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

    Theorising the dynamics of collaborative consumption practices: A comparison of peer-to-peer accommodation and cohousing

    Huber, A., 06.2017, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 23, June, p. 53–69 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The pace of life for forest trees

    Author Collaboration of "The pace of life for forest trees.", Bialic-Murphy, L., McElderry, R. M., Esquivel-Muelbert, A., van den Hoogen, J., Zuidema, P. A., Phillips, O. L., de Oliveira, E. A. & Klipel, J., 04.10.2024, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 386, 6717, p. 92-98 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The pace of range expansion: a long-term study on the flightless ground beetle Carabus hortensis (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

    Völler, E., Boutaud, E. & Assmann, T., 01.02.2018, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 22, 1, p. 163-169 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The parrot knew everything: [ab 10 Jahren]

    Puchalla, D., 2007, Berlin: Langenscheidt ELT. 131 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  5. Published

    The patterns of curriculum change processes that embed sustainability in higher education institutions

    Weiss, M., Barth, M. & von Wehrden, H., 01.09.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 5, p. 1579-1593 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The Political Role of the Business Firm: An Ordonomic Concept of Corporate Citizen-ship Developed in Comparison with the Aristo-telian Idea of Individual Citizenship

    Pies, I., Beckmann, M. & Hielscher, S., 2012, Halle-Wittenberg, Sachsen-Anhalt: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, 37 p. (Diskussionspapiere; vol. 2012, no. 1).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    The ponds of Hattuša -: Early groundwater management in the Hittite kingdom

    Wittenberg, H. & Schachner, A., 01.01.2013, In: Water Supply. 13, 3, p. 692-698 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The Population Trajectories Both of the Wild Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) in Spain: Implications for Conservation

    Lozano Mendoza, J., Cabezas-Díaz, S. & Virgós, E., 01.01.2014, Trends in Environmental Science. Nova Science Publishers, Inc., p. 105-132 28 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    The Porter Hypothesis Revisited: A Literature Review of Theoretical Models and Empirical Tests

    Wagner, M., 12.2003, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 44 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate

    Spohn, M., Bagchi, S., Biederman, L. A., Borer, E. T., Bråthen, K. A., Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., Collins, S. L., Eisenhauer, N., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Knops, J. M. H., Koerner, S. E., Laanisto, L., Lekberg, Y., Martina, J. P., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Peri, P. L., Macek, P., Power, S. A., Risch, A. C., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C., Veen, G. F., Virtanen, R. & Yahdjian, L., 01.12.2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 10 p., 6624.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review