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. 2001
  2. Published

    Zur Herleitung von Gesetzgebungskompetenzen im Umweltschutz

    Fischer, C., 2001, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. 299 p. (Schriftenreihe Recht, Ökonomie und Umwelt; vol. 11)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Zur Käferfauna von Sandtrockenrasen und Heidegesellschaften in Hudelandschaften des Emslandes (Nordwest-Deutschland)

    Falke, B. & Aßmann, T., 2001, In: Drosera. 1/2, p. 35-52 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Zwischen Klugheits- und Moralgebot: Das Leitbild Nachhaltige Entwicklung als Herausforderung zur Erneuerung der Ökonomie jenseits ihrer Bindungen an die dichotomen Konstrukte des sozialen Geschlechter- und Naturverhältnisses

    Hofmeister, S., 2001, Ethik und Nachhaltigkeit: Grundsatzfragen und Handlungsperspektiven im universitären Agendaprozess.. Altner, G. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Frankfurt a.M.: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 155-173 19 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen: nachhaltige Entwicklung ; vol. 5).

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

  5. Published

    Zwischenzeiten - Zwischenräume: Übergänge: Fokus von Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien

    Hofmeister, S., 2001, Kompetenz und Kreativität: eine Universität in Entwicklung ; Hartwig Donner zum 60. Geburtstag. Heilmann, J. (ed.). Lüneburg: UNIBUCH Verlag, p. 349-367 19 p.

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

  6. 2000
  7. Published

    Auf dem Weg von der Durchflußökonomie zur nachhaltigen Stoffwirtschaft: ein Vorschlag zur Weiterentwicklung der grundlegenden Regeln

    Held, M., Hofmeister, S., Kümmerer, K. & Schmid, B., 01.12.2000, In: GAIA. 9, 4, p. 257-266 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A world of abundance

    McDonough, W. & Braungart, M., 01.06.2000, In: Interfaces. 30, 3, p. 55-65 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Wohin führt die Entwicklung der Analysemethoden für nachhaltige Finanzdienstleistungen?

    Schaltegger, S. & Figge, F., 01.06.2000, In: GAIA. 9, 2, p. 122-127 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Die bewegten Gründer: löst die Neue Wirtschaft die Ökologiebewegung ab? ; eine Polemik

    Petersen, H., 01.04.2000, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 15, 2, p. 4-5 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  11. Published
  12. Published

    Environmental Shareholder Value: Economic Success with Corporate Environmental Management

    Schaltegger, S. & Figge, F., 01.03.2000, In: Eco-Management and Auditing. 7, 1, p. 29-42 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review