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. Scientific review articles › Research
  2. Published
  3. Published

    Appraising biocultural approaches to sustainability in the scientific literature in Spanish

    Díaz-Reviriego, I., Hanspach, J., Torralba, M., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Frias, C. B., Burke, L., García-Martín, M. & Oteros-Rozas, E., 04.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 4, p. 499-516 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    A review of ecological gradient research in the Tropics: identifying research gaps, future directions, and conservation priorities

    Muenchow, J., Dieker, P., Kluge, J., Kessler, M. & von Wehrden, H., 01.02.2018, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 27, 2, p. 273-285 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    A review of ecosystem service benefits from wild bees across social contexts

    Matias, D. M. S., Leventon, J., Rau, A. L., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.05.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 4, p. 456-467 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    A review of fire effects across South American ecosystems: the role of climate and time since fire

    Giorgis, M. A., Zeballos, S. R., Carbone, L., Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Aguilar, R., Ferreras, A. E., Tecco, P. A., Kowaljow, E., Barri, F., Gurvich, D. E., Villagra, P. & Jaureguiberry, P., 23.04.2021, In: Fire Ecology. 17, 1, 20 p., 11.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    A review of transdisciplinary research in sustainability science

    Brandt, P., Ernst, A., Gralla, F., Lüderitz, C., Lang, D., Newig, J., Reinert, F., Abson, D. & von Wehrden, H., 08.2013, In: Ecological Economics. 92, August, p. 1-15 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    A review of urban ecosystem services: six key challenges for future research

    Lüderitz, C., Brink, E., Gralla, F., Hermelingmeier, V., Rau, A.-L., Abson, D., Lang, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Wamsler, C., Sasaki, R., Partelow, S., Meyer, M., Lisa, N. & Panzer, L., 01.08.2015, In: Ecosystem Services. 14, p. 98-112 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    A review on the use of calcium chloride in applied thermal engineering

    N'Tsoukpoe, K. E., Rammelberg, H., Fopah Lele, A., Korhammer, K., Watts, B. A., Schmidt, T. & Ruck, W., 22.01.2015, In: Applied Thermal Engineering. 75, p. 513-531 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    A Social–Ecological Systems Framework as a Tool for Understanding the Effectiveness of Biosphere Reserve Management

    Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & Wehrden, H., 10.10.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 10, 26 p., 3608.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Assessing nature’s contributions to people: Recognizing culture, and diverse sources of knowledge, can improve assessments

    Díaz, S., Pascual, U., Stenseke, M., Martín-López, B., Watson, R. T., Molnár, Z., Hill, R., Chan, K. M. A., Baste, I. A., Brauman, K. A., Polasky, S., Church, A., Lonsdale, M., Larigauderie, A., Leadley, P. W., Van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Van Der Plaat, F., Schröter, M., Lavorel, S., Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y., Bukvareva, E., Davies, K., Demissew, S., Erpul, G., Failler, P., Guerra, C. A., Hewitt, C. L., Keune, H., Lindley, S. & Shirayama, Y., 19.01.2018, In: Science. 359, 6373, p. 270-272 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  12. Published

    A Sustainability Agenda for Tropical Marine Science

    Partelow, S., Schlüter, A., von Wehrden, H., Jänig, M. & Senff, P., 01.01.2018, In: Conservation Letters. 11, 1, 15 p., e12351.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  13. Published

    A systematic review of guiding principles for sustainable urban neighborhood development

    Lüderitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 10.2013, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 118, October, p. 40-52 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  14. Published

    A systematic review of peer-reviewed gender literature in sustainability science

    Frank, E., Mühlhaus, R., Mustelin, K. M., Trilken, E. L., Kreuz, N. K., Bowes, L. C., Backer, L. M. & von Wehrden, H., 07.2024, In: Sustainability Science. 19, 4, p. 1459-1480 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  15. Published

    A theory of participation: what makes stakeholder and public engagement in environmental management work?

