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

    Mandelic acid derived ionic liquids: Synthesis, toxicity and biodegradability

    Prydderch, H., Haiß, A., Spulak, M., Quilty, B., Kümmerer, K., Heise, A. & Gathergood, N., 01.01.2017, In: RSC Advances. 7, 4, p. 2115-2126 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Managing the grazing landscape: insights for agricultural adaptation from a mid-drought photo-elicitation study in the Australian sheep-wheat belt

    Sherren, K., Fischer, J. & Fazey, I., 02.2012, In: Agricultural Systems. 106, 1, p. 72-83 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Managing the Business Case for Sustainability: The Integration of Social, Environmental and Economic Performance

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Wagner, M. (Editor), 2006, Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing. 625 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  4. Published

    Managing Sustainability Performance Measurement and Reporting in an Integrated Manner: Sustainability Accounting as the Link Between the Sustainability Balanced Scorecard and Sustainability Reporting

    Schaltegger, S. & Wagner, M., 2006, Sustainability Accounting and Reporting. Schaltegger, S., Bennett, M. & Burritt, R. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland, p. 681-697 17 p. (Eco-Efficiency in industry and science; vol. 21).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Managing sustainability communication on campus: experiences from Lüneburg

    Franz-Balsen, A. & Heinrichs, H., 25.09.2007, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 8, 4, p. 431 - 445 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Managing Supplier Requirements with HSE Accounting: The Case of the Mechanical Engineering Company Bisma Jaya, Indonesia

    Schaltegger, S. & Herzig, C., 2011, In: Social and Environmental Accountability Journal. 5, 1/2, p. 82-105 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Managing Strategic Alliances through a Community-Enabled Balanced Scorecard: The Case of Merck Ltd, Thailand

    Hansen, E. G., Sextl, M. & Reichwald, R., 09.2010, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 19, 6, p. 387-399 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Managing Research Environments: Heterarchies in Academia. A Response to Cumming

    Fischer, J., 01.12.2016, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 31, 12, p. 900-902 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  9. Published

    Managing invasive species amidst high uncertainty and novelty

    Larson, B. M. H., Kueffer, C., the ZiF Working Group on Ecological Novelty & Klein, A.-M., 05.2013, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 28, 5, p. 255-256 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Managing increasing environmental risks through agrobiodiversity and agrienvironmental policies

    Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.09.2010, In: Agricultural Economics. 41, 5, p. 483-496 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review