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. 2019
  2. Published

    Land-use legacy and tree age in continuous woodlands: weak effects on overall ground beetle assemblages, but strong effects on two threatened species

    Huelsmann, M., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Schuldt, A. & Assmann, T., 15.06.2019, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 23, 3, p. 623-633 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Navigating cognition biases in the search of sustainability

    Engler, J. O., Abson, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 15.06.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 6, p. 605-618 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Plant density modifies root system architecture in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through a change in nodal root number

    Hecht, V. L., Temperton, V. M., Nagel, K. A., Rascher, U., Pude, R. & Postma, J. A., 15.06.2019, In: Plant and Soil. 439, 1-2, p. 179-200 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Towards productive functions? A systematic review of institutional failure, its causes and consequences

    Derwort, P., Jager, N. & Newig, J., 15.06.2019, In: Policy Sciences. 52, 2, p. 281-298 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Take the money and run? Implementation and disclosure of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects

    Hörisch, J., 20.06.2019, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 223, p. 127-135 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    „Ganzheitliches Management von Energie- und Ressourceneffizienz in Unternehmen“ (MERU): Unternehmensbezogene Rebound-Effekte Einführung und Übersicht

    Wüst, S. & Schaltegger, S., 24.06.2019, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 16 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Nahtstellen nachhaltigen globalen Lernens - Philosophieren als (neue) Aufgabe von Unterricht

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 24.06.2019, Bildung und Erziehung im Kontext globaler Transformationen. Clemens, I., Hornberg, S. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 125-140 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  9. Published

    Monitoring environmental effects on farmland Lepidoptera: Does necessary sampling effort vary between different bio-geographic regions in Europe?

    Lang, A., Kallhardt, F., Lee, M. S., Loos, J., Molander, M. A., Muntean, I., Pettersson, L. B., Rákosy, L., Stefanescu, C. & Messéan, A., 07.2019, In: Ecological Indicators. 102, p. 791-800 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Protected habitats of Natura 2000 do not coincide with important diversity hotspots of arthropods in mountain grasslands

    Harry, I., Höfer, H., Schielzeth, H. & Assmann, T., 07.2019, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 12, 4, p. 329-338 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Rohstoffbedarfsplanung – Konzeptionelle Eckpunkte eines Instruments zur ressourcen- und flächensparenden Rohstoffgewinnung: Instrumente zur umweltverträglichen Steuerung der Rohstoffgewinnung – INSTRO; Abschlussbericht Teil 2

    Sanden, J., Schomerus, C.-T., Keimeyer, F., Gailhofer, P., Westphal, I. & Teßmer, D., 07.2019, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 226 p. (Texte; vol. 72)(Instrumente zur umweltverträglichen Steuerung der Rohstoffgewinnung – INSTRO; Abschlussbericht ; vol. 2).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer