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. 2016
  2. Published

    Introduction bias affects relationships between the characteristics of ornamental alien plants and their naturalization success

    Maurel, N., Hanspach, J., Kühn, I., Pyšek, P., van Kleunen, M. & Evans, K., 01.12.2016, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 25, 12, p. 1500-1509 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Maize rhizosphere priming: field estimates using 13C natural abundance

    Kumar, A., Kuzyakov, Y. & Pausch, J., 01.12.2016, In: Plant and Soil. 409, 1-2, p. 87-97 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Managing Research Environments: Heterarchies in Academia. A Response to Cumming

    Fischer, J., 01.12.2016, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 31, 12, p. 900-902 3 p.

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

  5. Published

    Overcome procrastination: Enhancing emotion regulation skills reduce procrastination

    Eckert, M., Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Sieland, B. & Berking, M., 01.12.2016, In: Learning and Individual Differences. 52, p. 10-18 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    South America's biophysical involvement in international trade: The physical trade balances of Argentina, Bolivia, and Brazil in the light of ecologically unequal exchange

    Dorninger, C. & Eisenmenger, N., 01.12.2016, In: Journal of Political Ecology. 23, 1, p. 394-409 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainability of rural electrification programs based on off-grid photovoltaic (PV) systems in Chile

    Feron, S., Heinrichs, H. & Cordero, R., 01.12.2016, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 6, 1, 19 p., 32.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The diversity of gendered adaptation strategies to climate change of Indian farmers: A feminist intersectional approach

    Ravera, F., Martín-López, B., Pascual, U. & Drucker, A., 01.12.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 3, Supplement, p. 335-351 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The role of sustainability in nuclear energy plans: What do national energy strategies tell us?

    Gralla, F., John, B., Abson, D. J., Møller, A. P., Bickel, M., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.12.2016, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 22, p. 94-106 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Valorization of organic residues for the production of added value chemicals: A contribution to the bio-based economy

    Pleissner, D., Qi, Q., Gao, C., Rivero, C. P., Webb, C., Lin, C. S. K. & Venus, J., 15.12.2016, In: Biochemical Engineering Journal. 116, p. 3-16 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch