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. 2025
  2. Published

    Alcohol use and drinking motives across five countries: a post-COVID-19 pandemic update

    Rupprecht, J., Spitzweck, B., Oettingen, G. & Sevincer, A. T., 03.2025, In: American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 51, 1, p. 85-95 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods

    Pearson, J., Massawe, J. J., Mbaruku, A. P., Mramba, E. I., Mwampamba, T. H. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 21 p., 2459108.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published
  6. Published

    From the environmental state to the sustainability state? Conceptualization, indicators, and examples

    Rose, M., 03.2025, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy. 21, 1, 16 p., 2463188.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition and climate change on a globally rare forest geophyte

    Ohse, B., Jansen, D., Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 03.2025, In: Plant Biology. 27, 2, p. 297-309 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Introducing the MusicLab Copenhagen Dataset

    Høffding, S., Bergstrøm, R. J. F., Bishop, L., Lucas, P., Burnim, K., Cancino-Chacón, C., Clim, A., Good, M., Hansen, N. C., Karlsen, E. S., Kvale, L. H., Laeng, B., Lartillot, O., Lippert, E., Martin, R., Nielsen, N., Omprakash, R., Paulsrud, T. S., Rosas, F., Swarbrick, D., Sørbø, S., Upham, F., Vrasdonk, A., Vuoskoski, J., Wallot, S., Yi, W., Danielsen, A. & Jensenius, A. R., 03.2025, In: Music and Science. 8, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    More than food production: Assemblages of values underpinning women-led agroecological initiatives

    Vizuete, B., Groß, M., García-Llorente, M., Oteros-Rozas, E. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 3, p. 684-699 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainable Development: Prioritizing Attributes and Validating Factors for the Success of Green Startups in Brazilian and German Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

    Oliveira, A. Y., Mendes, J. A. J., Zanon, L. G., Gerolamo, M. C. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 03.2025, In: Business Strategy and Development. 8, 1, e70083.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    The role of emerging scientists in restoration ecology: insights from a SER2023 conference workshop

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Amaral, V., Lengefeld, E., Reis, B. P., Garbowski, M., Martelli, E., Moraes, L. F. D. & Murphy, S. D., 03.2025, In: Restoration Ecology. 33, 3, 5 p., e14318.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch