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

    Rethinking biodiversity governance in European agricultural landscapes: Acceptability of alternative governance scenarios

    Velten, S., Schaal, T., Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Hanspach, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 09.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 77, p. 84-93 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Rethinking Chemistry for a circular economy

    Kümmerer, K., Clark, J. & Zuin, V. G., 23.01.2020, In: Science. 367, 6476, p. 369 - 370 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Rethinking Economic Practices and Values As Assemblages of More-Than-Human Relations

    Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Benavides-Frías, C., Raymond, C. M., Díaz-Reviriego, I. & Hanspach, J., 01.09.2023, In: Ecological Economics. 211, 9 p., 107866.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Rethinking gender: feminist perspectives on Sustainable Development Goals in the light of (re)productivity

    Mölders, T., 01.01.2019, In: GAIA. 28, 2, p. 95-99 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Rethinking megafauna

    Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Donázar, J. A., Revilla, E., Martín-López, B., Gutiérrez-Cánovas, C., Getz, W. M., Morales-Reyes, Z., Campos-Arceiz, A., Crowder, L. B., Galetti, M., González-Suárez, M., He, F., Jordano, P., Lewison, R., Naidoo, R., Owen-Smith, N., Selva, N., Svenning, J. C., Tella, J. L., Zarfl, C., Jähnig, S. C., Hayward, M. W., Faurby, S., García, N., Barnosky, A. D. & Tockner, K., 11.03.2020, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 287, 1922, 10 p., 20192643.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Re-Thinking Tasks in Inclusive Science Education: New Approaches to Enable Participation

    Stinken-Rösner, L. & Hofer, E., 01.2022, In: Progress in science education (PriSE). 5, 1, p. 33-46 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Rethinking the meaning of “landscape shocks” in energy transitions: German social representations of the Fukushima nuclear accident

    Upham, P., Eberhardt, L. & Klapper, R. G., 11.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 69, 12 p., 101710.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Retipolides - unusual spiromacrolactones from the mushrooms Retiboletus retipes and R. ornatipes

    Justus, K., Herrmann, R., Klamann, J.-D., Gruber, G., Hellwig, V., Ingerl, A., Polborn, K., Steffan, B. & Steglich, W., 01.11.2007, In: European Journal of Organic Chemistry. 2007, 33, p. 5560-5572 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Retrodistribution

    Schomerus, T. & Schürmann, J., 2002, Handbuch für Rechtsfragen im Unternehmen: Band 1: Marketingrecht. Steckler, B. & Pepels, W. (eds.). Herne, Berlin: NWB Verlag, Vol. 1. p. 235-249 15 p.

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

  10. Published

    Rettet die Bienen! Eine differenzierte Perspektive auf das Bienensterben

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Barth, M., 12.2019, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Sachunterricht: Grundlagen und Praxisbeispiele. Wulfmeyer, M. (ed.). Baltmannsweiler: Schneider Verlag Hohengehren, Vol. 43. p. 77-92 16 p. (Basiswissen Grundschule; vol. 43).

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