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

    Probing alignment of personal and organisational values for sustainability: An assessment of barrett's organisational consciousness model

    Klapper, R., Berg, L. & Upham, P., 14.09.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 18, 20 p., 7584.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Problem-Based and Project-Based Learning for Sustainable Development

    Cörvers, R., Wiek, A., de Kraker, J. & Lang, D. J., 2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland, p. 349-358 10 p. 29

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

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Proceedings of the Conference "Protection of the Environment and the Climate": TÁMOP-Humboldt Colleg for Environment and Climate Protection, Sopron, Hungary 3rd December 2009 & 1st October 2010

    Palocz-Andresen, M. (Editor), Németh, R. (Editor) & Szalay, D. (Editor), 2011, Sopron: University of West Hungary. 283 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    Processes for green and sustainable software engineering

    Kern, E., Naumann, S. & Dick, M., 01.01.2015, Green in Software Engineering. Calero, C. & Piattini, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 61-81 21 p. (Green in Software Engineering).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Processes of sustainability transformation across systems scales: leveraging systemic change in the textile sector

    Leventon, J., Buhr, M., Keßler, L., Rodriguez Aboytes, J. G. & Beyers, F., 03.2024, In: Sustainability Science. 19, 2, p. 469-488 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Processing of CSR communication: Insights from the ELM

    Bögel, P. M., 2013, CSR Communication Conference 2013 Proceedings. Nielsen, A.-E., Thomsen, C., Golob, U., Elving, W., Schultz, F. & Podnar, K. (eds.). 1 ed. Ljubljana: University of Ljubljana, Vol. 2013. p. 82-84 3 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    Product-service systems as enabler for sustainability-oriented innovation: The case of osram's off-grid lighting

    Grosse-Dunker, F. & Hansen, E. G., 31.12.2013, Sustainable Practices: Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications. IGI Global Publishing, Vol. 2. p. 1106-1120 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Product-Service Systems as Enabler for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation: The Case of Osram’s Off-Grid Lighting

    Große-Dunker, F. & Hansen, E. G., 2012, Technological, Managerial and Organizational Core Competencies : Dynamic Innovation and Sustainable Development. Nobre, F. S., Walker, D. S. & Harris, R. J. (eds.). Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference, p. 40-54 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Produktbezogene Carbon Footprints in ERP-Systemen

    Funk, B., Möller, A. & Niemeyer, P., 2008, Konzepte, Anwendungen, Realisierungen und Entwicklungstendenzen betrieblicher Umweltinformationssysteme (BUIS). Wohlgemuth, V. (ed.). Aachen: Shaker Verlag, p. 67-76 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch