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

    Investigating non-inferiority of internet-delivered versus face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): a randomised controlled trial (iSleep well)

    Benz, F., Grolig, L., Hannibal, S., Buntrock, C., Cuijpers, P., Domschke, K., Ebert, D. D., Ell, J., Janneck, M., Jenkner, C., Johann, A. F., Josef, A., Kaufmann, M., Koß, A., Mallwitz, T., Mergan, H., Morin, C. M., Riemann, D., Riper, H., Schmid, S. R., Smit, F., Spille, L., Steinmetz, L., Van Someren, E. J. W., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: Trials. 25, 1, 17 p., 371.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Investigating the Persuasive Effects of Testimonials on the Acceptance of Digital Stress Management Trainings Among University Students and Underlying Mechanisms: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Apolinário-Hagen, J., Fritsche, L., Wopperer, J., Wals, F., Harrer, M., Lehr, D., Ebert, D. D. & Salewski, C., 13.10.2021, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 12, 11 p., 738950.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. E-pub ahead of print

    Investigating values and environmental attitudes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

    Detjen, L., Schröder, S., Schwenck, M., Summa, J., Schreiber, J. & von Wehrden, H., 20.01.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Investigation of food waste valorization through sequential lactic acid fermentative production and anaerobic digestion of fermentation residues

    Demichelis, F., Pleissner, D., Mariano, S., Fiore, S., Navarro Gutiérrez, I. M., Schneider, R. & Venus, J., 01.10.2017, In: Bioresource Technology. 241, p. 508-516 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Investigation of the carbon footprint of the cultivation of the heterotrophic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria on hydrolyzed straw and digestate

    Heidorn, J. R., Smetana, S. & Pleißner, D., 01.06.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment. 6, 7 p., 100087.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Investigation of the sulfur speciation in petroleum products by capillary gas chromatography with ICP-collision cell-MS detection

    Bouyssiere, B., Leonhard, P., Pröfrock, D., Baco, F., Lopez Garcia, C., Wilbur, S. & Prange, A., 2004, In: Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry. 19, 5, p. 700-702 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Investigation of the utilization of oat pomace and acid whey in technical scale succinic acid fermentation including downstream processing

    Kleps, C., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.12.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 4, 7 p., 100028.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Investigations for the detection of genotoxic substances on TLC plates

    Egetenmeyer, N. & Weiss, S. C., 20.01.2017, In: Journal of Liquid Chromatography and Related Technologies. 40, 2, p. 69-74 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Investing into third generation nuclear power plants - Review of recent trends and analysis of future investments using Monte Carlo Simulation

    Wealer, B., Bauer, S., Hirschhausen, C. V., Kemfert, C. & Göke, L., 01.06.2021, In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 143, 110836.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Investitionen in Biokraftstoffprojekte: Herausforderungen des "Generationenwechsels"

    Kügemann, M., Hampl, N. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2014, Biokraftstoffe und Biokraftstoffprojekte: Rechtliche, technische und wirtschaftliche Aspekte. Böttcher, J., Hampl, N., Kügemann, M. & Lüdeke-Freund, F. (eds.). Berlin & Heidelberg: Gabler Verlag, p. 109-137 29 p.

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