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. 2018
  2. Published

    A health economic outcome evaluation of an internet-based mobile-supported stress management intervention for employees

    Ebert, D. D., Kählke, F., Buntrock, C., Berking, M., Smit, F., Heber, E., Baumeister, H., Funk, B., Riper, H. & Lehr, D., 02.2018, In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. 44, 2, p. 171-182 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition alters growth responses of European beech (Fagus sylvativa L.) to climate change

    Hess, C., Niemeyer, T., Fichtner, A., Jansen, K., Kunz, M., Maneke, M., von Wehrden, H., Quante, M., Walmsley, D., von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 02.2018, In: Environmental Pollution. 233, p. 92-98 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Selecting methods for ecosystem service assessment: A decision tree approach

    Harrison, P. A., Dunford, R., Barton, D. N., Kelemen, E., Martín-López, B., Norton, L., Termansen, M., Saarikoski, H., Hendriks, K., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Czúcz, B., García-Llorente, M., Howard, D., Jacobs, S., Karlsen, M., Kopperoinen, L., Madsen, A., Rusch, G., van Eupen, M., Verweij, P., Smith, R., Tuomasjukka, D. & Zulian, G., 02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 481-498 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Abundance of large old trees in wood-pastures of Transylvania (Romania)

    Hartel, T., Hanspach, J., Moga, C. I., Holban, L., Szapanyos, Á., Tamás, R., Hováth, C. & Réti, K. O., 01.02.2018, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 613-614, p. 263-270 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A review of ecological gradient research in the Tropics: identifying research gaps, future directions, and conservation priorities

    Muenchow, J., Dieker, P., Kluge, J., Kessler, M. & von Wehrden, H., 01.02.2018, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 27, 2, p. 273-285 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    (Dis) integrated valuation: Assessing the information gaps in ecosystem service appraisals for governance support

    Barton, D. N., Kelemen, E., Dick, J., Martin-Lopez, B., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Jacobs, S., Hendriks, C. M. A., Termansen, M., García- Llorente, M., Primmer, E., Dunford, R., Harrison, P. A., Turkelboom, F., Saarikoski, H., van Dijk, J., Rusch, G. M., Palomo, I., Yli-Pelkonen, V. J., Carvalho, L., Baró, F., Langemeyer, J., van der Wal, J. T., Mederly, P., Priess, J. A., Luque, S., Berry, P., Santos, R., Odee, D., Pastur, G. M., García Blanco, G., Saarela, S.-R., Silaghi, D., Pataki, G., Masi, F., Vădineanu, A., Mukhopadhyay, R. & Lapola, D. M., 01.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 529-541 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Editorial overview: Green and sustainable chemistry conference 2017

    Liu, Z. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2018, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, Special Issue: 2, 2018, p. A1-A2 2 p.

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

  9. Published

    How Participatory Should Environmental Governance Be? Testing the Applicability of the Vroom-Yetton-Jago Model in Public Environmental Decision-Making

    Lührs, N., Jager, N. W., Challies, E. & Newig, J., 01.02.2018, In: Environmental Management. 61, 2, p. 249-262 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Integrating methods for ecosystem service assessment: Experiences from real world situations

    Dunford, R., Harrison, P., Smith, A., Dick, J., Barton, D. N., Martin-Lopez, B., Kelemen, E., Jacobs, S., Saarikoski, H., Turkelboom, F., Verheyden, W., Hauck, J., Antunes, P., Aszalós, R., Badea, O., Baró, F., Berry, P., Carvalho, L., Conte, G., Czúcz, B., Garcia Blanco, G., Howard, D., Giuca, R., Gomez-Baggethun, E., Grizetti, B., Izakovicova, Z., Kopperoinen, L., Langemeyer, J., Luque, S., Lapola, D. M., Martinez-Pastur, G., Mukhopadhyay, R., Roy, S. B., Niemelä, J., Norton, L., Ochieng, J., Odee, D., Palomo, I., Pinho, P., Priess, J., Rusch, G., Saarela, S. R., Santos, R., van der Wal, J. T., Vadineanu, A., Vári, Á., Woods, H. & Yli-Pelkonen, V., 01.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, Part C, p. 499-514 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Material utilization of organic residues

    Peinemann, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.02.2018, In: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 184, 2, p. 733-745 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch