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

    Grünland spielt eine wichtige Rolle für die Vielfalt und für das Klima

    Temperton, V. M., 2016, Warnsignal Klima: Die Biodiversität unter Berücksichtigung von Habitatveränderungen, Umweltverschmutzung und Globalisierung. Lozan, J. L., Müller, R., Brekle, S.-W. & Rachor, E. (eds.). Hamburg: Wissenschaftliche Auswertungen Verlag, p. 170-176 7 p. 3.12. (GEO ).

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

  2. Published

    Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) perspective

    Balvanera, P., Daw, T. M., Gardner, T. A., Martín-López, B., Norström, A. V., Ifejika Speranza, C., Spierenburg, M., Bennett, E. M., Farfan, M., Hamann, M., Kittinger, J. N., Luthe, T., Maass, M., Peterson, G. D. & Perez-Verdin, G., 01.01.2017, In: Ecology and Society. 22, 1, 45 p., 14.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Experiments in climate governance: A systematic review of research on energy and built environment transitions

    Kivimaa, P., Hildén, M., Huitema, D., Jordan, A. & Newig, J., 15.12.2017, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 169, p. 17 - 29 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Mandelic acid derived ionic liquids: Synthesis, toxicity and biodegradability

    Prydderch, H., Haiß, A., Spulak, M., Quilty, B., Kümmerer, K., Heise, A. & Gathergood, N., 01.01.2017, In: RSC Advances. 7, 4, p. 2115-2126 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Classification of playing position in elite junior Australian football using technical skill indicators

    Woods, C. T., Veale, J., Fransen, J., Robertson, S. & Collier, N., 02.01.2018, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 36, 1, p. 97 - 103 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die Rolle des Nachhaltigkeitsmanagements in der Digitalisierung

    Schaltegger, S. & Petersen, H., 2016, Digitalisierung und Nachhaltigkeit: B.A.U.M. e. V. Jahrbuch 2017. B. U. M. E. V. (ed.). München: ALTOP Verlags- und Vertriebsgesellschaft, p. 17-20 4 p. (B.A.U.M. Jahrbuch; vol. 2017).

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

  8. Published

    Querschnittsstudie Erfolgsfaktoren für mitteltiefe Aquiferwärmespeicher in Norddeutschland

    Holstenkamp, L., Lauer, J. J., Neidig, P., Opel, O., Steffahn, J., Strodel, N., Vogel, M., Degenhart, H., Michalzik, D., Schomerus, C.-T., Schönebeck, J. & Növig, T., 02.2017, In: Geothermische Energie. 26, 86, p. 26-27 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  9. Published

    Importance of scrub-pastureland mosaics for wild-living cats occurrence in a Mediterranean area: Implications for the conservation of the wildcat (Felis silvestris)

    Lozano Mendoza, J., Virgós, E., Malo, A. F., Huertas, D. L. & Casanovas, J. G., 01.05.2003, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 12, 5, p. 921-935 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Kosten-Effektivitäts-Analyse eines Online Programmes zur Reduktion von depressiven Beschwerden bei Personen mit Diabetes mellitus Typ 1 und Typ 2

    Nobis, S., Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Smit, F., Buntrock, C., Berking, M., Baumeister, H., Snoek, F., Funk, B. & Riper, H., 2016, 15. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Verhaltensmedizin und Verhaltensmodifikation: Verhaltensmedizin 2.0 - von eHealth zu mHealth, 25. bis 27. Februar 2016 Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Abstractband. Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, p. 9 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review