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
Socio-technical change linking expectations and representations: Innovating thermal treatment of municipal solid waste
Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.04.2017, In: Science and Public Policy. 44, 2, p. 211-224 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-Environmental Vulnerability of Agriculture Communities to Climate Change in Western Himalaya: A Household-Level Review
Chauhan, N., von Wehrden, H. & Joshi, P. K., 24.09.2022, Challenges of Disasters in Asia: Vulnerability, Adaptation and Resilience. Sajjad, H., Siddiqui, L., Rahman, A., Tahir, M. & Ahsan Siddiqui, M. (eds.). Springer Verlag, p. 123-145 23 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
- Published
Socio-economic Context of Forest Biodiversity Use along a Town–Forest Gradient in Cambodia
Motzke, I., Wanger, T. C., Zanre, E., Tscharntke, T. & Barkmann, J., 2012, In: Raffles Bulletin of Zoology. SUPPL.25, p. 37-53 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socioeconomic and biophysical factors affect tree diversity in farms producing specialty coffee in Caranavi, Bolivia
Torrico, G. G., Antezana Alvarado, N., Pacheco, L. F., Benavides‑Frias, C. & Jacobi, J., 02.2024, In: Agroforestry Systems. 98, 2, p. 427-439 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-economic analysis for the authorisation of chemicals under REACH: a case of very high concern?
Gabbert, S., Scheringer, M., Ng, C. A. & Stolzenberg, H.-C., 11.2014, In: Regulatory toxicology and pharmacology : RTP. 70, 2, p. 564-571 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-ecological Research: The Cases of Rural Development an Agro-Biotechnology: Conference Report
Gottschlich, D., Mölders, T. & Laschewski, L., 2012, In: Eastern European Countryside (EEC). 18, p. 177-182 6 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Socioecological Interactions amid Global Change
Almekinders, C. J. M., Stone, G. D., Baranski, M., Carney, J. A., Hanspach, J., Krishna, V. V., Ramirez-Villegas, J., Etten, J. V. & Zimmerer, K. S., 30.04.2019, Agrobiodiversity: Integrating knowledge for a sustainable future. Zimmerer, K. S. & Haan, S. D. (eds.). Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, p. 117-143 27 p. (Strüngmann Forum Reports).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socioecological drivers facilitating biodiversity conservation in traditional farming landscapes
Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 20.11.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 9, p. 1-9 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-cultural valuation approaches
Santos-Martín, F., Kelemen, E., García-Llorente, M., Jacobs, S., Oteros-Rozas, E., Barton, D. N., Palomo, I., Hevia, V. & Martín-López, B., 30.03.2017, Mapping ecosystem services. Burkhard, B. & Maes, J. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 102-112 11 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Education › peer-review
- Published
Socio-cultural differences in understanding and development of corporate social responsibility in Germany and Croatia
Bögel, P. M., Brstilo Lovric, I., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S. & Sippel , C. S., 2018, The critical state of corporate social responsibility in Europe. Tench, R., Jones, B. & W. S. (eds.). Bingley: Emerald Publishing Limited, p. 161-178 18 p. (Critical Studies on Corporate Responsibility, Governance and Sustainability; vol. 12).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review