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

    Performing Gender, Performing Space. Raumtheoretische Reflexionen zu einer interdisziplinären Forschungskategorie

    Götschel, H., Mölders, T. & Strohmann, N. K., 2018, Wiederherstellen - Unterbrechen - Verändern?: Politiken der (Re-)Produktion. Onnen, C. & Rode-Breymann, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 73-77 5 p. (L`AGENda; vol. 3).

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

  2. Published

    The role of attitudes in technology acceptance management: Reflections on the case of hydrogen fuel cells in Europe

    Bögel, P., Oltra, C., Sala, R., Lores, M., Upham, P., Dütschke, E., Schneider, U. & Wiemann, P., 01.07.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 188, p. 125-135 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Usability and naturalness of videoconference-based exposure and response prevention for obsessive- compulsive disorder at the patients' homes: A pilot study

    Netter, A. L., Hessler, J. B., Diedrich, A., Lehr, D., Berking, M., Pfeuffer, S. & Voderholzer, U., 01.10.2018, In: Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy. 32, 4, p. 303-314 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Environmental drivers interactively affect individual tree growth across temperate European forests

    Maes, S. L., Perring, M. P., Vanhellemont, M., Depauw, L., Van den Bulcke, J., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Máliš, F., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.2019, In: Global Change Biology. 25, 1, p. 201-217 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Intraspecific trait variation patterns along a precipitation gradient in Mongolian rangelands

    Lang, B., Geiger, A., Oyunbileg, M., Ahlborn, J., von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Oyuntsetseg, B. & Römermann, C., 01.05.2019, In: Flora: Morphology, Distribution, Functional Ecology of Plants. 254, p. 135-146 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Multinational Enterprise Strategies for Addressing Sustainability: the Need for Consolidation

    Burritt, R. L., Christ, K. L., Rammal, H. G. & Schaltegger, S., 01.06.2020, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 164, 2, p. 389-410 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Commercializing traditional non-timber forest products: An integrated value chain analysis of honey from giant honey bees in Palawan, Philippines

    Matias, D. M. S., Tambo, J. A., Stellmacher, T., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.12.2018, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 97, p. 223-231 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Slowing resource loops in the clothing industry through Circular Business Model Experimentation

    Bocken, N. M. P., Miller, K., Weissbrod, I., Holgado, M. & Evans, S., 11.2018, Sustainable Fashion in a Circular Economy. Niinimäki, K. (ed.). 1 ed. Espoo: Aalto ARTS Books, p. 152-169 18 p.

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

  10. Published

    Politik zwischen Stadt und Land: Die Bedeutung des Ruralen im Streit um Agro-Gentechnik

    Friedrich, B., 2018, Rurbane Landschaften: Perspektiven des Ruralen in einer urbanisierten Welt. Sigrun, L. & Fröhlich-Kulik, M. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 263-274 12 p. (Rurale Topografien; vol. 7).

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