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. 2022
  2. Published

    Developments in Qualitative Mindfulness Practice Research: a Pilot Scoping Review

    Frank, P. & Marken, M., 01.01.2022, In: Mindfulness. 13, 1, p. 17-36 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    „Diklusion“ im naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht – Aktuelle Positionen und Routenplanung

    Abels, S. & Stinken-Rösner, L., 01.01.2022, Digitale NAWIgation von Inklusion : Digitale Werkzeuge für einen inklusiven Naturwissenschaftsunterricht. Watts, E. M. & Hoffmann, C. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 5-20 16 p. (Edition Fachdidaktiken).

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

  4. Published

    Governance to manage the complexity of nature’s contributions to people co-production

    Isaac, R., Kachler, J., Winkler, K. J., Albrecht, E., Felipe-Lucia, M. R. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2022, In: Advances in Ecological Research. 66, p. 293-321 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    How do professional designers engage with sustainability? A systematic literature review

    Mejía, G. M., Fischer, D., Silver, J., Xie, Y. & Fehler, M., 01.01.2022, In: Journal of Design Research. 20, 4, p. 297-317 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Impact of early childhood education settings on the systems thinking skills of preschool children through the lens of Bronfenbrenner's theory

    Feriver, Ş., Olgan, R., Teksöz, G. & Barth, M., 01.01.2022, In: Systems Research and Behavioral Science. 39, 1, p. 85-103 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Knowledge sharing for shared success in the decade on ecosystem restoration

    Ladouceur, E., Shackelford, N., Bouazza, K., Brudvig, L., Bucharova, A., Conradi, T., Erickson, T. E., Garbowski, M., Garvy, K., Harpole, W. S., Jones, H. P., Knight, T. M., Nsikani, M. M., Paterno, G., Suding, K., Temperton, V., Török, P., Winkler, D. E. & Chase, J. M., 01.01.2022, In: Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 3, 1, 9 p., e12117.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Removal of Phenolic Compounds from Olive Mill Wastewater by Microalgae Grown Under Dark and Light Conditions

    Lindner, A. & Pleissner, D., 01.01.2022, In: Waste and Biomass Valorization. 13, 1, p. 525-534 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Should Alexander von Humboldt Be Part of Contemporary Geography Education?

    Hoffmann, T., 01.01.2022, Alexander von Humboldt: Multiperspective Approaches. Falk, G. C., Strecker, M. R. & Schneider, S. (eds.). Springer International Publishing AG, p. 137-153 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Structuring and advancing solution-oriented research for sustainability: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Solutions-oriented research

    Lang, D. J. & Wiek, A., 01.01.2022, In: Ambio. 51, 1, p. 31-35 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Sustainable Green Technologies: The Brazilian Indigenous University Student Experience

    Crioni, R., Cássia Sudan, D. & Gomes Zuin, V., 01.01.2022, Handbook of Best Practices in Sustainable Development at University Level . Filho, W. L. & Vasconcelos, C. R. P. D. (eds.). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 469-494 26 p. (World Sustainability Series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review