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

    Poleward range expansion without a southern contraction in the ground beetle Agonum viridicupreum (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Drees, C., Brandmayr, P., Buse, J., Dieker, P., Gürlich, S., Habel, J. C., Harry, I., Härdtle, W., Matern, A., Meyer, H., Pizzolotto, R., Quante, M., Schäfer, K., Schuldt, A., Taboada Palomares, A. & Aßmann, T., 20.05.2011, In: ZooKeys. 100, SPEC. ISSUE, p. 333-352 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. E-pub ahead of print

    Policy as normative influence? On the relationship between parental leave policy and social norms in gender division of childcare across 48 countries

    Author Collaboration für "Policy as normative influence?", Schindler, S., Schuster, C., Olsson, M. I. T., Froehlich, L. & Hübner, A. K., 23.10.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: British Journal of Social Psychology. 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Policy implementation through multi-level governance: analysing practical implementation of EU air quality directives in Germany

    Gollata, J. A. M. & Newig, J., 24.09.2017, In: Journal of European Public Policy. 24, 9, p. 1308-1327 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Policy, politics and polity in higher education for sustainable development

    Michelsen, G., 2016, Routledge Handbook of Higher Education for Sustainable Development. Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Rieckmann, M. & Thomas, I. (eds.). London and New York: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 40 - 55 16 p. 3. (Routledge international handbooks).

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

  5. Published

    Policy schemes, operational strategies and system integration of residential co-generation fuel cells.

    Pade, L.-L., Schröder, S. T., Münster, M., Birkl, C., Ropenus, S., Morthorst, P. E., Obé, E., Kötter, E., Huber, A., Costa , A. & Kroff , P., 07.03.2013, In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 38, 7, p. 3050–3063 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Political embedding of climate assemblies. How effective strategies for policy impact depend on context

    Pfeffer, J. & Newig, J., 01.02.2025, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 164, 11 p., 103993.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Politikbarometer Biologische Vielfalt in Deutschland

    Heinrichs, H., Laws, N. & Mitlacher, G., 2015, Verantwortung für die Zukunft: Naturschutz im Spannungsfeld gesellschaftlicher Interessen. Bonn: Bundesverband Beruflicher Naturschutz, p. 124-131 8 p. (Jahrbuch für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege; vol. 60).

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

  8. Published

    Politikberatung in den USA: Ein Vorbild für Europa?

    Heinrichs, H., 01.01.2005, Wozu Experten?: Ambivalenzen der Beziehung von Wissenschaft und Politik. Bogner, A. & Torgersen, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 291-313 23 p.

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

  9. Published

    Politiken der Naturgestaltung: Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision

    Gottschlich, D. (Editor) & Mölders, T. (Editor), 02.2017, Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 324 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Politiken der Naturgestaltung als Denk- und Handlungsräume für Anpassung, Kooperation, Widerstand und Alternativen

    Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung: Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 227-242 15 p.

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