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. 2014
  2. Published

    Assessing participatory practices in community-based natural resource management: Experiences in community engagement from southern Africa

    Dyer, J., Stringer, L. C., Dougill, A. J., Leventon, J., Nshimbi, M., Chama, F., Kafwifwi, A., Muledi, J. I., Kaumbu, J. M. K., Falcao, M., Muhorro, S., Munyemba, F., Kalaba, G. M. & Syampungani, S., 01.05.2014, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 137, p. 137-145 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Brown bear activity in traditional wood-pastures in Southern Transylvania, Romania

    Röllig, M., Dorresteijn, I., von Wehrden, H., Hartel, T. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2014, In: Ursus. 25, 1, p. 44-52 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Cross-level Information and Influence in Mandated Participatory Planning: Alternative Pathways to Sustainable Water Management in Germany’s Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

    Koontz, T. M. & Newig, J., 01.05.2014, In: Land Use Policy. 38, p. 594–604 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Das Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz 2.0

    Schomerus, T., 02.05.2014, In: Unsere Wirtschaft. 46, 5, p. 44-45 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  6. Published

    "Sustainability State” in the Making? Institutionalization of Sustainability in German Federal Policy Making

    Heinrichs, H. & Laws, N., 05.05.2014, In: Sustainability. 6, 5, p. 2623-2641 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Do persistent organic pollutants reach a thermodynamic equilibrium in the global environment?

    Schenker, S., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 06.05.2014, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 48, 9, p. 5017-5024 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Measuring and Managing Sustainability Performance of Supply Chains: Review and Sustainability Supply Chain Management Framework

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 06.05.2014, In: Supply Chain Management. 19, 3, p. 232-241 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Involving Corporate Functions: Who Contributes to Sustainable Development?

    Schaltegger, S., Harms, D., Windolph, S. E. & Hörisch, J., 19.05.2014, In: Sustainability. 6, 5, p. 3064-3085 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The Right to Liberty and Security, Public Health and Disease Control

    Sanden, J. & Bachmann, S. D., 22.05.2014, SSRN Social Science Research Network, 28 p. (Social Science Research Network).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  11. Published

    Tree Species Traits but Not Diversity Mitigate Stem Breakage in a Subtropical Forest following a Rare and Extreme Ice Storm

    Nadrowski, K., Pietsch, K., Baruffol, M., Both, S., Gutknecht, J., Bruelheide, H., Heklau, H., Kahl, A., Kahl, T., Niklaus, P. A., Kröber, W., Liu, X., Mi, X., Michalski, S. G., Oheimb, G., Purschke, O., Schmid, B., Fang, T., Welk, E. & Wirth, C., 30.05.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 5, 7 p., e96022.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review