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. Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
  2. Published

    Erratum: Formalised and non-formalised methods in resource management-knowledge and social learning in participatory processes: An introduction

    Newig, J., Haberl, H., Pahl-Wostl, C. & Rothman, D. S., 04.2009, In: Systemic Practice and Action Research. 22, 2, p. 125 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Erratum to "Generic functions of railway stations-A conceptual basis for the development of common system understanding and assessment criteria" [Transp. Policy 18 (2010) 446-455]

    Zemp, S., Stauffacher, M., Lang, D. J. & Scholz, R. W., 08.2011, In: Transport Policy. 18, 4, p. 648-648 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Feedstocks and analysis: General discussion

    Aldous, L., Argyropoulos, D., Budarin, V., Cabrera-Rodríguez, C. I., Clark, J., Coma, M., Constable, D., Fan, J., Gschwend, F., Hayes, D., Hu, C., Huber, G., Hughes, T., Hunt, A., Lapkin, A., Lye, G., Mascal, M., Matharu, A., Mu, X., Pant, D., Papaioannou, E., Rinaldi, R., Rothenberg, G., Samec, J., Sarkanen, S., Stankiewicz, A., Stevens, C., Titirici, M., Waldron, K., Wilson, K., Zhenova, A., Zhou, L. & Zuin, V., 01.09.2017, In: Faraday Discussions. 202, p. 497-519 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    Forschung für nachhaltige entwicklungen

    Grießhammer, R., Bergmann, M. & Betker, F., 05.2014, In: GAIA. 23, 2, p. 129 - 131 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Fukushima disaster indirectly threatens lake ecosystems

    Matsuzaki, S.-I., Von Wehrden, H., Møller, A. P. & Takamura, N., 01.11.2012, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10, 9, p. 464-464 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Genetic editing of wood for sustainability: Trees engineered to have less lignin could make paper production less polluting

    Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 14.07.2023, In: Science. 381, 6654, p. 124-125 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    Geodesign as a boundary management process: Co-creating and negotiating sustainable landscape futures. Participatory research methods for sustainability – toolkit #11

    Gottwald, S., Albert, C., Arciniegas, G., Ducci, M., Jajeh, S., Janssen, R. & Taylor, R., 29.10.2024, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 33, 3, p. 282-285 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Germination changes can restructure communities through priority effects

    Temperton, V. M., 05.2025, In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 40, 5, p. 426-427 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Grassroots Innovations for Inclusive Development: Need for a Paradigmatic Shift

    Kumar, V., Chand, V. S., Zhang, L., Hoppers, C. A. O., Zhang, W., Esders, M. & Gupta, A. K., 01.07.2013, In: Vikalpa. 38, 3, p. 103-122 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  11. Published

    Harnessing place attachment for local climate mitigation? Hypothesising connections between broadening representations of place and readiness for change

    Upham, P., Johansen, K., Bögel, P. M., Axon, S., Garard, J. & Carney, S., 02.09.2018, In: Local Environment. 23, 9, p. 912-919 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch