilic, P., Lammel, G., Pajovic, A., Breivik, K., Holoubek, I. & Hungerbühler, K., 01.10.2010, In: Environmental Pollution. 158, 10, p. 3230-3235 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Innovating entrepreneurial pedagogy: Examples from France and Germany

    Klapper, R. & Tegtmeier, S., 10.2010, In: Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development. 17, 4, p. 552-568 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    International Academic Partnership "Teaching and Learning Sustainability": Implementing Higher Education for Sustainable Development at the Universidad Técnica del Norte (Ecuador)

    Barth, M., Rieckmann, M. & Aguirre, P., 10.2010, Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation: ERSCP-EMSU Conference. Quist, J., Tukker, A., Woudstra, J., Wever, R., Boons, F. & Beute, N. (eds.). Delft: Technische Universiteit Delft, 22 p.

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

  18. 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

  19. Published

    Stabilisierung des ph-Werts bei wässrigen Suspensionen von Metallpartikeln

    Klaas, N., Steiert, S., Boer, C. D. & Ruck, W., 30.09.2010, IPC No. C02F 9/04, Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, Patent No. DE102009012834A1, 02.03.2009

    Research output: PatentsPatent

  20. Published

    Sustainability Accounting and Reporting: Fad or Trend?

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 21.09.2010, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 23, 7, p. 829-846 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Is globalization healthy: A statistical indicator analysis of the impacts of globalization on health

    Martens, P., Akin, S. M., Maud, H. & Mohsin, R., 17.09.2010, In: Globalization and Health. 6, 14 p., 16.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review