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

    What are the ingredients for food systems change towards sustainability? - Insights from the literature

    Weber, H., Pöggel, K., Eakin, H., Fischer, D., Lang, D. J., Wehrden, H. & Wiek, A., 01.11.2020, In: Environmental Research Letters. 15, 11, 17 p., 113001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Transformative learning in the field of sustainability: a systematic literature review (1999-2019)

    Rodriguez Aboytes, J. G. & Barth, M., 17.07.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 5, p. 993-1013 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Forschendes Lernen im Masterstudiengang Systems Engineering: Bausteine erhalten, Bausteine zusammensetzen, Ergebnisse reflektieren

    Bačić, I., Rodenhauser, A., Colombi Ciacchi, L. & Bernd, K., 2020, Forschendes Lernen als Studiengangsprofil: Zum Lehrprofil einer Universität. Thomas, H., Henning, K. & Peter, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 285-300 16 p.

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

  4. Published

    Environmental Governance of China's Belt and Road Initiative

    Coenen, J., Bager, S., Meyfroidt, P., Newig, J. & Challies, E., 01.01.2021, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 31, 1, p. 3-17 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Inklusive Unterrichtsgestaltung – Brüche und Brücken zwischen Sach- und Fachunterricht

    Abels, S., 2020, „Brüche und Brücken“ – Übergänge im Kontext des Sachunterrichts. Offen, S., Barth, M., Franz, U. & Michalik, K. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, p. 17-26 10 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 30).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsTransferpeer-review

  7. Published

    Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South

    Zafra-Calvo, N., Balvanera, P., Pascual, U., Merçon, J., Martín-López, B., van Noordwijk, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Lele, S., Ifejika Speranza, C., Arias-Arévalo, P., Cabrol, D., Cáceres, D. M., O'Farrell, P., Subramanian, S. M., Devy, S., Krishnan, S., Carmenta, R., Guibrunet, L., Kraus-Elsin, Y., Moersberger, H., Cariño, J. & Díaz, S., 01.07.2020, In: Global Environmental Change. 63, 12 p., 102115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Gase auf submikroskopischer Ebene untersuchen: Einbinden von Simulationen in den Chemieunterricht

    Stinken-Rösner, L. & Abels, S., 2020, In: Naturwissenschaft im Unterricht - Chemie. 31, 177, p. 47-51 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducation

  9. Published

    Simulationen im Nawi-Unterricht: Erhebung des Status Quo

    Stinken-Rösner, L. & Abels, S., 2020, Naturwissenschaftliche Kompetenzen in der Gesellschaft von morgen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik Jahrestagung in Wien 2019. Habig, S. (ed.). Duisburg-Essen: Universität Duisburg-Essen, p. 736-739 4 p. (Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik; vol. 40).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  10. Published

    „Digital GeSEHEN“: Partizipatives Experimentieren im Optikunterricht mit Hilfe von Simulationen

    Stinken-Rösner, L. & Abels, S., 2020, In: Computer + Unterricht. 30, 117, p. 19-22 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducation