School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Naturwissenschaftsdidaktik und Dokumentarische Methode: Anwendungen und Ausschärfungen der Dokumentarischen Methode für die naturwissenschaftsdidaktische Forschung
Rabe, T., Abels, S. & Menthe, J., 09.10.2023, In: Zeitschrift für Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften. 29, 1, 17 p., 16.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Naturwissenschaftsdidaktik und Inklusion
Hundertmark, S. (Editor), Sun, X. (Editor), Abels, S. (Editor), Nehring, A. (Editor), Schildknecht, R. (Editor), Seremet, V. (Editor) & Lindmeier, C. (Editor), 06.2021, Weinheim, Basel: Beltz Juventa Verlag. 282 p. (Beiheft Sonderpädagogische Förderung heute; no. 4)Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Education
- Published
Natur zwischen Schutz, Nutzung und nachhaltiger Gestaltung – feministische Ansichten
Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, In: Ariadne. Forum für Frauen- und Geschlechtergeschichte. 64, p. 66-73 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Navigating cognition biases in the search of sustainability
Engler, J. O., Abson, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 15.06.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 6, p. 605-618 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Navigating conflicting landscape aspirations: Application of a photo-based Q-method in Transylvania (Central Romania)
Milcu, A. I., Sherren, K., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. & Fischer, J., 11.2014, In: Land Use Policy. 41, p. 408-422 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Navigating social–ecological changes: A mixed-method analysis of extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonian forests, Argentina
Rodríguez, P., Benra, F., Fischer, J., Romano, S. & Soler, R., 10.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 10, p. 1541-1555 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Neanderthals in changing environments from MIS 5 to early MIS 4 in northern Central Europe – Integrating archaeological, (chrono)stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental evidence at the site of Lichtenberg
Weiss, M., Hein, M., Urban, B., Stahlschmidt, M. C., Heinrich, S., Hilbert, Y. H., Power, R. C., von Suchodoletz, H., Terberger, T., Böhner, U., Klimscha, F., Veil, S., Breest, K., Schmidt, J., Colarossi, D., Tucci, M., Frechen, M., Tanner, D. C. & Lauer, T., 15.05.2022, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 284, 107519.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Need Satisfaction and Optimal Functioning at Leisure and Work: A Longitudinal Validation Study of the DRAMMA Model
Kujanpaa, M., Syrek, C., Lehr, D., Kinnunen, U., Reins, J. A. & de Bloom, J., 02.2021, In: Journal of Happiness Studies. 22, 2, p. 681-707 27 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Negotiating Sustainability Transitions: Why Does It Matter? What Are the Challenges? How to Proceed?
Majer, J. M. & Troetschel, R., 15.07.2022, In: Sustainability. 14, 14, 5 p., 8691.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- Accepted/In press
Negotiating With Yourself and Winning: The Dual Commitment Model for Intrapersonal Sustainability Goal Conflicts
Sevincer, A. T., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Motivation Science.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review