    Reed, M. S., Vella, S., Challies, E., de Vente, J., Frewer, L., Hohenwallner-Ries, D., Huber, T., Neumann, R. K., Oughton, E. A., Sidoli del Ceno, J. & van Delden, H., 01.04.2018, In: Restoration Ecology. 26, S1, p. S7-S17 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  16. Published

    Australia’s Stock Route Network: 1. A review of its values, and implications for future management

    Lentini, P. E., Fischer, J., Gibbons, P., Lindenmayer, D. & Martin, T., 08.2011, In: Ecological Management & Restoration. 12, 2, p. 119-127 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  17. Published

    Biocultural approaches to sustainability: A systematic review of the scientific literature

    Hanspach, J., Jamila Haider, L., Oteros-Rozas, E., Stahl Olafsson, A., Gulsrud, N. M., Raymond, C. M., Torralba, M., Martín-López, B., Bieling, C., García-Martín, M., Albert, C., Beery, T. H., Fagerholm, N., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Drews-Shambroom, A. & Plieninger, T., 09.2020, In: People and Nature. 2, 3, p. 643-659 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  18. Published

    Biodegradable green composites: It's never too late to mend

    Rafiee, K., Schritt, H., Pleissner, D., Kaur, G. & Brar, S. K., 01.08.2021, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 30, 100482.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  19. Published

    Biodiversity, ecosystem function, and resilience: ten guiding principles for commodity production landscapes

    Fischer, J., Lindenmayer, D. B. & Manning, A. D., 03.2006, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 4, 2, p. 80-86 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Biological nitrogen recirculation to food protein – A review

    Siddiqui, S. A., Pleissner, D., Pentjuss, A., Gołaszewski, J., Karwowska, A., Dace, E., Pahmeyer, M., Van Miert, S., Frooninckx, L., Broeckx, L., Heinz, V. & Smetana, S., 01.12.2023, In: Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy. 6, 15 p., 100056.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  21. Published

    Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation

    Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  22. Published

    Biosphere reserves' management effectiveness-A systematic literature review and a research agenda

    Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & von Wehrden, H., 01.07.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 12, 31 p., 5497.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  23. Published

    Blockchain for the Circular Economy: Analysis of the Research-Practice Gap

    Böckel, A., Nuzum, A.-K. & Weissbrod, I., 01.01.2021, In: Sustainable Production and Consumption. 25, p. 525-539 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  24. Published

    Boundary speak in sustainability studies: Computational reading of a transversal field

    Herberg, J., Schmitz, S., Stasiak, D. & Schmieg, G., 10.06.2021, In: Science and Public Policy. 48, 3, p. 398-411 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  25. Published

    Can Pulsed Electric Fields Treated Algal Cells Be Used as Stationary Phase in Chromatography?

    Pleissner, D. & Smetana, S., 29.04.2022, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6, 7 p., 860647.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  26. Published

    Chances and challenges of the biologization of the economy of rural areas

    Pleissner, D., 01.06.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 23, p. 46-49 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  27. Published

    Characterising and identifying gaps in sustainability assessments of tourism - a review

    Balas, M. & Abson, D. J., 01.07.2022, In: Tourism Management Perspectives. 43, 101004.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  28. Published

    Chronobiologische Aspekte der Insomnie

    Ell, J., Benz, F., Walter, N., Steinmetz, L., Brueckner, H., Lehr, D., Riemann, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 01.06.2021, In: Somnologie. 25, 2, p. 110-118 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  29. Published

    Circular and inclusive utilization of alternative proteins: A European and Mediterranean perspective

    Athanassiou, C. G., Smetana, S. M., Pleißner, D., Tassoni, A., Gasco, L., Gai, F., Shpigelman, A., Bravo Cadena, M., Gastli, M., Conceição, L. E. C., Gronich, E., Paolacci, S., Chalkidis, V., Kuthy, M., Stolzenberger, R. E., El Yaacoubi, A., Mehlhose, C., Petrusán, J.-I. & Rumbos, C. I., 01.04.2024, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 46, 6 p., 100892.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  30. Published

    Community resilience for a 1.5 degrees C world

    Fazey, I., Carmen, E., Chapin III, F. S., Ross, H., Rao-Williams, J., Lyon, C., Connon, I., Searle, B. & Knox, K., 04.2018, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 31, p. 30-40 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  31. Published

    Competencies for Advancing Transformations Towards Sustainability

    Redman, A. & Wiek, A., 30.11.2021, In: Frontiers in Education. 6, 11 p., 785163.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  32. Accepted/In press

