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. Published

    Crisis in Social Practices? Experiences from the Research Project "Blocked Transistion? Spaces of Thinking and Action in Sustainable Regional Development"

    Behrendt, M., Mölders, T., Scurrell, B. & Gottschlich, D., 2007, In: Transformacje. Special Issue: Crises and Sustainability, p. 158-171 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Critical Perspectives on Social Media and Protest: Between Control and Emancipation

    Dencik, L. (Editor) & Leistert, O. (Editor), 2015, London: Rowman & Littlefield International. 248 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Critical political economy of taxation

    Lierse, H., 21.04.2023, Handbook on Critical Political Economy and Public Policy. Scherrer, C., Garcia, A. & Wullweber, J. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 327-340 14 p. (Handbooks of research on public policy).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Critical reflection on knowledge and narratives of conservation agriculture

    Whitfield, S., Dougill, A. J., Dyer, J., Kalaba, F. K., Leventon, J. & Stringer, L. C., 01.03.2015, In: Geoforum. 60, 3, p. 133-142 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Crop rotation modelling: A European model intercomparison

    Kollas, C., Kersebaum, K. C., Nendel, C., Manevski, K., Müller, C., Palosuo, T., Armas-Herrera, C. M., Beaudoin, N., Bindi, M., Charfeddine, M., Conradt, T., Constantin, J., Eitzinger, J., Ewert, F., Ferrise, R., Gaiser, T., Cortazar-Atauri, I. G. D., Giglio, L., Hlavinka, P., Hoffmann, H., Hoffmann, M. P., Launay, M., Manderscheid, R., Mary, B., Mirschel, W., Moriondo, M., Olesen, J. E., Öztürk, I., Pacholski, A., Ripoche-Wachter, D., Roggero, P. P., Roncossek, S., Rötter, R. P., Ruget, F., Sharif, B., Trnka, M., Ventrella, D., Waha, K., Wegehenkel, M., Weigel, H. J. & Wu, L., 10.2015, In: European Journal of Agronomy. 70, p. 98 - 111 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Crop variety and prey richness affect spatial patterns of human-wildlife conflicts in Iran's Hyrcanian forests

    Meinecke, L., Soofi, M., Riechers, M., Khorozyan, I., Hosseini, H., Schwarze, S. & Waltert, M., 01.06.2018, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 43, p. 165-172 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Cross-case knowledge transfer in transformative research: enabling learning in and across sustainability-oriented labs through case reporting

    Bernert, P., Wahl, D., von Wehrden, H. & Lang, D. J., 30.09.2023, In: Urban Transformations. 5, 1, 19 p., 12.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Crosscutting Issues and Conservation Strategies

    DellaSala, D. A., Alaback, P., Craighead, L., Krestov, P., Moola, F., Nakamura, Y., Nauman, R. S., Noss, R. F., Ronneberg, K., Spribille, T., Tecklin, D., von Wehrden, H., Goward, T., Holien, H., Kirkpatrick, J. & Paquet, P., 2011, Temperate and boreal rainforests of the world: ecology and conservation. DellaSala, D. A. (ed.). Washington: Island Press, p. 243-259 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    Cross-Fertilizing Qualitative Perspectives on Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Intervention: An Empirical Comparison of Four Methodical Approaches

    Frank, P., Stanszus, L., Fischer, D., Kehnel, K. & Grossman, P., 01.11.2019, In: Mindfulness. 10, 11, p. 2452–2467 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Cross-level Information and Influence in Mandated Participatory Planning: Alternative Pathways to Sustainable Water Management in Germany’s Implementation of the EU Water Framework Directive

    Koontz, T. M. & Newig, J., 01.05.2014, In: Land Use Policy. 38, p. 594–604 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review