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. Published

    Functional Involvement in Corporate Sustainability Management: Contribution of Corporate Functions to the Sustainable Development of Companies

    Schaltegger, S., Harms, D., Windolph, S. E. & Hörisch, J., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). 1 ed. Basel: edition gesowip, p. 59 - 62 4 p.

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

  2. Published

    Functional traits drive ground beetle community structures in Central European forests: Implications for conservation

    Nolte, D., Schuldt, A., Gossner, M. M., Ulrich, W. & Assmann, T., 01.09.2017, In: Biological Conservation. 213, Part A, p. 5-12 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Functional trait similarity of native and invasive herb species in subtropical China-Environment-specific differences are the key

    Bachmann, D., Both, S., Bruelheide, H., Erfmeier, A., Ding, B.-Y., Gao, M., Härdtle, W. & Scherer-Lorenzen, M., 01.11.2012, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 83, p. 82-92 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Fungal hydrolysis in submerged fermentation for food waste treatment and fermentation feedstock preparation

    Pleissner, D., Kwan, T. H. & Lin, C. S. K., 04.2014, In: Bioresource Technology. 158, p. 48-54 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Für den Naturschutz? - eine carabidologische Langzeituntersuchung im Hofgehölz Möhr

    Drees, C., Aßmann, T., Matern, A. & Günther, J., 2006, 25 Jahre Naturschutzakademie - Zukunft durch Naturschutz. Strohschneider, R. (ed.). Schneverdingen: Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz, p. 37-39 3 p. (Mitteilungen aus der Alfred Toepfer Akademie für Naturschutz; no. 1/2006).

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

  6. Published

    Für eine neue Ganzheitlichkeit: Nachhaltige Chemie

    Kümmerer, K. & Große Ophoff, M., 28.12.2022, In: Politische Ökologie. 40, 171, p. 90 - 96 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  7. Published

    Für Natur sorgen? Dilemmata feministischer Positionierungen zwischen Sorge- und Herrschaftsverhältnissen

    Hofmeister, S. (Editor) & Mölders, T. (Editor), 2021, 1 ed. Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich. 236 p. ( L'AGENda; vol. 7)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Fürsorgerationalität statt Wachstumslogik: Das Konzept der Green Economy aus feministischer Care-Perspektive

    Gottschlich, D., 2012, In: Forum Wissenschaft. 29, 2, p. 17-20 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Für_Sorge – Vor_Sorge. Feministische Perspektiven auf ‚Natur/en‘ und Menschen

    Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Onnen, C., 2019, Care: Praktiken und Politiken der Fürsorge: Ethnographische und geschlechtertheoretische Perspektiven. Binder, B., Bischoff, C., Endter, C., Hess, S., Kienitz, S. & Bergmann, S. (eds.). Leverkusen-Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 263-275 13 p.

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

  10. Published

    Für welche ´Natur/en´ sorgen wir? Kritische feministische Perspektiven auf aktuelle Care-Debatten im sozial-ökologischen Kontext

    Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T., Deininger, M. & Kapitza, K., 19.03.2019, In: Gender. 11, 1, p. 125-139 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch