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. 2024
  2. Published

    Nonlinear Dynamics of Reading and Text Comprehension

    Tschense, M., 2024

    Research output: Books and anthologiesDissertations

  3. Published

    Organizational Ethical Cultures and Social Embeddedness – A Research Framework for Investigating Externally Anchored Organizational Worldviews

    Beckmann, M. & Hörisch, J., 2024, In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik. 25, 2, p. 307-331 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2025: Flechten-Kiefernwald (Cladino-Pinetum sylvestris)

    Horn, K., von Bracke, W., Ewald, J., Heinken, T., Becker, T., Bergmeier, E., Boch, S., Härdtle, W., Hölzel, N., Lütt, S., Remy, D., Schneider, S., Tischew, S. & Fischer, P., 2024, In: Tuexenia. 44, p. 177-213 37 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Port State Control of Civilian Search and Rescue Vessels before the European Court of Justice: The Sea Watch Cases

    Schatz, V. & Wissmann, S., 2024, In: International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law. 39, 1, p. 179-190 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Protokoll der 73. Jahresversammlung am 26. Juli 2024 in Oldenburg

    Horn, K. & Härdtle, W., 2024, In: Tuexenia. 44, p. 375-377 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Submitted

    Relational Transdisciplinarity: Inner Shifts for embracing Onto-epistemological Diversity

    Manuel-Navarrete, D., Grauer, C., Brundiers, K., Chilisa, B., Bin Zanusi, Z. A., Seidel, T., Tolksdorf, F. & Lang, D. J., 2024, (Submitted) In: Ecology and Society.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Simplify the Uptake of Community Energy by Leveraging Intermediaries and the Use of Digital Planning Tools

    Mey, F., Borch, K., Bosch, S., Ebersbach, B., Hecht, R., Holstenkamp, L. & Radtke, J., 2024, Strengthening European Energy Policy: Governance Recommendations From Innovative Interdisciplinary Collaborations. Crowther, A., Foulds, C., Robison, R. & Gladkykh, G. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, p. 17-29 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Student agency in a sustainability-oriented assessment process: exploring expansive learning in student-led rubric co-design

    King, J., Brundiers, K. & Fischer, D., 2024, In: Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 49, 6, p. 851-863 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainable Development Goals als Rahmenbedingung einer transformativen Berufsbildung

    Hantke, H. & Hemkes, B., 2024, Datenreport zum Berufsbildungsbericht 2024: Informationen und Analysen zur Entwicklung der berufl ichen Bildung. Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  11. Published

    Teenagers performing research on climate change education in a fully integrated design-based research setting

    Parth, S., Schickl, M., Oberauer, K., Kubisch, S., Deisenrieder, V., Liebhaber, N., Frick, M., Michelsen, G., Stötter, J. & Keller, L., 2024, In: International Journal of Science Education. 46, 10, p. 978-1000 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review