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

    Dataset of physiological, behavioral, and self-report measures from a group decision-making lab study

    Burns, A., Wallot, S., Berson, Y. & Gordon, I., 01.12.2022, In: Data in Brief. 45, 8 p., 108630.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Designing benign molecules: The influence of O-acetylated glucosamine-substituents on the environmental biodegradability of fluoroquinolones

    Lorenz, S., Suaifan, G. & Kümmerer, K., 01.12.2022, In: Chemosphere. 309, Part 2, 136724.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Does online-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia improve insomnia severity in nurses working shifts? Protocol for a randomised-controlled trial

    Ell, J., Brückner, H., Johann, A. F., Feige, B., Steinmetz, L., Frase, L., Järnefelt, H., Riemann, D., Lehr, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 01.12.2022, In: Sleep Medicine. 100, Sp1, p. s115 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  5. Published

    Energiewende steht für die Chance auf Re-Industrialisierung, nicht für De-Industrialisierung

    Gornig, M. & Kemfert, C., 01.12.2022, In: Wirtschaftsdienst. 102, 12, p. 933-935 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Habitat diversity and peat moss cover drive the occurrence probability of the threatened ground beetle Carabus menetriesi (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in a Bavarian mire

    Harry, I., Assmann, T., Dormann, C. F. & Skarbek, C. J., 01.12.2022, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 26, 6, p. 863-871 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Introduction: Wealth, Inequality and Redistribution in Capitalist Societies

    Lierse, H., Sachweh, P. & Waitkus, N., 01.12.2022, In: Social Justice Research. 35, 4, p. 367-378 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  8. Published

    Lessons learned and challenges for environmental management in Colombia: the role of communication, education and participation strategies

    Burgos-Ayala, A., Jiménez-Aceituno, A. & Rozas-Vásquez, D., 01.12.2022, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 70, 12 p., 126281.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science–policy body on chemicals and waste

    Brack, W., Barcelo Culleres, D., Boxall, A. B. A., Budzinski, H., Castiglioni, S., Covaci, A., Dulio, V., Escher, B. I., Fantke, P., Kandie, F., Fatta-Kassinos, D., Hernández, F. J., Hilscherová, K., Hollender, J., Hollert, H., Jahnke, A., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Khan, S. J., Kortenkamp, A., Kümmerer, K., Lalonde, B., Lamoree, M. H., Levi, Y., Lara Martín, P. A., Montagner, C. C., Mougin, C., Msagati, T., Oehlmann, J., Posthuma, L., Reid, M., Reinhard, M., Richardson, S. D., Rostkowski, P., Schymanski, E., Schneider, F., Slobodnik, J., Shibata, Y., Snyder, S. A., Fabriz Sodré, F., Teodorovic, I., Thomas, K. V., Umbuzeiro, G. A., Viet, P. H., Yew-Hoong, K. G., Zhang, X. & Zuccato, E., 01.12.2022, In: Environmental Sciences Europe. 34, 1, 10 p., 21.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Positive intercropping effects on biomass production are species-specific and involve rhizosphere enzyme activities: Evidence from a field study

    Kumar, A., Blagodaskaya, E., Dippold, M. A. & Temperton, V., 01.12.2022, In: Soil Ecology Letters. 4, 4, p. 444-453 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Recycling of organic residues to produce insulation composites: A review

    Schritt, H. & Pleissner, D., 01.12.2022, In: Cleaner Waste Systems. 3, 12 p., 100023.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review