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

    The role of emotions in human–nature connectedness within Mediterranean landscapes in Spain

    Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Martín-López, B., Expósito-Granados, M., Alba-Patiño, D., Rodríguez-Caballero, E., García-Llorente, M. & Castro, A. J., 09.2023, In: Sustainability Science. 18, 5, p. 2181-2197 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Diverse values of nature shape human connection to dryland landscapes in Spain

    El Ghafraoui, Y., Quintas-Soriano, C., Pacheco-Romero, M., Murillo-López, B. E. & Castro, A. J., 01.09.2023, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 216, 10 p., 105023.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Does stakeholder participation improve environmental governance? Evidence from a meta-analysis of 305 case studies

    Newig, J., Jager, N. W., Challies, E. R. T. & Kochskämper, E., 01.09.2023, In: Global Environmental Change : Human and Policy Dimensions. 82, 11 p., 102705.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Feasibility and efficacy of a digital resilience training: A pilot study of the strengths-based training RESIST

    Behrendt, D., Boß, L., Hannibal, S., Kunzler, A. M., Wessa, M. & Lehr, D., 01.09.2023, In: Internet Interventions. 33, 14 p., 100649.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Heterotrophic growth of Galdieria sulphuraria on residues from aquaculture and fish processing industries

    Pleissner, D., Schönfelder, S., Händel, N., Dalichow, J., Ettinger, J., Kvangarsnes, K., Dauksas, E., Rustad, T. & Cropotova, J., 01.09.2023, In: Bioresource Technology. 384, 8 p., 129281.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Rethinking Economic Practices and Values As Assemblages of More-Than-Human Relations

    Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Benavides-Frías, C., Raymond, C. M., Díaz-Reviriego, I. & Hanspach, J., 01.09.2023, In: Ecological Economics. 211, 9 p., 107866.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Shedding light on trophic interactions: A field experiment on the effect of human population between latitudes on herbivory and predation patterns

    Alonso-Crespo, I. M. & Hernández-Agüero, J. A., 01.09.2023, In: Ecology and Evolution. 13, 9, 13 p., e10449.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Social justice for traditional knowledge holders will help conserve Europe's nature

    Molnár, Z., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Schunko, C., Teixidor-Toneu, I., Jarić, I., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Ivascu, C., Babai, D., Sáfián, L., Karlsen, P., Dai, H. & Hill, R., 01.09.2023, In: Biological Conservation. 285, 10 p., 110190.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    ‘The human shield effect’: Human-wildlife co-occurrence patterns in the coffee forests of southwestern Ethiopia

    Rodrigues, P., Dorresteijn, I. & Gimenez, O., 01.09.2023, In: Food Webs. 36, 8 p., e00288.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Valuing beaches for beauty and recreation only? Uncovering perception bias through a hashtag analysis

    Wahler, H., Fanini, L. & Riechers, M., 01.09.2023, In: Marine Policy. 155, 105707.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch