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

    Beyond Markets: Strategic Sustainability Management Control

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 2011, EURAM 2011: Management Culture in the 21st Century : European Academy of Management (EURAM). Alas, R. & Bessant, J. (eds.). Tallinn, Estonia: Estonian Business School, 28 p. (EURAM Conference).

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

  3. Published

    Bildung auf dem Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit: Vorschlag eines Indikatoren-Sets zur Beurteilung von Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Di Giulio, A., Ruesch Schweizer, C., Adomßent, M., Blaser, M., Bormann, I., Burandt, S., Fischbach, R., Kaufmann-Hayoz, R., Krikser, T., Künzli David, C., Michelsen, G., Rammel, C. & Streissler, A., 2011, Bern: Interfakultäre Koordinationsstelle für Allgemeine Ökologie (IKAÖ), Universität Bern, 144 p. (Interfakultären Koordinationsstelle für Allgemeine Ökologie (IKAÖ); no. 12/2011).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  4. Published

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung als orientierendes Konzept für die Arbeit von Kitas

    Stoltenberg, U., 2011, KITA21 – Die Zukunftsgestalter. Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten. Stoltenberg, U. & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 21-26 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung für Kita-Kinder

    Stoltenberg, U., 2011, KITA21 – Die Zukunftsgestalter. Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten. Stoltenberg, U. & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 57-70 14 p.

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

  6. Published

    Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung für pädagogische Fachkräfte in Kitas

    Stoltenberg, U., 2011, KITA21 – Die Zukunftsgestalter. Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten. Stoltenberg, U. & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 27-56 30 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltigen Konsum - ein Praxisbuch: Mit Beispielen und Anregungen aus dem Projekt BINK - Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum

    Fischer, D. (Editor) & Nemnich, C. (Editor), 2011, Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 140 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesTransfer

  8. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltigen Konsum in der Praxis

    Nemnich, C. & Fischer, D., 2011, Bildung für nachhaltigen Konsum: ein Praxisbuch ; mit Beispielen und Anregungen aus dem Projekt BINK - Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum. Nemnich, C. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 8-14 6 p.

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

  9. Published

    Bildungsinstitutionen und nachhaltiger Konsum: Ein Leitfaden zur Förderung nachhaltigen Konsums

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), Nemnich, C. (Editor) & Fischer, D. (Editor), 2011, Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 100 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesTransfer

  10. Published

    Bildungskooperation international

    Bergmüller, C. (Editor) & Rieckmann, M. (Editor), 2011, Münster: Waxmann Verlag. 40 p. (Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik; vol. 34, no. 2)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  11. Published

    Bildungsorganisationale Konsumkultur als Kontext jugendlichen Konsumlernens

    Barth, M., Fischer, D., Michelsen, G. & Rode, H., 2011, Wesen und Wege nachhaltigen Konsums: Ergebnisse aus dem Themenschwerpunkt "Vom Wissen zum Handeln - Neue Wege zum nachhaltigen Konsum". Defila, R., DeGiulio, A. & Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 247–263 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch