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

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. Published

    Sustainability economics - General versus specific, and conceptual versus practical

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M., 15.09.2010, In: Ecological Economics. 69, 11, p. 2056-2059 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  14. Published

    Risk preferences under heterogeneous environmental risk

    Olbrich, R., Baumgärtner, S., Quaas, M. F. & Haensler, A., 07.09.2010, Jahrestagung des Vereins für Socialpolitik 2010 (Kiel): Ökonomie der Familie . Verein für Socialpolitik, 23 p.

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

  15. Published

    Application of the two-sample doubly labelled water method alters behaviour and affects estimates of energy expenditure in black-legged kittiwakes

    Schultner, J., Welcker, J., Speakman, J. R., Nordoy, E. S. & Gabrielsen, G. W., 01.09.2010, In: Journal of Experimental Biology. 213, 17, p. 2958-2966 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Hygrochastic capsule dehiscence in New Zealand alpine Veronica (Plantaginaceae)

    Pufal, G., Ryan, K. G. & Garnock-Jones, P., 01.09.2010, In: American Journal of Botany. 97, 9, p. 1413-1423 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Hygrochastic capsule dehiscence supports safe site strategies in New Zealand alpine Veronica (Plantaginaceae)

    Pufal, G. & Garnock-Jones, P., 01.09.2010, In: Annals of Botany. 106, 3, p. 405-412 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Managing increasing environmental risks through agrobiodiversity and agrienvironmental policies

    Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.09.2010, In: Agricultural Economics. 41, 5, p. 483-496 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Biogeography meets conservation: the genetic structure of the endangered lycaenid butterfly Lycaena helle (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)

    Habel, J. C., Schmitt, T., Meyer, M., Finger, A., Roedder, D., Aßmann, T. & Zachos, F. E., 09.2010, In: Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 101, 1, p. 155-168 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Inhibition of foam cell formation using a soluble CD68-Fc fusion protein

    Daub, K., Siegel-Axel, D., Schönberger, T., Leder, C., Seizer, P., Müller, K., Schaller, M., Penz, S., Menzel, D., Buchele, B., Bültmann, A., Münch, G., Lindemann, S., Simmet, T. & Gawaz, M., 09.2010, In: Journal of Molecular Medicine. 88, 9, p. 909-920 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Managing Strategic Alliances through a Community-Enabled Balanced Scorecard: The Case of Merck Ltd, Thailand

    Hansen, E. G., Sextl, M. & Reichwald, R., 09.2010, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 19, 6, p. 387-399 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review