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. 2020
  2. Published

    A typology of actors and their strategies in multi-scale governance of wind turbine conflict within forests

    Jürges, N., Leahy, J. & Newig, J., 07.2020, In: Land Use Policy. 96, p. 1-9 9 p., 104691.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Ethik

    Oermann, N. O., 07.2020, In: Theologische Literaturzeitung. 2020, 7, p. 716-717 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  4. Published

    Fehler beim schätzen: (Un)realistische Ergebnisse anhand von Größenvorstellungen ­erkennen

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 07.2020, In: Unterricht Physik. 31, 177/178, p. 64-67 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  5. Published

    Schulbasierte Achtsamkeitsprogramme mit Kindern und Jugendlichen

    Engel, N., Schiemann, S. & von Salisch, M., 07.2020, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 69, 4, p. 289-304 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Artful sustainability governance—Foundational considerations on sensory-informed policymaking for sustainable development

    Heinrichs, H., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainable Development. 28, 4, p. 791-799 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Biosphere reserves' management effectiveness-A systematic literature review and a research agenda

    Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & von Wehrden, H., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 12, 31 p., 5497.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Deconstructing a 2-year long transdisciplinary sustainability project in Northern universities: is rhetorical nobility obscuring procedural and political discords?

    Ghosh, A., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability Science. 15, 4, p. 1111-1127 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Light availability and land-use history drive biodiversity and functional changes in forest herb layer communities

    Depauw, L., Perring, M. P., Landuyt, D., Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., De Lombaerde, E., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Closset-Kopp, D., Czerepko, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Gawryś, R., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Liepiņa, I., Macek, M., Máliš, F., Schmidt, W., Smart, S. M., Ujházy, K., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.07.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 4, p. 1411-1425 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South

    Zafra-Calvo, N., Balvanera, P., Pascual, U., Merçon, J., Martín-López, B., van Noordwijk, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Lele, S., Ifejika Speranza, C., Arias-Arévalo, P., Cabrol, D., Cáceres, D. M., O'Farrell, P., Subramanian, S. M., Devy, S., Krishnan, S., Carmenta, R., Guibrunet, L., Kraus-Elsin, Y., Moersberger, H., Cariño, J. & Díaz, S., 01.07.2020, In: Global Environmental Change. 63, 12 p., 102115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Simulations in Science Education - Status Quo

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 01.07.2020, In: Progress in science education (PriSE). 3, 1, p. 26-34 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review