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

    Monitoring of methotrexate chlorination in water

    Roig, B., Marquenet, B., Delpla, I., Bessonneau, V., Sellier, A., Leder, C., Thomas, O., Bolek, R. & Kummerer, K., 15.06.2014, In: Water Research. 57, p. 67-75 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Monitoring of microbially mediated corrosion and scaling processes using redox potential measurements

    Opel, O., Eggerichs, T., Otte, T. & Ruck, W., 06.2014, In: Bioelectrochemistry. 97, Special Issue, p. 137-144 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    More effective natural resource management through participatory governance? Taking stock of the conceptual and empirical literature – and moving forward

    Newig, J., 31.08.2012, Environmental governance: The challenge of legitimacy and effectiveness. Hogl, K., Kvarda, E., Nordbeck, R. & Pregernig, M. (eds.). Cheltenham et al.: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 46-68 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    More input, better output: Does citizen involvement improve environmental governance?

    Newig, J. & Fritsch, O., 2009, In search of legitimacy. Blühdorn, I. (ed.). Opladen [u.a.]: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 205-224 20 p.

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

  5. 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

  6. Published

    More than Yield: Ecosystem Services of Traditional versus Modern Crop Varieties Revisited

    Ficiciyan, A., Loos, J., Sievers-Glotzbach, S. & Tscharntke, T., 09.08.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 8, 15 p., 2834.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Morphological differentiations of tarsal structures in ground beetles living in reedbed hatitats (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Schürstedt, H., Rossbach, A. & Aßmann, T., 2000, Natural history and applied ecology of carabid beetles: Proceedings of the IX European Carabidiologists Meeting, Cosenza, Italy, 26-31 July, 1998. Casale, A., Brandmayr, P., Brandmayr, T. Z., Taglianti, A. V. & Lövei, G. (eds.). Sofia / Moscow: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 81-87 7 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica; vol. 19).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    Morphometric differentiation in a specialised snail predatior: Carabus pyrenaeus (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Aßmann, T., Schröder, E. & Terlutter, H., 2000, Natural history and applied ecology of carabid beetles: Proceedings of the IX European Carabidiologists Meeting, Cosenza, Italy, 26-31 July, 1998. Casale, A. (ed.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 171-178 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  9. Published

    Mosaic landscapes provide conservation pockets for an endangered species: Colias myrmidone in Romania

    Loos, J., Schröer, C., Becker, T., Kastal, A., Kortmann, E. & Dolek, M., 05.2022, In: Insect Conservation and Diversity. 15, 3, p. 359-369 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. E-pub ahead of print

    Mostly harmless econometrics? Statistical paradigms in the ‘top five’ from 2000 to 2018

    Engler, J. O., Beeck, J. J. & von Wehrden, H., 03.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Economic Methodology.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review