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. 2015
  2. Published

    Combining charcoal sediment and molecular markers to infer a Holocene fire history in the Maya Lowlands of Petén, Guatemala

    Schüpbach, S., Kirchgeorg, T., Colombaroli, D., Beffa, G., Radaelli, M., Kehrwald, N. & Barbante, C., 01.05.2015, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 115, p. 123-131 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Early positive effects of tree species richness on herbivory in a large-scale forest biodiversity experiment influence tree growth

    Schuldt, A., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W., Aßmann, T., Li, Y., Ma, K., Oheimb, G. & Zhang, J., 01.05.2015, In: Journal of Ecology. 103, 3, p. 563-571 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Efficacy of a Web-Based Intervention With Mobile Phone Support in Treating Depressive Symptoms in Adults With Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Nobis, S., Lehr, D., Ebert, D. D., Baumeister, H., Snoek, F., Riper, H. & Berking, M., 01.05.2015, In: Diabetes Care. 38, 5, p. 776-783 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Exploring the planetary boundary for chemical pollution

    Diamond, M. L., de Wit, C. A., Molander, S., Scheringer, M., Backhaus, T., Lohmann, R., Arvidsson, R., Bergman, Å., Hauschild, M., Holoubek, I., Persson, L., Suzuki, N., Vighi, M. & Zetzsch, C., 01.05.2015, In: Environmental international. 78, p. 8 - 15 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    The madrid statement on poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)

    Blum, A., Balan, S. A., Scheringer, M., Trier, X., Goldenman, G., Cousins, I. T., Diamond, M., Fletcher, T., Higgins, C., Lindeman, A. E., Peaslee, G., Voogt, P. D., Wang, Z. & Weber, R., 01.05.2015, In: Environmental Health Perspectives. 123, 5, p. A107-A111 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Tree species richness strengthens relationships between ants and the functional composition of spider assemblages in a highly diverse forest

    Schuldt, A. & Staab, M., 01.05.2015, In: Biotropica. 47, 3, p. 339-346 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Understanding the modes of use and availability of critical metals-An expert-based scenario analysis for the case of indium

    Weiser, A., Lang, D. J., Schomerus, T. & Stamp, A., 01.05.2015, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 94, p. 376-393 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Arthropod but not bird predation in Ethiopian homegardens is higher in tree-poor than in tree-rich landscapes

    Lemessa, D., Hambäck, P. A. & Hylander, K., 11.05.2015, In: PLoS ONE. 10, 5, 12 p., e0126639.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Thinking Green, Buying Green? Drivers of Pro-Environmental Purchasing Behavior

    Moser, A. K., 11.05.2015, In: Journal of Consumer Marketing. 32, 3, p. 167-175 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review