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
  2. Published

    Toward Sustainable Urban Metabolisms: From System Understanding to System Transformation

    John, B., Luederitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.03.2019, In: Ecological Economics. 157, p. 402-414 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Building actor-centric transformative capacity through city-university partnerships

    Keeler, L. W., Beaudoin, F., Wiek, A., John, B., Lerner, A. M., Beecroft, R., Tamm, K., Seebacher, A., Lang, D. J., Kay, B. & Forrest, N., 15.05.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 5, p. 529-538 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    University-linked programmes for sustainable entrepreneurship and regional development: how, and with what impact?

    Wagner, M., Hansen, E., Schaltegger, S. & Fichter, K., 01.02.2021, In: Small Business Economics. 56, 3, p. 1141-1158 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Towards productive functions? A systematic review of institutional failure, its causes and consequences

    Derwort, P., Jager, N. & Newig, J., 15.06.2019, In: Policy Sciences. 52, 2, p. 281-298 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Den Metallen auf die Spur kommen - das Konzept der Stoffgeschichten

    Weiser, A., 2018, Metalle auf der Bühne der Menschheit: Von Ötzis Kupferbeil zum Smartphone im All Metals Age. Held, M., Jenny, R. D. & Hempel, M. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 98 1 p. (DBU-Umweltkommunikation; vol. 11).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  7. Published

    Kupfer - früher Einstieg und starke Zukunftsaussichten

    Weiser, A., 2018, Metalle auf der Bühne der Menschheit: Von Ötzis Kupferbeil zum Smartphone im All Metals Age. Held, M., Jenny, R. D. & Hempel, M. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 9 1 p. (DBU-Umweltkommunikation; vol. 11).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  8. Published

    archiDART v3.0: A new data analysis pipeline allowing the topological analysis of plant root systems

    Delory, B., Li, M., Topp, C. & Lobet, G., 08.01.2018, In: Faculty of 1000 Research. 7, 22, 14 p., 22.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Stories of favourite Places in public spaces: Emotional responses to landscape change

    Riechers, M., Henkel, W., Engbers, M. & Fischer, J., 15.07.2019, In: Sustainability. 11, 14, 11 p., 3851.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    A Leverage Points Perspective on Sustainability

    Fischer, J. & Riechers, M., 03.2019, In: People and Nature. 1, 1, p. 115-120 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch