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

    “Beyond nature and culture: relational perspectives on the Wadden Sea landscape”

    Döring, M., Walsh, C. & Egberts, L., 01.09.2021, In: Maritime Studies. 20, 3, p. 225-234 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  2. Published

    The dark triad and corporate sustainability: An empirical analysis of personality traits of sustainability managers

    Pelster, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2022, In: Business Ethics, Environment and Responsibility. 31, 1, p. 80-99 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Variation in nectar quality across 34 grassland plant species

    Venjakob, C., Ruedenauer, F. A., Klein, A.-M. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.01.2022, In: Plant Biology. 24, 1, p. 134-144 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A whole-institution approach towards sustainability: a crucial aspect of higher education’s individual and collective engagement with the SDGs and beyond

    Kohl, K., Hopkins, C., Barth, M., Michelsen, G., Dlouhá, J., Razak, D. A., Abidin Bin Sanusi, Z. & Toman, I., 21.02.2022, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 23, 2, p. 218-236 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Discourses for deep transformation: perceptions of economic growth in two rural communities in Lower Saxony, Germany

    Lübker, H. M., Abson, D. J. & Riechers, M., 01.11.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 6, p. 1827-1840 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Beyond practitioner and researcher: 15 roles adopted by actors in transdisciplinary and transformative research processes

    Hilger, A., Rose, M. & Keil, A., 01.11.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 6, p. 2049-2068 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Phasing out and in: System transition through disassociation in the German energy transition – The case of light and coal

    David, M. & Schulte-Römer, N., 01.10.2021, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 80, 6 p., 102204.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Klimaschutz: Die beste Schuldenbremse

    Kemfert, C., 01.06.2021, In: Wirtschaftsdienst. 101, 6, p. 408-408 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Developments in Qualitative Mindfulness Practice Research: a Pilot Scoping Review

    Frank, P. & Marken, M., 01.01.2022, In: Mindfulness. 13, 1, p. 17-36 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Strengthening gender justice in a just transition: A research agenda based on a systematic map of gender in coal transitions

    Walk, P., Braunger, I., Semb, J., Brodtmann, C., Oei, P. Y. & Kemfert, C., 21.09.2021, In: Energies. 14, 18, 27 p., 5985.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review