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

    Variation in nectar quality across 34 grassland plant species

    Venjakob, C., Ruedenauer, F. A., Klein, A.-M. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.01.2022, In: Plant Biology. 24, 1, p. 134-144 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Valuing electronic devices? User narratives and their role for durability

    Hipp, T. & Fischer, D., 18.10.2023, Durable Economies: Organizing the Material Foundations of Society. Jaeger-Erben, M., Wiesner, H., Marwede, M. & Hoffmann, F. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 131-157 27 p. (Labor and Organization; vol. 10).

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

  3. Published

    Valuing Climate Change Effects Upon UK Agricultural GHG Emissions: Spatial Analysis of a Regulating Ecosystem Service

    Abson, D., Termansen, M., Pascual, U., Aslam, U., Fezzi, C. & Bateman, I. J., 02.2014, In: Environmental and Resource Economics. 57, 2, p. 215-231 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Valuing beaches for beauty and recreation only? Uncovering perception bias through a hashtag analysis

    Wahler, H., Fanini, L. & Riechers, M., 01.09.2023, In: Marine Policy. 155, 105707.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Values shift in response to social learning through deliberation about protected areas

    Andrade, R., van Riper, C. J., Goodson, D. J., Johnson, D. N., Stewart, W., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Lo, V. & Raymond, C. M., 01.01.2023, In: Global Environmental Change. 78, 12 p., 102630.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Values in transformational sustainability science: four perspectives for change

    Horcea-Milcu, A.-I., Abson, D. J., Apetrei, C. I., Duse, I. A., Freeth, R., Riechers, M., Lam, D. P. M., Dorninger, C. & Lang, D. J., 02.09.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 5, p. 1425-1437 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    VALUES-BASED BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION-THE CASE OF ECOSIA AND ITS BUSINESS MODEL

    Ivanov, K., 09.07.2022, In: International Journal of Innovation Management. 26, 5, 41 p., 2240002.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Values-based barriers and good practices in sustainability-oriented innovation management

    Ivanov, K., 03.2025, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 32, 2, p. 1393-1411 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Value of semi-open corridors for simultaneously connecting open and wooded habitats: A case study with ground beetles

    Eggers, B., Matern, A., Drees, C., Eggers, J., Haerdtle, W. & Aßmann, T., 02.2010, In: Conservation Biology. 24, 1, p. 256-266 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Value Creation, Management Competencies, and Global Corporate Citizenship: An Ordonomic Approach to Business Ethics in the Age of Globalization

    Pies, I., Beckmann, M. & Hielscher, S., 01.06.2010, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 94, 2, p. 265-278 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review