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

    Crown and leaf traits as predictors of subtropical tree sapling growth rates

    Li, Y., Kröber, W., Bruehlheide, H., Härdtle, W. & von Oheimb, G., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 136-145 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Die Rolle des fachlichen Lernens beim Forschenden Lernen in inklusiven Schulklassen

    Irndorfer, M. & Abels, S., 2017, Embracing the other.: How the Inclusive Classroom Brings Fresh Ideos to Science and Education . Schulze-Heuling, L. (ed.). Flensburg: Flensburg University Press, p. 85-96 12 p. (Flensburger studies on inclusion and diversity in science and technology education ; vol. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    The right to liberty and security according to article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights and facing threats to public safety and national security

    Bachmann, S. D. & Sanden, J., 04.2017, In: Tydskrif vir die Suid Afrikaanse Reg . 2017, 2, p. 320-336 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    ‘It's the Psychology, Stupid!’: Understanding Human Cognition Biases to Inform Sustainable Behavior

    Engler, J.-O., Abson, D. & Wehrden, H., 14.12.2017, Rochester: SSRN Social Science Research Network, 23 p. (SSRN; no. 3086532).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    Research in-between: The constitutive role of cultural differences in transdisciplinarity

    Vilsmaier, U., Brandner, V. & Engbers, M., 2018, Transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary education and research. Dieleman, H., Nicolescu, B. & Ertas, A. (eds.). USA: The Academy of Transdisciplinary Learning and Advanced Studies, p. 89-102 14 p.

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

  6. Published

    Research in-between: The constitutive role of cultural differences in transdisciplinarity

    Vilsmaier, U., Brandner, V. & Engbers, M., 01.01.2017, In: Transdisciplinary Journal of Engineering & Science. 8, p. 169-179 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a guided internet- and mobile-based depression intervention for individuals with chronic back pain: protocol of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial

    Lin, J., Sander, L., Paganini, S., Schlicker, S., Ebert, D., Berking, M., Bengel, J., Nobis, S., Lehr, D., Mittag, O., Riper, H. & Baumeister, H., 01.12.2017, In: BMJ Open. 7, 12, 11 p., e015226 .

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Efficacy of a web-based intervention with and without guidance for employees with risky drinking: Results of a three-arm randomized controlled trial

    Boß, L., Lehr, D., Schaub, M. P., Paz Castro, R., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Ebert, D. D., 04.2018, In: Addiction: The British journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. 113, 4, p. 635-646 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    La aceptación pública de las aplicaciones de las Pilas de Combustible de Hidrógeno en Europa

    Oltra, C., Dütschke, E., Sala, R., Schneider, U. & Upham, P., 01.10.2017, In: Revista Internacional de Sociologia. 75, 4, 15 p., e076.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Early-Career Researchers’ Perceptions of the Prevalence of Questionable Research Practices, Potential Causes, and Open Science

    Stürmer, S., Oeberst, A., Trötschel, R. & Decker, O., 01.11.2017, In: Social Psychology. 48, 6, p. 365-371 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review