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

    Facing the heat: A systematic literature review exploring the transferability of solutions to cope with urban heat waves

    Hintz, M. J., Lüderitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 06.2018, In: Urban Climate. 24, p. 714-727 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

    Schrickel, I., 06.2018, Den Kalten Krieg vermessen: Über Reichweite und Alternativen einer binären Ordnungsvorstellung. Reichherzer, F., Droit, E. & Hansen, J. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg , p. 199-214 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Large mammal diversity matters for wildlife tourism in Southern African Protected Areas: Insights for management

    Arbieu, U., Grünewald, C., Martín-López, B., Schleuning, M. & Böhning-Gaese, K., 06.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 31, p. 481-490 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Multi-trophic guilds respond differently to changing elevation in a subtropical forest

    Binkenstein, J., Klein, A. M., Assmann, T., Buscot, F., Erfmeier, A., Ma, K., Pietsch, K. A., Schmidt, K., Scholten, T., Wubet, T., Bruelheide, H., Schuldt, A. & Staab, M., 06.2018, In: Ecography. 41, 6, p. 1013-1023 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published

    The Role of Trust in Natural Resource Management Conflicts: A Forestry Case Study from Germany

    Juerges, N., Viedma, A., Leahy, J. & Newig, J., 06.2018, In: Forest Science. 64, 3, p. 330-339 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Crop variety and prey richness affect spatial patterns of human-wildlife conflicts in Iran's Hyrcanian forests

    Meinecke, L., Soofi, M., Riechers, M., Khorozyan, I., Hosseini, H., Schwarze, S. & Waltert, M., 01.06.2018, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 43, p. 165-172 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Culture in sustainable urban development: Practices and policies for spaces of possibility and institutional innovations

    Kagan, S., Hauerwaas, A., Holz, V. & Wedler, P., 01.06.2018, In: City, Culture, and Society. 13, p. 32-45 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Interregional flows of ecosystem services: Concepts, typology and four cases

    Schröter, M., Koellner, T., Alkemade, R., Arnhold, S., Bagstad, K. J., Erb, K. H., Frank, K., Kastner, T., Kissinger, M., Liu, J., López-Hoffman, L., Maes, J., Marques, A., Martín-López, B., Meyer, C., Schulp, C. J. E., Thober, J., Wolff, S. & Bonn, A., 01.06.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 31, Part B, p. 231-241 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Patients' experiences in a guided Internet- and App-based stress intervention for college students: A qualitative study

    Fleischmann, R. J., Harrer, M., Zarski, A. C., Baumeister, H., Lehr, D. & Ebert, D. D., 01.06.2018, In: Internet Interventions. 12, p. 130-140 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review