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

    The impact of climate change on aquatic risk from agricultural pesticides in the US

    Koleva, N. G. & Schneider, U. A., 2010, In: International Journal of Environmental Studies. 67, 5, p. 677-704 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    The impact of weather variability and climate change on pesticide applications in the US - An empirical investigation

    Koleva, N. G., Schneider, U. A. & Tol, R. S. J., 2010, In: International Journal of Ecological Economics & Statistics (IJEES). 18, S10, p. 64-81 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    The Increasing Involvement of Accountants in Corporate Sustainability Management

    Zvezdov, D., Schaltegger, S. & Bennett, M., 2010, In: Journal of the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Accountability. 16, 4, p. 20-31 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Towards a Conceptual Framework of Business Models for Sustainability

    Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2010, Knowledge Collaboration & Learning for Sustainable Innovation : Conference Proceedings. Wever, R., Quist, J., Tukker, A., Woudstra, J., Boons, F. & Beute, N. (eds.). Delft: Technische Universiteit Delft, 28 p.

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

  7. Published

    Transkulturalität, Hybridität und neue Ethnizitäten im Spiegel der Diskussion um „Kulturelle Vielfalt“ im Rahmen einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Holz, V., 2010, Wechselspiele: Kultur und Nachhaltigkeit: Annäherungen an ein Spannungsfeld. Parodi, O., Banse, G. & Schaffer, A. (eds.). Berlin: edition sigma, p. 275-292 18 p. (Global zukunftsfähige Entwicklung; vol. 15).

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

  8. Published

    Unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit als Treiber von Unternehmenserfolg und Strukturwandel

    Schaltegger, S., 2010, In: Wirtschaftspolitische Blätter. 57, 4, p. 495-503 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Von Alltagspraxen, Aushandlungen und Irritationen: Lebensentwürfe und prekäre Verhältnisse in der geschlechtersensiblen Bildungsarbeit

    Offen, S., 2010, In: Gender. 2, 1, p. 152-160 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Von Exellenz-Leuchttürmen, Glühwürmchen und anderweitig Erleuchteten: Nachhaltige Entwicklung als Innovation und Profilbildungsmerkmal in der bundesdeutschen Hochschullandschaft

    Adomßent, M., 2010, Nachhaltige Entwicklung - das neue Paradigma in der Ökonomie. Hagemann, H. & Hauff, M. (eds.). Marburg: Metropolis Verlag für Ökonomie, p. 571-597 27 p.

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