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

    Stakeholders' perspectives on the operationalisation of the ecosystem service concept: Results from 27 case studies

    Dick, J., Turkelboom, F., Woods, H., Iniesta-Arandia, I., Primmer, E., Saarela, S. R., Bezák, P., Mederly, P., Leone, M., Verheyden, W., Kelemen, E., Hauck, J., Andrews, C., Antunes, P., Aszalós, R., Baró, F., Barton, D. N., Berry, P., Bugter, R., Carvalho, L., Czúcz, B., Dunford, R., Garcia Blanco, G., Geamănă, N., Giucă, R., Grizzetti, B., Izakovičová, Z., Kertész, M., Kopperoinen, L., Langemeyer, J., Montenegro Lapola, D., Liquete, C., Luque, S., Martínez Pastur, G., Martin-Lopez, B., Mukhopadhyay, R., Niemela, J., Odee, D., Peri, P. L., Pinho, P., Patrício-Roberto, G. B., Preda, E., Priess, J., Röckmann, C., Santos, R., Silaghi, D., Smith, R., Vădineanu, A., van der Wal, J. T., Arany, I., Badea, O., Bela, G., Boros, E., Bucur, M., Blumentrath, S., Calvache, M., Carmen, E., Clemente, P., Fernandes, J., Ferraz, D., Fongar, C., García-Llorente, M., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Gundersen, V., Haavardsholm, O., Kalóczkai, Á., Khalalwe, T., Kiss, G., Köhler, B., Lazányi, O., Lellei-Kovács, E., Lichungu, R., Lindhjem, H., Magare, C., Mustajoki, J., Ndege, C., Nowell, M., Nuss Girona, S., Ochieng, J., Often, A., Palomo, I., Pataki, G., Reinvang, R., Rusch, G., Saarikoski, H., Smith, A., Soy Massoni, E., Stange, E., Vågnes Traaholt, N., Vári, Á., Verweij, P., Vikström, S., Yli-Pelkonen, V. & Zulian, G., 16.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 552-565 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Consumers' perceptions of biocidal products in households

    Wieck, S., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 03.2018, In: International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 221, 2, p. 260-268 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Illusio Fachkräftemangel: Der Zwischenraum von Bildung und Wirtschaft in Deutschland und Nordkalifornien

    Herberg, J., 03.2018, Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 612 p. (Politische Soziologie)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  5. Published

    Livestock grazing disrupts plant-insect interactions on salt marshes

    Rickert, C., Fichtner, A. & van Klink, R., 03.2018, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 11, 2, p. 152-161 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Agency and structure in a sociotechnical transition: Hydrogen fuel cells, conjunctural knowledge and structuration in Europe

    Upham, P., Dütschke, E., Schneider, U., Oltra, C., Sala, R., Lores, M., Klapper, R. & Bögel, P., 01.03.2018, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 37, p. 163-174 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Correction to Neighbourhood stories: role of neighbour identity, spatial location and order of arrival in legume and non-legume initial interactions

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Faget, M. & Temperton, V. M., 01.03.2018, In: Plant and Soil. 424, 1-2, p. 183-185 3 p.

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

  8. Published

    Cross-resistance: A consequence of bi-partite host-parasite coevolution

    Biswas, T., Joop, G. & Rafaluk-Mohr, C., 01.03.2018, In: Insects. 9, 1, 15 p., 28.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Neighbourhood stories: role of neighbour identity, spatial location and order of arrival in legume and non-legume initial interactions

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Temperton, V. M. & Faget, M., 01.03.2018, In: Plant and Soil. 424, 1-2, p. 171-182 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    On the Question of Blockchain Activism

    Leistert, O., 01.03.2018, The Routledge Companion to Media and Activism.. Meikle, G. (ed.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 376-384 9 p.

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

  11. Published

    Pathways to Reciprocated Friendships: A Cross-Lagged Panel Study on Young Adolescents’ Anger Regulation towards Friends

    Salisch, M. & Zeman, J., 01.03.2018, In: Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 47, 3, p. 673-687 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review