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

    Setting the agenda for climate assemblies. Trade-offs and guiding principles

    Pfeffer, J., 06.2024, In: Climate Policy. 24, 6, p. 843-858 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Setting the research agenda for measuring sustainability performance: systematic application of the world café method

    Silva, S. L. & Günther, E., 18.09.2018, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 9, 4, p. 455-469 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Seven Building Blocks for an Intergenerationally Just Democracy

    Rose, M. & Hoffmann, J. M., 2020, Stuttgart: Foundation for the Rights of Future Generations, 29 p. (FREG Position Paper)(SSRN eLibrary).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  4. Published

    Seven years of the GAIA Masters Student Paper Award

    Fischer, D., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 1-1 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  5. Published

    Severely burdened individuals do not need to be excluded from internet-based and mobile-based stress management: Effect modifiers of treatment outcomes from three randomized controlled trials

    Weisel, K. K., Lehr, D., Heber, E., Zarski, A. C., Berking, M., Riper, H. & Ebert, D. D., 19.06.2018, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 20, 6, e211.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Sexualitäten, Geschlechter und Identitäten: 8 Bausteine für die schulische und außerschulische politische Bildung

    Bager, K., Bauer, M., Krößmann, I., Donett, M., Kalmbach, K., Küppers, C., Beer, D. L., Lücke, M., Offen, S. & Remus, J., 2018, Bonn: Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung. 114 p. (Themen und Materialien)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesTransfer

  7. Published

    Sex und Gender im Natur- und Umweltschutz

    Thiem, A., Grüning, J., Mayer, M. & Katz, C., 2005, In: DNR Deutschland-Rundbrief. 11, 05, p. 3

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Sharing Economy: Towards a New Culture of Consumption?

    Heinrichs, H. & Grunenberg, H., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 21 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Sharing Economy: A Potential New Pathway to Sustainability

    Heinrichs, H., 17.12.2013, In: GAIA. 22, 4, p. 228-231 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch