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. 2011
  2. Published

    Australia’s Stock Route Network: 2. Representation of fertile landscapes

    Lentini, P. E., Fischer, J., Gibbons, P., Lindenmayer, D. & Martin, T., 08.2011, In: Ecological Management & Restoration. 12, 2, p. 148-151 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Competitive Markets, Corporate Firms, and New Governance: An Ordonomic Conceptualization

    Pies, I., Beckmann, M. & Hielscher, S., 08.2011, Corporate Citizenship and New Governance: The Political Role of Corporations. Pies, I. & Koslowski , P. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 171-188 18 p. (Ethical Economics : Studies in Economic Ethics and Philosophy).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Debt for Brands: Tracking Down a Bias in Financing Photovoltaic Projects in Germany

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Loock, M., 08.2011, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 19, 12, p. 1356-1364 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Dissolved carbon leaching from an Irish cropland soil is increased by reduced tillage and cover cropping

    Walmsley, D. C., Siemens, J., Kindler, R., Kirwan, L., Saunders, M., Kaupenjohann, M., Osborne, B. A. & Kaiser, K., 08.2011, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 142, 3-4, p. 393-402 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Erratum to "Generic functions of railway stations-A conceptual basis for the development of common system understanding and assessment criteria" [Transp. Policy 18 (2010) 446-455]

    Zemp, S., Stauffacher, M., Lang, D. J. & Scholz, R. W., 08.2011, In: Transport Policy. 18, 4, p. 648-648 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Konzeption und Praxis des Nachhaltigkeitscontrollings: Ansatzpunkte in großen deutschen Unternehmen

    Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 08.2011, In: Controlling. 23, 8/9, p. 430-435 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Measuring the Impacts of NGO Partnerships: The Corporate and Societal Benefits of Community Involvement

    Hansen, E. G. & Spitzeck, H., 08.2011, In: Corporate Governance. 11, 4, p. 415-426 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Online Peer-to-Peer Lending: A Literature Review

    Bachmann, A., Becker, A., Bürckner, D., Hilker, M., Kock, F., Lehmann, M., Tiburtius, P. & Funk, B., 08.2011, In: Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce. 16, 2, p. 1-18 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    The cuticular profiles of Australian stingless bees are shaped by resin of the eucalypt tree Corymbia torelliana

    Leonhardt, S., Wallace, H. M. & Schmitt, T., 08.2011, In: Austral Ecology. 36, 5, p. 537–543 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Predator diversity and abundance provide little support for the enemies hypothesis in forests of high tree diversity

    Schuldt, A., Both, S., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W., Schmid, B., Zhou, H. & Aßmann, T., 28.07.2011, In: PLoS ONE. 6, 7, 8 p., e22905.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review