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

    Nuclear accidents call for transdisciplinary nuclear energy research

    Gralla, F., Abson, D., Møller, A. P., Lang, D. J., Vilsmaier, U., Sovacool, B. K. & von Wehrden, H., 01.2015, In: Sustainability Science. 10, 1, p. 179-183 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Ökonomische Analyse der Trade-Offs zwischen Gerechtigkeiten

    Baumgärtner, S., Sievers-Glotzbach, S., Hoberg, N., Quaas, M. F. & Stumpf, K. H., 2014, In: Journal für Generationengerechtigkeit. 14, 1, p. 10-18 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Personal norms of sustainability and farm management behavior

    Olbrich, R., Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 06.08.2014, In: Sustainability. 6, 8, p. 4990-5017 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Guest Editorial: Measuring and Managing Sustainability Performance of Supply Chains

    Schaltegger, S. & Burritt, R., 2014, In: Supply Chain Management. 19, 3, p. 229-231 3 p.

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

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Jugendliche im Web 2.0: Risiken und Chancen

    von Salisch, M., 05.2014, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 63, 5, p. 338-342 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die Beziehung zwischen CSR und Corporate Sustainability

    Schaltegger, S., 2015, Corporate Social Responsibility: Verantwortungsvolle Unternehmensführung in Theorie und Praxis. Schneider, A. & Schmidpeter, R. (eds.). 2 ed. Berlin/Heidelberg: Gabler Verlag, p. 199-209 11 p.

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

  8. Published

    Atmospheric mercury speciation and mercury in snow over time at Alert, Canada

    Steffen, A., Bottenheim, J. W., Cole, A. S., Ebinghaus, R., Lawson, G. S. & Leaitch, W. R., 03.03.2014, In: Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics. 14, 5, p. 2219-2231 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Numerical responses of saproxylic beetles to rapid increases in dead wood availability following geometrid moth outbreaks in sub-arctic mountain birch forest

    Vindstad, O. P. L., Schultze, S., Jepsen, J. U., Biuw, M., Kapari, L., Sverdrup-Thygeson, A. & Ims, R. A., 09.06.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 6, 13 p., e99624.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review