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

    Of sustainability and storytelling - An introduction to this book

    Sundermann, A., Fischer, D., Fücker, S. & Selm, H., 08.12.2022, Narrating Sustainability through Storytelling. Fischer, D., Fücker, S., Selm, H. & Sundermann, A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 3-10 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Ohne Anstoß und Unterstützung von außen geht es nicht

    Stoltenberg, U., 2011, KITA21 – Die Zukunftsgestalter. Mit Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung Gegenwart und Zukunft gestalten. Stoltenberg, U. & Thielebein-Pohl, R. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 167-170 4 p.

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

  3. Published

    OH-radical reactivity and direct photolysis of triphenyltin hydroxide in aqueous solution

    Palm, W.-U., Kopetzky, R. & Ruck, W., 20.03.2003, In: Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. 156, 1-3, p. 105-114 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Öko-Controlling: Überblick über bisherige Ansätze

    Schaltegger, S. & Kempke, S., 1996, In: Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft. 66, Ergänzungsheft 2/96, p. 149-163 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Öko-Controlling als ökonomisch- ökologisches Führungsinstrument

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1992, In: IO-Management. 61, 6, p. 71-75 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  6. Published

    Öko-Controlling für das Firmenareal

    Buser, H. & Schaltegger, S., 1995, In: IO-Management. 64, 5, p. 77-82 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  7. Published

    Öko-Effizienz durch Öko-Controlling: Zur praktischen Umsetzung von EMAS und ISO 14001

    Schaltegger, S. & Sturm, A., 1995, Zürich: vdf Hochschulverlag an der ETH Zürich. 164 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  8. Published

    Ökoeffizienz in deutschen Unternehmen

    Zeyen, A., Klewitz, J. & Hansen, E. G., 31.08.2011, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 26, 3, p. 47-50 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  9. Published

    Ökofeminismus

    Katz, C., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse & Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen, Berlin, Toronto: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 79-85 7 p.

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

  10. Published

    Ökofeminismus und Dualismuskritik: Val Plumwood

    Katz, C., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse & Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen, Berlin, Toronto: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 108-114 7 p.

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