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

    Species accounts

    Turin, H., Penev, L. D., Casale, A., Arndt, E., Aßmann, T., Makarow, K., Mossakowski, D., Szél, G. & Weber, F., 2003, The genus carabus in europe: A Synthesis . Turin, H., Penev, L. & Casale, A. (eds.). Sofia [u.a.]: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 151-286 136 p.

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

  2. Published

    Special issue on Responsible Management Learning: Change and Innovation for Sustainability, Responsibility, Ethics

    Laasch, O. (Editor), Moosmayer, D. C. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Antonacopoulou, E. (Editor), 04.2020, Dordrecht: Springer Verlag. (Journal of Business Ethics; vol. 162, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  3. Published

    Special Issue on Impact Investing – Critical Examinations of Motivations, Processes and Results

    Hockerts, K. (Editor), Hehenberger, L. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Farber, V. (Editor), 2022, Dordrecht: Springer Verlag. 180 p. (Journal of Business Ethics; vol. 179, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  4. Published

    Special issue: Frameworks for Sustainability Management

    Hörisch, J. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor), Weissbrod, I. (Editor) & Schreck, P. (Editor), 05.2023, Berlin: Springer Verlag. (Journal of Business Economics; vol. 93, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  5. Published

    Special Issue 'Communication for and about Sustainability'

    Barth, M. (Editor) & Michelsen, G. (Editor), 2013, MDPI AG. (Sustainability; vol. 2013, no. 05)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  6. Published

    Spatial variation in human disturbances and their effects on forest structure and biodiversity across an Afromontane forest

    Beche, D., Tack, A., Nemomissa, S., Warkineh, B., Lemessa, D., Rodrigues, P., Fischer, J. & Hylander, K., 01.02.2022, In: Landscape Ecology. 37, 2, p. 493-510 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Spatial trends and ecotoxic risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals in sediments from Lake Victoria, Uganda, East Africa

    Nantaba, F., Wasswa, J., Kylin, H., Bouwman, H., Palm, W.-U. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 906, 10 p., 167348.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Spatial scale affects seed predation and dispersal in contrasting anthropogenic landscapes

    Pufal, G. & Klein, A. M., 12.2015, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 16, 8, p. 726-736 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Spatial predictions for the distribution of woody plant species under different land-use scenarios in southwestern Ethiopia

    Duguma, D. W., Law, E., Shumi, G., Rodrigues, P., Senbeta, F., Schultner, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 05.2023, In: Landscape Ecology. 38, 5, p. 1249-1263 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Spatial patterns of cultural ecosystem services provision in Southern Patagonia

    Martínez Pastur, G., Peri, P. L., Lencinas, M. V., García-Llorente, M. & Martín-López, B., 01.02.2016, In: Landscape Ecology. 31, 2, p. 383-399 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review