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

    Pathways to energy sustainability: new instruments for promoting energy efficiency

    Schomerus, T., 2009, The Paradigm Shift towards Energy Sustainability: Climate Change, Innovation and the Optimal Instrument Mix. Rodi, M. (ed.). Berlin: Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft , p. 39-50 12 p.

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

  2. Published
  3. Published

    Pathways to Reciprocated Friendships: A Cross-Lagged Panel Study on Young Adolescents’ Anger Regulation towards Friends

    Salisch, M. & Zeman, J., 01.03.2018, In: Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 47, 3, p. 673-687 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Pathways towards sustainable and just futures with and for disabled populations: a leverage points perspective

    Kosanic, A., Petzold, J. & Martín-López, B., 05.11.2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 5 p., 2274590.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Pathways to water sustainability? A global study assessing the benefits of integrated water resources management

    Bilalova, S., Newig, J., Tremblay-Lévesque, L.-C., Roux, J., Herron, C. & Crane, S., 01.10.2023, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 343, 10 p., 118179.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Patients' experiences in a guided Internet- and App-based stress intervention for college students: A qualitative study

    Fleischmann, R. J., Harrer, M., Zarski, A. C., Baumeister, H., Lehr, D. & Ebert, D. D., 01.06.2018, In: Internet Interventions. 12, p. 130-140 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Patterns and hotspots of carabid beetle diversity in the Palaearctic – insights from a hyperdiverse invertebrate taxon

    Schuldt, A. & Aßmann, T., 2011, Biodiversity Hotspots: distribution and protection of conservation priority areas. Zachos, F. E. & Habel, J. C. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer, p. 175-188 14 p.

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

  8. Published

    Patterns of species composition and species richness in moist (ash-alder) forests of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein)

    Härdtle, W., Oheimb, G., Meyer, H. & Westphal, C., 01.12.2003, In: Feddes Repertorium. 114, 7/8, p. 574-586 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Paying Attention to Environmental Pay-Offs: The Case of an Indonesian Textile Manufacturer

    Schaltegger, S., Viere, T. & Zvezdov, D., 07.2012, In: International Journal of Global Environmental Issues. 12, 1, p. 56-75 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Payments for ecosystem services – for efficiency and for equity?

    Baumgärtner, S., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). Basel: edition gesowip, p. 248 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review