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

    Editorial: Psychische gesundheit von chronisch kranken und/oder behinderten kindern und jugendlichen und Ihren familien

    Hampel, P. & Salisch, M., 11.2017, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 66, 9, p. 652–655 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  2. Published

    Emotional Competence and Friendship Involvement: Spiral Effects in Adolescence

    Salisch, M., 02.11.2018, In: European Journal of Developmental Psychology. 15, 6, p. 678-693 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Mapping a sustainable future: Community learning in dialogue at the science–society interface

    Barth, M., Lang, D. J., Luthardt, P. & Vilsmaier, U., 01.12.2017, In: International Review of Education. 63, 6, p. 811 - 828 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  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

    Year-round cattle and horse grazing supports the restoration of abandoned, dry sandy grassland and heathland communities by supressing Calamagrostis epigejos and enhancing species richness

    Henning, K., Lorenz, A., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W. & Tischew, S., 01.12.2017, In: Journal for Nature Conservation. 40, p. 120-130 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Antimicrobial activity of pharmaceutical cocktails in sewage treatment plant effluent: An experimental and predictive approach to mixture risk assessment

    Menz, J., Baginska, E., Arrhenius, Å., Haiß, A., Backhaus, T. & Kümmerer, K., 01.12.2017, In: Environmental Pollution. 231, 2, p. 1507-1517 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Mapping giant honey bee nests in Palawan, Philippines through a transdisciplinary approach

    Matias, D. M. S., Stellmacher, T., Borgemeister, C., Cayron, J. G. & von Wehrden, H., 03.10.2017, In: Development in Practice: stimulating thought for action. 27, 7, p. 903-912 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainability as a Fundamental Challenge for Management Accountants

    Schaltegger, S., 01.09.2017, The Role of the Management Accountant: Local Variations and Global Influences. Goretzki, L. & Strauss, E. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 274-291 18 p. (Routledge studies in accounting; vol. 26).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Local food sovereignty for global food security? Highlighting interplay challenges

    Leventon, J. & Laudan, J., 10.2017, In: Geoforum. 85, p. 23-26 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Scale in environmental governance: moving from concepts and cases to consolidation

    Newig, J. & Moss, T., 06.11.2017, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 19, 5, p. 473-479 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review