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

    What is sustainable agriculture? A systematic review

    Velten, S., Leventon, J., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 18.06.2015, In: Sustainability. 7, 6, p. 7833-7865 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    What is the ‘problem’ of gender inequality represented to be in the Swedish forest sector?

    Ville, A., Wong, G., Aceituno, A. J., Downing, A., Karambiri, M. & Brockhaus, M., 01.02.2023, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 140, p. 46-55 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    What Kinds of Photovoltaic Projects Do Lenders Prefer to Finance?

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Loock, M., 2011, Cross-Sector Leadership for the Green Economy: Integrating Research and Practice on Sustainable Enterprise. Marcus, A., Shrivastava, P., Sharma, S. & Pogutz, S. (eds.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 107-124 18 p.

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

  4. Published

    What predicts the alleviation of Covid-related future anxiety in schoolchildren 6 to 9 months into the pandemic?

    Voltmer, K. & von Salisch, M., 20.09.2023, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 14, 8 p., 1230301.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    What restricts generative rejuvenation of Calluna vulgaris in continental, dry heathland ecosystems: Seed production, germination ability or safe site conditions?

    Henning, K., Von Oheimb, G. & Sabine, T., 10.07.2015, In: Ecological Questions. 21, p. 25-28 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    What role for frames in scalar conflicts?

    Jürges, N. & Newig, J., 01.12.2015, In: Land Use Policy. 49, p. 426-434 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    What role for social-ecological systems research in governing global teleconnections?

    Challies, E., Newig, J. & Lenschow, A., 07.2014, In: Global Environmental Change : Human and Policy Dimensions. 27, 1, p. 32-40 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    What shapes ground beetle assemblages in a tree species-rich subtropical forest?

    Zumstein, P., Bruelheide, H., Fichtner, A., Schuldt, A., Staab, M., Härdtle, W., Zhou, H. & Aßmann, T., 16.06.2021, In: ZooKeys. 2021, 1044, p. 907-927 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    What the eyes reveal about (reading) poetry

    Menninghaus, W. & Wallot, S., 01.04.2021, In: Poetics. 85, 15 p., 101526.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review