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

    Nature’s contributions to people in mountains: A review

    Martín-López, B., Leister, I., Lorenzo Cruz, P., Palomo, I., Grêt-Regamey, A., Harrison, P. A., Lavorel, S., Locatelli, B., Luque, S. & Walz, A., 11.06.2019, In: PLoS ONE. 14, 6, 24 p., e0217847.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Techno-economic assessment of non-sterile batch and continuous production of lactic acid from food waste

    Peinemann, J., Demichelis, F., Fiore, S. & Pleissner, D., 01.10.2019, In: Bioresource Technology. 289, 121631.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Assessment of upstream bioprocessing

    Pleißner, D., 01.07.2019, In: 3 Biotech. 9, 7, 7 p., 260.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Guidance for assessing interregional ecosystem service flows

    Koellner, T., Bonn, A., Arnhold, S., Bagstad, K. J., Fridman, D., Guerra, C. A., Kastner, T., Kissinger, M., Kleemann, J., Kuhlicke, C., Liu, J., López-Hoffman, L., Marques, A., Martín-López, B., Schulp, C. J. E., Wolff, S. & Schröter, M., 10.2019, In: Ecological Indicators. 105, p. 92-106 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Employees’ perceived benefits from participating in CSR activities and implications for increasing employees engagement in CSR

    Koch, C., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., Bögel, P. M. & Adam, U., 23.05.2019, In: Corporate Communications. 24, 2, p. 303-317 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Internet- and App-Based Stress Intervention for Distance-Learning Students With Depressive Symptoms: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

    Harrer, M., Apolinario-Hagen, J., Fritsche, L., Druege, M., Krings, L., Beck, K., Salewski, C., Zarski, A.-C., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H. & Ebert, D. D., 21.05.2019, In: Frontiers in Psychiatry. 10, MAY, 13 p., 361.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Phasing-out Coal in Germany – Not Only, But Also a Legal Challenge

    Schomerus, C.-T., 01.04.2019, In: Renewable Energy Law & Policy Review. 9, 2, p. 60-67 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  8. Published

    Learning in participatory environmental governance – its antecedents and effects. Findings from a case survey meta-analysis

    Newig, J., Jager, N. W., Kochskämper, E. & Challies, E., 2019, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 21, 3, p. 213-227 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Online stakeholder dialogue: quo vadis? – An empirical analysis in German-speaking countries

    Hetze, K., Bögel, P. M., Emde, A., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S. & Glock, Y., 23.05.2019, In: Corporate Communications. 24, 2, p. 248-268 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Inside-out sustainability: The neglect of inner worlds

    Ives, C. D., Freeth, R. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2020, In: Ambio. 49, 1, p. 208-217 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review