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

    Teachers' beliefs about and dispositions towards Inquiry-based Science Education

    Hofer, E., Koliander, B. & Puddu, S., 2021, Project-based Education and other activating Strategies in Science Education XVIII. : Conference Proceedings. Rusek, M., Tothova, M. & Vojir, K. (eds.). Prague: Charles University, Prague, p. 16-25 10 p.

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

  2. Published

    Key advantages of the leverage points perspective to shape human-nature relations

    Riechers, M., Loos, J., Balázsi, Á., García-Llorente, M., Bieling, C., Burgos-Ayala, A., Chakroun, L., Mattijssen, T. J. M., Muhr, M. M., Pérez-Ramírez, I., Raatikainen, K. J., Rana, S., Richardson, M., Rosengren, L. & West, S., 25.04.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 205-214 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Biophysical variability and politico-economic singularity: Responses of livestock numbers in South Mongolian nomadic pastoralism

    Engler, J. O., Wesche, K., Kaczensky, P., Dhakal, P., Chuluunkhuyag, O. & von Wehrden, H., 01.09.2021, In: Ecological Economics. 187, 13 p., 107073.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Aquatic and terrestrial proxy evidence for Middle Pleistocene palaeolake and lake-shore development at two Lower Palaeolithic sites of Schöningen, Germany

    Krahn, K. J., Tucci, M., Urban, B., Pilgrim, J., Frenzel, P., Soulié-Märsche, I. & Schwalb, A., 07.2021, In: Boreas. 50, 3, p. 723-745 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Evaluating a hybrid web-based training program for panic disorder and agoraphobia: Randomized controlled trial

    Ebenfeld, L., Lehr, D., Ebert, D. D., Stegemann, S. K., Riper, H., Funk, B. & Berking, M., 04.03.2021, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 23, 3, 14 p., e20829.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Rhizosphere microbiome modulated effects of biochar on ryegrass 15N uptake and rhizodeposited 13C allocation in soil

    Fu, Y., Kumar, A., Chen, L., Jiang, Y., Ling, N., Wang, R., Pan, Q., Singh, B. P., Redmile-Gordon, M., Luan, L., Li, Q., Shi, Q., Reid, B. J., Fang, Y., Kuzyakov, Y., Luo, Y. & Xu, J., 06.2021, In: Plant and Soil. 463, 1-2, p. 359-377 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung mit transformativem Anspruch Zehn Jahre NaWis: Rückblick und Vorausschau

    Lang, D. J., Renn, O., Rehm, A. & Ernst, A., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 51-53 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    The new European database for chemicals of concern: How useful is SCIP for waste management?

    Friege, H., Zeschmar-Lahl, B., Kummer, B. & Wagner, J., 01.06.2021, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 21, 100430.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A review of fire effects across South American ecosystems: the role of climate and time since fire

    Giorgis, M. A., Zeballos, S. R., Carbone, L., Zimmermann, H., von Wehrden, H., Aguilar, R., Ferreras, A. E., Tecco, P. A., Kowaljow, E., Barri, F., Gurvich, D. E., Villagra, P. & Jaureguiberry, P., 23.04.2021, In: Fire Ecology. 17, 1, 20 p., 11.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Was steckt hinter der mysteriösen Flasche? Ein Mystery als Stimulus für Fragen beim Forschenden Lernen

    Hofer, E., Puddu, S., Abels, S. & Lembens, A., 2021, In: Unterricht Physik. 32, 182, p. 42-45 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer