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. 2023
  2. Published

    A transdisciplinary framework for university-industry collaboration in establishing a social business model

    Cheah, J. S. S., Amran, A., Kirubakaran, M., Lang, D. J., Su, P. F. & Chu, J. W., 20.06.2023, In: Social Enterprise Journal. 19, 4, p. 390-403 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Mismatches in the ecosystem services-wellbeing nexus: a case study for Chilean Patagonia

    Benra, F., Nahuelhual, L., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Oh, R., Kachler, J. & Bonn, A., 26.06.2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 19 p., 2224448.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Are you teaching "distillation" correctly in your chemistry classes? An educational reconstruction

    Abels, S., Koliander, B. & Plotz, T., 07.2023, In: Chemistry Teacher International. 5, 2, p. 229-237 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    EDITORIAL

    Gibassier, D., Maas, K. & Schaltegger, S., 07.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 5, p. 2541-2543 3 p.

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

  6. Published

    Managing and accounting for corporate biodiversity contributions mapping the field

    Schaltegger, S., Gibassier, D. & Maas, K., 07.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 5, p. 2544-2553 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Prioritize grassland restoration to bend the curve of biodiversity loss

    Staude, I. R., Segar, J., Temperton, V. M., Andrade, B. O., de Sá Dechoum, M., Weidlich, E. W. A. & Overbeck, G. E., 07.2023, In: Restoration Ecology. 31, 5, 7 p., e13931.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A Daily Breathing Practice Bolsters Girls’ Prosocial Behavior and Third and Fourth Graders’ Supportive Peer Relationships: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    von Salisch, M. & Voltmer, K., 01.07.2023, In: Mindfulness. 14, 7, p. 1622-1635 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Disentangling the practice of landscape approaches: a Q-method analysis on experiences in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes

    Torralba, M., Nishi, M., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Quintas-Soriano, C., García-Martín, M. & Plieninger, T., 01.07.2023, In: Sustainability Science. 18, 4, p. 1893-1906 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Drivers of ecosystem service specialization in a smallholder agricultural landscape of the Global South: a case study in Ethiopia

    Brück, M., Fischer, J., Law, E. A., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.07.2023, In: Ecology and Society. 28, 3, 38 p., 1.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Exploring the role of intentions and expectations in continuing professional development in sustainability education

    Casanova, C. R., King, J. A. & Fischer, D., 01.07.2023, In: Teaching and Teacher Education. 128, 104115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review