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

    Multiple streams, resistance and energy policy change in Paraguay (2004–2014)

    Llamosas, C., Upham, P. & Blanco, G., 01.08.2018, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 42, August 2018, p. 226-236 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    More than Yield: Ecosystem Services of Traditional versus Modern Crop Varieties Revisited

    Ficiciyan, A., Loos, J., Sievers-Glotzbach, S. & Tscharntke, T., 09.08.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 8, 15 p., 2834.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Hydrolyzed organic residues as sources of secondary raw materials

    Pleißner, D. & Peinemann, J. C., 29.08.2018, In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik. 90, 9, p. 1161-1161 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Maschinelles Lernen als bildungspolitischer Kontrollverlust: Eine spekulative Kontrollgeschichte der Bildungsplanung

    Herberg, J. A., 31.08.2018, Machine Learning : Medien, Infrastrukturen und Technologien der Künstlichen Intelligenz. Engemann, C. & Sudmann, A. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 143-166 24 p.

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

  7. Published

    Neon ist ein Gas und hat zwei Ringe – Zur Trennung der makroskopischen und submikroskopischen Ebene des Periodensystems

    Abels, S., Koliander, B., Plotz, T. & Heidinger, C., 09.2018, In: ChemKon. 25, 6, p. 238-242 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  8. Published

    Post Hoc Assessment of Stand Structure Across European Wood-Pastures: Implications for Land Use Policy

    Roellig, M., Costa, A., Garbarino, M., Hanspach, J., Hartel, T., Jakobsson, S., Lindborg, R., Mayr, S., Plieninger, T., Sammul, M., Varga, A. & Fischer, J., 09.2018, In: Rangeland Ecology and Management. 71, 5, p. 526-535 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Rethinking biodiversity governance in European agricultural landscapes: Acceptability of alternative governance scenarios

    Velten, S., Schaal, T., Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Hanspach, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 09.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 77, p. 84-93 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Role of psychology in sociotechnical transitions studies: Review in relation to consumption and technology acceptance

    Bögel, P. M. & Upham, P., 09.2018, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 28, p. 122-136 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Transferring sustainability solutions across contexts through city-university partnerships

    Keeler, L. W., Beaudoin, F. D., Lerner, A. M., John, B., Beecroft, R., Tamm, K., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 09.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 9, 17 p., 2966.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review