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

    Pathways to energy sustainability: new instruments for promoting energy efficiency

    Schomerus, T., 2009, The Paradigm Shift towards Energy Sustainability: Climate Change, Innovation and the Optimal Instrument Mix. Rodi, M. (ed.). Berlin: Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft , p. 39-50 12 p.

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

  2. Published

    Pathways of Conflict: Lessons from the Cultivation of MON810 in Germany in 2005–2008 for Emerging Conflicts over New Breeding Techniques

    Friedrich, B., 01.01.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 1, 17 p., 144.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Pathogen induced disturbance and succession in temperate forests: Evidence from a 100-year data set in southern Sweden

    Brunet, J., Bukina, Y., Hedwall, P.-O., Holmström, E. & Oheimb, G., 03.2014, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 15, 2, p. 114-121 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Path dependence of accountants: Why are they not involved in corporate sustainability?

    Wenzig, J., Nuzum, A.-K. & Schaltegger, S., 09.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 6, p. 2662-2683 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Pasture landscapes in Germany: progress towards a sustainable use of agricultural land

    Härdtle, W., Mierwald, U., Behrends, T., Eischeid, I., Garniel, A., Grell, H., Haese, D., Schneider-Fenske, A. & Voigt, N., 2002, Pasture landscapes and nature conservation. Redecker, B., Härdtle, W., Finck, P., Riecken, U. & Schröder, E. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Verlag, p. 147-160 14 p.

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

  6. Published

    Pasture landscapes and nature conservation

    Redecker, B. (Editor), Finck, P. (Editor), Härdtle, W. (Editor), Riecken, U. (Editor) & Schröder, E. (Editor), 2002, Berlin: Springer Verlag. 435 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  7. Published

    Partnerships in Support of an Integrated Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility: South African Case Study

    Rollin, C., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 99 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Partnerships for Sustainable Business Development: Capacity Buildung in South-East Asia

    Viere, T., Herzig, C., Schaltegger, S. & Leung, R., 2006, Partnerships for Sustainable Development. Welford, R., Hills, P. R. & Young, W. (eds.). Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, p. 4-15 12 p.

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

  9. Published

    Partnerships for Corporate Sustainability: Capacity Development for SMEs in South-East Asia

    Viere, T. & Herzig, C., 2005, Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen in Umbruchsituationen. Schöning, S., Richter, J., Ott, I. & Nissen, D. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 71-83 13 p.

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

  10. Published

    Partizipative Hochschulentwicklung für den digitalen Wandel – Leitlinien des studierendenzentrierten Change Management

    Denker, F., Röwert, R. & Böckel, A., 2021, Digitalisierung in Studium und Lehre gemeinsam gestalten: Innovative Formate, Strategien und Netzwerke. Wiesbaden: Springer Vieweg, p. 233-247 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter