School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Life Cycle analysis
Braungart, M., Mulhall, D. & Hansen, K., 2013, Achieving Sustainability: Visions, Principles, and Practices. Rowe, D. (ed.). Palgrave Macmillan, Vol. 1.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Articles for encyclopedia › Research
- Published
Life Cycle and Supply Chain Information in Environmental Management Accounting: A Coffee Case Study
Viere, T., von Enden, J. & Schaltegger, S., 2011, Environmental Management Accounting and Supply Chain Management. Burritt, R., Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M., Pohjola, T. & Csutora, M. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Verlag, p. 23-40 18 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA): Quo Vadis?
Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 1996, Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag. 187 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research
- Published
Life Cycle Assessment of Consumption Patterns – Understanding the links between changing social practices and environmental impacts
Suski, P., Augenstein, K. & Greiff, K., 20.10.2024, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 477, 13 p., 143813.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Life cycle assessment of hetero- and phototrophic as well as combined cultivations of Galdieria sulphuraria
Thielemann, A. K., Smetana, S. & Pleissner, D., 01.09.2021, In: Bioresource Technology. 335, 7 p., 125227.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Light availability and land-use history drive biodiversity and functional changes in forest herb layer communities
Depauw, L., Perring, M. P., Landuyt, D., Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., De Lombaerde, E., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Closset-Kopp, D., Czerepko, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Gawryś, R., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Liepiņa, I., Macek, M., Máliš, F., Schmidt, W., Smart, S. M., Ujházy, K., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.07.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 4, p. 1411-1425 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Like! You saved #energy today. Fostering Energy Efficiency in Buildings – The implementation of social media patterns as symbols in Building Management Systems‘ Graphical User Interfaces using Peirce’s semeiosis as a communication concept
Tribel, A., Opel, O. & Geffken, J., 2014, EnviroInfo 2014: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ENERGY EFFICIENY. Gómez, J. M., Sonnenschein, M., Vogel, U., Winter, A., Rapp, B. & Giesen, N. (eds.). Oldenburg: Universität Oldenburg, Bibliotheks- und Informationssystem, p. 597-604 8 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Published abstract in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
- Published
Limited effectiveness of EU policies to conserve an endangered species in high nature value farmland in Romania
Loos, J., Gallersdörfer, J., Hartel, T., Dolek, M. & Sutcliffe, L., 10.2021, In: Ecology and Society. 26, 3, 11 p., 3.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Limited knowledge flow among stakeholders of critically endangered renosterveld in South Africa
Burghardt, S., Topp, E. N., Esler, K. J. & Loos, J., 10.2021, In: Ecology and Society. 26, 3, 17 p., 17.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Linking bird species traits to vegetation characteristics in a future urban development zone: Implications for urban planning
Ikin, K., Lindenmayer, D. B., Fischer, J., Manning, A. D. & Knight, E., 12.2012, In: Urban Ecosystems. 15, 4, p. 961-977 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review