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

    Integrale Nachhaltige Entwicklung: Der Beitrag der Integralen Theorie Ken Wilbers zu einer ganzheitlichen Sichtweise Nachhaltiger Entwicklung

    Schäpke, N., 2011, Saarbrücken: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller. 188 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Integrating Art and Education for Sustainable Development. A Transdisciplinary Working Process in the Context of Culture and Sustainability

    Holz, V., 2011, Sustainable Development – The Cultural Perspective. Concepts – Aspects – Examples. Banse, G., Nelson, G. L. & Parodi, O. (eds.). 1 ed. Berlin: edition sigma, p. 239-250 12 p. (Gesellschaft – Technik – Umwelt; vol. 15).

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

  4. Published

    Integration of Sustainability into Modern Portfolio Theory

    Peylo, B. T., 2011, In: Journal of Management and Financial Sciences. IV, 6, p. 85-109 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Internet-Supported Sustainability Reporting - Expectations and Reality: Empirical Findings from the German DAX30

    Herzig, C. & Godemann, J., 2011, Handbook of Corporate Sustainability: Frameworks, Strategies and Tools. Quaddus, M. A. & Siddique, M. A. D. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 249-281 33 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Is conceptual vagueness an asset? Resilience research from the perspective of philosophy of science

    Strunz, S., 2011, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 29 p. (Working paper series in economics; no. 205).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    “It is not the CO2 itself, it’s the imbalance!”: Conceptual reconstruction of the carbon cycle in global warming

    Niebert, K. & Gropengießer, H., 2011, Authenticity in Biology Education: Benefits and Challenges; A selection of papers presented at the VIII th conference of European Researchers in Didactics of Biology (ERIDOB) 13-17 July 2010 University of Minho, Braga, Portugal . Yarden, A. & Carvalho, G. S. (eds.). Braga: CIEC, Universidade do Minho, p. 339-352 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    Jugendhilfe im Wandel: Neun Jahre Kinder- und Jugendhilfeforschung

    Baros, W., Bock, K., Coelen, T., Heite, C., Munsch, C., Oelkers, N. & Rosenbauer, N., 2011, Jugendhilfeforschung: Kontroversen – Transformationen – Adressierungen. A. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 11-17 7 p.

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

  9. Published

    Just what are temperate and boreal rainforests?

    DellaSala, D. A., Alaback, P., Spribille, T., von Wehrden, H. & Nauman, R. S., 2011, Temperate and boreal rainforests of the world: ecology and conservation. DellaSala, D. A. (ed.). Washington: Island Press, p. 1-41 41 p.

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

  10. Published

    Kein totes Pferd reiten ! Vier Plädoyers zur Erforschung von Mensch-Natur-Verhältnissen

    Katz, C., 2011, Natur und Gesellschaft: Sozialwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Regulation und Gestaltung einer Wechselbeziehung. Kruse, S. & Baerlocher, B. (eds.). Basel: edition gesowip, p. 255-280 26 p.

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

  11. Published

    Kita 21 - Die Zukunftsgestalter: Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten

    Stoltenberg, U. (Editor) & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (Editor), 2011, München: oekom verlag GmbH. 160 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch