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

    Tagungsbericht: Energie-Konferenz - Standortnachteil Deutschland: Sind die Industriestrompreise in Deutschland missbräuchlich überhöht?

    Guerra González, J., 01.03.2011, In: Natur und Recht. 33, 3, p. 199-200 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Klimaschutz durch Bioenergie - Das Recht der Biomassenutzung zwischen Klimaschutz und Nachhaltigkeit: Tagungsbericht: 5. Würzburger Gespräche zum Umweltenergierecht

    Guerra González, J., 04.2010, In: Natur und Recht. 32, 4, p. 258-260 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalTransfer

  3. Published

    Künstliche Feuchtflächen in Hochwasserrückhaltebecken – eine Chance für die Reduzierung von Pflanzenschutzmitteleinträgen in Gewässer

    Lange, J., Kümmerer, K., Imfeld, G., Herbstritt, B., Maillard, E., Lefrancq, M., Gutowski, L., Durst, R., Steudten, R., Regazzoni, C., Gassmann, M. & Payraudeau, S., 2012, Wasser ohne Grenzen: Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 22./23. März 2012 an der Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg. Weiler, M. (ed.). Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, p. 293-298 6 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung; no. 38).

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

  4. Published

    Effect of Planning for Connectivity on Linear Reserve Networks

    Lentini, P. E., Gibbons, P., Carwardine, J., Fischer, J., Drielsma, M. & Martin, T. G., 08.2013, In: Conservation Biology. 27, 4, p. 796-807 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    100 Per Cent Organic? A Sustainable Entrepreneurship Perspective on the Diffusion of Organic Clothing

    Hansen, E. G. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, In: Corporate Governance. 13, 5, p. 583–598 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Das Individuum und die Peers - eine strukturelle Perspektive

    Schäfer, M. & von Salisch, M., 2013, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 62, 3, p. 171-178 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Interactive effects among ecosystem services and management practices on crop production: Pollination in coffee agroforestry systems

    Boreux, V., Kushalappa, C. G., Vaast, P. & Ghazoul, J., 21.05.2013, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). 110, 21, p. 8387-8392 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Response to comment on "In situ air-water and particle-water partitioning of perfluorocarboxylic acids, perfluorosulfonic acids and perfluorooctyl sulfonamide at a wastewater treatment plant"

    Vierke, L., Ahrens, L., Shoeib, M., Palm, W.-U., Webster, E. M., Ellis, D. A. F., Ebinghaus, R. & Harner, T. J., 11.2013, In: Chemosphere. 93, 9, p. 2207-2207 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Biomass derived ionic liquids: synthesis from natural organic acids, characterization, toxicity, biodegradation and use as solvents for catalytic hydrogenation processes

    Ferlin, N., Courty, M., Gatard, S., Spulak, M., Quilty, B., Beadham, I. G., Ghavre, M., Haiß, A., Kümmerer, K., Gathergood, N. & Bouquillon, S., 29.07.2013, In: Tetrahedron. 69, 30, p. 6150 - 6161 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review