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

    Grenzüberschreitung und Integration: Die formative Evaluation transdisziplinärer Forschung und ihre Kriterien

    Bergmann, M. & Schramm, E., 2008, Transdisziplinäre Forschung: integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten. Bergmann, M. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Frankfurt a. M./New York: Campus Verlag, p. 149-175 16 p.

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

  2. Published

    Forschungsförderung unter dem Aspekt transdisziplinärer Integrationsaufgaben

    Bergmann, M., 2008, Transdisziplinäre Forschung: Integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten. Bergmann, M. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Frankfurt a. M./New York: Campus Verlag, p. 293-315 23 p.

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

  3. Published
  4. Published
  5. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship in the Apparel Industry: The Case of Manomama

    Plieth, H., Bullinger, A. C. & Hansen, E. G., 2012, In: The Journal of Corporate Citizenship. 2012, 45, p. 123-138 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The impact of climate change on aquatic risk from agricultural pesticides in the US

    Koleva, N. G. & Schneider, U. A., 2010, In: International Journal of Environmental Studies. 67, 5, p. 677-704 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  7. Published

    The impact of weather variability and climate change on pesticide applications in the US - An empirical investigation

    Koleva, N. G., Schneider, U. A. & Tol, R. S. J., 2010, In: International Journal of Ecological Economics & Statistics (IJEES). 18, S10, p. 64-81 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Scenarios for the Implementation of EU Waste Legislation at National Level and their Consequences for Emissions from Municipal Waste Incineration

    Saner, D., Blumer, Y. B., Lang, D. & Koehler, A., 12.2011, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 57, p. 67-77 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Environmental impacts of a transition toward e-mobility: the present and future role of lithium carbonate production

    Stamp, A., Lang, D. J. & Wäger, P. A., 03.2012, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 23, 1, p. 104-112 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Transdisciplinary research in sustainability science: practice, principles, and challenges

    Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Bergmann, M., Stauffacher, M., Martens, P., Moll, P., Swilling, M. & Thomas, C. J., 02.2012, In: Sustainability Science. 7, SUPPL. 1, p. 25-43 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review