    Conceptualizing transformative climate action: insights from sufficiency research

    Richard, B., Nathan, B., Andreas, N. & Ernest, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Climate Policy. 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  33. Published

    Consequences of nuclear accidents for biodiversity and ecosystem services

    von Wehrden, H., Fischer, J., Brandt, P., Wagner, V., Kümmerer, K., Kuemmerle, T., Nagel, A., Olsson, O. & Hostert, P., 01.04.2012, In: Conservation Letters. 5, 2, p. 81-89 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  34. Published

    Continuous pretreatment, hydrolysis, and fermentation of organic residues for the production of biochemicals

    Peinemann, J. C. & Pleißner, D., 01.2020, In: Bioresource Technology. 295, 8 p., 122256.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  35. Published

    Contributions of Net-Map to sustainability action research

    Cortés-Calderón, S. V., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Castro, A. J. & Mancilla-García, M., 08.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 75, 101542.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  36. Published

    Co-production of nature's contributions to people: What evidence is out there?

    Kachler, J., Isaac, R., Martín-López, B., Bonn, A. & Felipe-Lucia, M. R., 01.08.2023, In: People and Nature. 5, 4, p. 1119-1134 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  37. Published

    Crisis-induced disruptions in place-based social-ecological research - an opportunity for redirection

    Hermans, K., Berger, E., Biber-Freudenberger, L., Bossenbroek, L., Ebeler, L., Groth, J., Hack, J., Hanspach, J., Hintz, K. S., Kimengsi, J. N., Kwong, Y. M. C., Oakes, R., Pagogna, R., Plieninger, T., Sterly, H., van der Geest, K., van Vliet, J. & Wiederkehr, C., 15.07.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 2, p. 72-76 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  38. Published

    Current practice of assessing students' sustainability competencies: a review of tools

    Redman, A., Wiek, A. & Barth, M., 01.01.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 1, p. 117-135 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  39. Published

    Der Konflikt zwischen Klima- und Naturschutz bei der energetischen Verwendung von Waldrestholz

    Pietsch, L., 01.2013, In: Natur und Recht. 35, 1, p. 29-32 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  40. Published
  41. Published

    Design of greener drugs: aligning parameters in pharmaceutical R&D and drivers for environmental impact

    Vidaurre, R., Bramke, I., Puhlmann, N., Owen, S. F., Angst, D., Moermond, C., Venhuis, B., Lombardo, A., Kümmerer, K., Sikanen, T., Ryan, J., Häner, A., Janer, G., Roggo, S. & Perkins, A. N., 01.07.2024, In: Drug Discovery Today. 29, 7, 10 p., 104022.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  42. Published

    Developing European conservation and mitigation tools for pollination services: approaches of the STEP (Status and Trends of European Pollinators) project

    Potts, S. G., Biesmeijer, J. C., Bommarco, R., Felicioli, A., Fischer, M., Jokinen, P., Kleijn, D., Klein, A.-M., Kunin, W. E., Neumann, P., Penev, L. D., Petanidou, T., Rasmont, P., Roberts, S. P. M., Smith, H. G., Sorensen, P. B., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Vaissiere, B. E., Vila, M., Vujic, A., Woychiechowski, M., Zobel, M., Settele, J. & Schweiger, O., 13.04.2011, In: Journal of Apicultural Research. 50, 2, p. 152-164 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  43. Published

    Digitale Behandlungsangebote für Insomnie – eine Übersichtsarbeit

    Spiegelhalder, K., Acker, J., Baumeister, H., Büttner-Teleaga, A., Danker-Hopfe, H., Ebert, D. D., Fietze, I., Frase, L., Klein, S., Lehr, D., Maun, A., Mertel, I., Richter, K., Riemann, D., Sauter, C., Schilling, C., Schlarb, A. A., Specht, M., Steinmetz, L., Weeß, H. G. & Crönlein, T., 01.06.2020, In: Somnologie. 24, 2, p. 106-114 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  44. Published
  45. Published

    Discussion on the validity of commonly used reliability indices in sports medicine and exercise science: a critical review with data simulations

    Warneke, K., Gronwald, T., Wallot, S., Magno, A., Hillebrecht, M. & Wirth, K., 06.2025, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 125, 6, p. 1511-1526 16 p., e0216065.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  46. Published

