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. 2020
  2. Published

    Special issue on Responsible Management Learning: Change and Innovation for Sustainability, Responsibility, Ethics

    Laasch, O. (Editor), Moosmayer, D. C. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Antonacopoulou, E. (Editor), 04.2020, Dordrecht: Springer Verlag. (Journal of Business Ethics; vol. 162, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    The effect of organic acids and alcohols on precipitation of phosphate using calcined seashell powder

    Pleissner, D., Zaman, T. & Peinemann, J., 04.2020, In: Chemical Papers. 74, 4, p. 1211-1217 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Constellations of Transdisciplinary Practices: A Map and Research Agenda for the Responsible Management Learning Field

    Laasch, O., Moosmayer, D., Antonacopoulou, E. & Schaltegger, S., 01.04.2020, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 162, 4, p. 735-757 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Impacts of Multiple Environmental Change Drivers on Growth of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica): Forest History Matters

    Mausolf, K., Härdtle, W., Hertel, D., Leuschner, C. & Fichtner, A., 01.04.2020, In: Ecosystems. 23, 3, p. 529-540 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Safeguarding the rare woodland species Gagea spathacea: Understanding habitat requirements is not sufficient

    Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., Matthies, D., Arnold, V., Erfmeier, A., Hemke, T., Jansen, D., Lütt, S., Schmidt, M., Sturm, K., von Oheimb, G. & Ohse, B., 01.04.2020, In: Plant Species Biology. 35, 2, p. 120-129 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Assessing Collaborative Conservation: A Case Survey of Output, Outcome, and Impact Measures Used in the Empirical Literature

    Koontz, T. M., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 02.04.2020, In: Society and Natural Resources. 33, 4, p. 442-461 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A web- And mobile-based intervention for comorbid, recurrent depression in patients with chronic back pain on sick leave (get.back): Pilot randomized controlled trial on feasibility, user satisfaction, and effectiveness

    Schlicker, S., Baumeister, H., Buntrock, C., Sander, L., Paganini, S., Lin, J., Berking, M., Lehr, D. & Ebert, D. D., 15.04.2020, In: JMIR Mental Health. 7, 4, 21 p., e16398.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Discursos economicistas de la sostenibilidad: Los momentos determinantes y la pregunta por alternativas

    Meyer, E. & Vilsmaier, U., 30.04.2020, In: Sustentabilidade em Debate. 11, 1, p. 98-110 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review