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

    Cross-Fertilizing Qualitative Perspectives on Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: An Empirical Comparison of Four Methodical Approaches

    Frank, P., Stanszus, L., Fischer, D., Kehnel, K. & Grossman, P., 01.11.2019, In: Mindfulness. 10, 11, p. 2452–2467 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Evaluating social learning in participatory mapping of ecosystem services

    García-Nieto, A. P., Huland, E., Quintas-Soriano, C., Iniesta-Arandia, I., García-Llorente, M., Palomo, I. & Martín-López, B., 01.11.2019, In: Ecosystems and People. 15, 1, p. 257-268 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Linking modes of research to their scientific and societal outcomes. Evidence from 81 sustainability-oriented research projects

    Newig, J., Jahn, S. V., Lang, D. J., Kahle, J. & Bergmann, M., 01.11.2019, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 101, p. 147-155 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Livestock grazing and rainfall manipulation alter the patterning of CO2 fluxes and biomass development of the herbaceous community in a humid savanna

    Okach, D. O., Ondier, J. O., Kumar, A., Rambold, G., Tenhunen, J., Huwe, B. & Otieno, D., 01.11.2019, In: Plant Ecology. 220, 11, p. 1085-1100 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Multiple components of plant diversity loss determine herbivore phylogenetic diversity in a subtropical forest experiment

    Wang, M.-Q., Li, Y., Chesters, D., Anttonen, P., Bruelheide, H., Chen, J.-T., Durka, W., Guo, P.-F., Haerdtle, W., Ma, K., Michalski, S. G., Schmid, B., von Oheimb, G., Wu, C.-S., Zhang, N.-L., Zhou, Q.-S., Schuldt, A. & Zhu, C.-D., 01.11.2019, In: Journal of Ecology. 107, 6, p. 2697-2712 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Natural formation of chloro- and bromoacetone in salt lakes of Western Australia

    Sattler, T., Sörgel, M., Wittmer, J., Bourtsoukidis, E., Krause, T., Atlas, E., Benk, S., Bleicher, S., Kamilli, K., Ofner, J., Kopetzky, R., Held, A., Palm, W. U., Williams, J., Zetzsch, C. & Schöler, H. F., 01.11.2019, In: Atmosphere. 10, 11, 21 p., 663.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The exotic species Senecio inaequidens pays the price for arriving late in temperate European grassland communities

    Delory, B. M., Weidlich, E. W. A., Kunz, M., Neitzel, J. & Temperton, V. M., 01.11.2019, In: Oecologia. 191, 3, p. 657-671 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The framing of power in climate change adaptation research

    Woroniecki, S., Krüger, R., Rau, A. L., Preuss, M. S., Baumgartner, N., Raggers, S., Niessen, L., Holländer, L., Beyers, F., Rathgens, J., Wagner, K. C., Habigt, L., Krause, T., Wamsler, C., von Wehrden, H. & Abson, D., 01.11.2019, In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 10, 6, 21 p., e617.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Towards more effective and transferable transition experiments: learning through stratification

    Engler, J.-O., Zimmermann, H., Lang, D. J., Feller, R. & Wehrden, H., 01.11.2019, In: Sustainability Science. 14, 6, p. 1503-1514 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published