    Disentangling ‘ecosystem services’ and ‘nature’s contributions to people’

    Kadykalo, A. N., López-Rodriguez, M. D., Ainscough, J., Droste, N., Ryu, H., Ávila-Flores, G., Le Clec’h, S., Muñoz, M. C., Nilsson, L., Rana, S., Sarkar, P., Sevecke, K. J. & Harmáčková, Z. V., 01.01.2019, In: Ecosystems and People. 15, 1, p. 269-287 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  47. Published

    Disentangling gender and social difference for just and transformative biocultural approaches

    Díaz-Reviriego, I., Torralba, M., Vizuete, B., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Heindorf, C., LLanque Zonta, A. & Oteros-Rozas, E., 08.2024, In: People and Nature. 6, 4, p. 1394-1406 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  48. Published

    Does Internet-based guided self-help for depression cause harm? An individual participant data meta-analysis on deterioration rates and its moderators in randomized controlled trials

    Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Andersson, G., Andrews, G., Berger, T. K., Carlbring, P., Rozental, A., Choi, I., Laferton, J. A. C., Johansson, R., Kleiboer, A., Lange, A., Lehr, D., Reins, J. A., Funk, B., Newby, J., Perini, S., Riper, H., Ruwaard, J., Sheeber, L., Snoek, F., Titov, N., Ünlü Ince, B., Van Bastelaar, K. M. P., Vernmark, K., Van Straten, A., Warmerdam, L., Salsman, N. & Cuijpers, P., 01.10.2016, In: Psychological Medicine. 46, 13, p. 2679-2693 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  49. Published

    Do guided internet-based interventions result in clinically relevant changes for patients with depression? An individual participant data meta-analysis

    Karyotaki, E., Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Burger, S., Rozental, A., Lange, A., Williams, A. D., Zarski, A. C., Geraedts, A., van Straten, A., Kleiboer, A., Meyer, B., Ünlü Ince, B. B., Buntrock, C., Lehr, D., Snoek, F. J., Andrews, G., Andersson, G., Choi, I., Ruwaard, J., Klein, J. P., Newby, J. M., Schröder, J., Laferton, J. A. C., Van Bastelaar, K., Imamura, K., Vernmark, K., Boß, L., Sheeber, L. B., Kivi, M., Berking, M., Titov, N., Carlbring, P., Johansson, R., Kenter, R., Perini, S., Moritz, S., Nobis, S., Berger, T., Kaldo, V., Forsell, Y., Lindefors, N., Kraepelien, M., Björkelund, C., Kawakami, N. & Cuijpers, P., 01.07.2018, In: Clinical Psychology Review. 63, p. 80-92 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  50. Published

    Dry grassland communities on southern Öland: Phytosociology, ecology, and diversity

    Löbel, S. & Dengler, J., 01.01.2007, In: Acta Phytogeographica Suecica. 88, p. 13-31 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  51. Published

    Ecological assessment of forest management approaches to develop resilient forests in the face of global change in Central Europe

    Huth, F., Tischer, A., Nikolova, P., Feldhaar, H., Wehnert, A., Hülsmann, L., Bauhus, J., Heer, K., Vogt, J., Ammer, C., Berger, U., Bernhardt-Römermann, M., Böhme, M., Bugmann, H., Demant, L., Buse, J., Dörfler, I., Ewald, J., Feldmann, E., Fichtner, A., Gossner, M. M., Grams, T. E. E., Häberle, K.-H., Hagge, J., Hartmann, H., Herzog, S., Kahmen, A., Kohnle, U., Krabel, D., Krämer-Klement, K., Kreyling, J., Manthey, M., Mellert, K., Meyer, P., Mölder, A., Muffler-Weigel, L., Ohse, B., Opgenoorth, L., Rewald, B., Rothe, A., Ruehr, N., Scharnweber, T., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Schmeddes, J., Schmerbeck, J., Schmidt, M., Seidel, D., Thomas, F. M., Tiebel, M., von Oheimb, G., Wagner, S., Weigel, R., Wilmking, M., Zang, C. & Schuldt, B., 08.2025, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 86, p. 66-100 35 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch