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. 2017
  2. Published

    Sustainability and management control. Exploring and theorizing control patterns in large European firms

    Crutzen, N., Zvezdov, D. & Schaltegger, S., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 143, p. 1291-1301 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Trait-based approaches to analyze links between the drivers of change and ecosystem services: Synthesizing existing evidence and future challenges

    Hevia, V., Martín-López, B., Palomo, S., García-Llorente, M., de Bello, F. & González, J. A., 01.02.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 3, p. 831-844 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Tree diversity increases levels of herbivore damage in a subtropical forest canopy: evidence for dietary mixing by arthropods?

    Brezzi, M., Schmid, B., Niklaus, P. A. & Schuldt, A., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 13-27 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Tree diversity promotes generalist herbivore community patterns in a young subtropical forest experiment

    Zhang, J., Bruelheide, H., Chen, X., Eichenberg, D., Kröber, W., Xu, X., Xu, L. & Schuldt, A., 01.02.2017, In: Oecologia. 183, 2, p. 455-467 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    “We cannot let this happen again”: reversing UK flood policy in response to the Somerset Levels floods, 2014

    Smith, A., Porter, J. J. & Upham, P., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 60, 2, p. 351-369 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die Natur des Ländlichen: zur Konzeption gesellschaftlicher Natur- und Geschlechterverhältnisse in ländlichen Räumen

    Mölders, T., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 119-138 20 p.

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

  8. Published

    Die paradoxen Hybride: ein graphisches Essay über die Praxis der Unterscheidung zwischen Natur und Gesellschaft

    Sulmowski, J. A., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 45-61 17 p.

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

  9. Published

    Die verschwiegenen politischen Momente in der Agro-Gentechnik-Debatte in Polen

    Sulmowski, J. A., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 171-192 22 p.

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

  10. Published

    Einführung in das Politikfeld Agro-Gentechnik: Zwischen Bürokratisierung, Ökonomisierung von Governance und Politisierung

    Friedrich, B., Gottschlich, D. & Sulmowski, J. A., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 147-152 6 p.

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

  11. Published

    Einführung in das Politikfeld Ländliche Entwicklung: zwischen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit und Nachhaltigkeit

    Mölders, T., Burandt, A. & Szumelda, A. U., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 65-69 5 p.

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