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

    Education and Training

    Bäumler, J. & Schomerus, T., 23.03.2021, The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: A Commentary. Calster, G. V. & Reins, L. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 284-301 18 p. (Elgar Commentaries series).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Teaching the Teachers about Language Support Strategies: Effects on Young Children’s Language Development

    Voltmer, K., Hormann, O., Pietsch, M., Mähler, C. & Salisch, M., 04.05.2021, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 12, 11 p., 660750.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Effects of local neighbourhood diversity on crown structure and productivity of individual trees in mature mixed-species forests

    Georgi, L., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A., Reich, K. F., Bienert, A., Maas, H.-G. & von Oheimb, G., 26.04.2021, In: Forest Ecosystems. 8, 1, 12 p., 26.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen und fachliche Anforderungen an die Waldbehandlung in Naturschutzgebieten

    Wernicke, P., Czybulka, D., Flade, M., Fuß, A., Grünwald, M., Härdtle, W., Kerth, G., Knapp, H. D., Jeschke, L., Lenschow, U., Linke, C., Polzin, W.-P., Ringel, H., Scheller, W., Spieß, H.-J., Wachlin, V. & Winter, S., 2019, In: Natur und Naturschutz in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. 47, p. 172-204 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published
  6. Published

    Ecosystem services from (pre-)Alpine grasslands: Matches and mismatches between citizens’ perceived suitability and farmers’ management considerations

    Schmitt, T. M., Martín-López, B., Kaim, A., Früh-Müller, A. & Koellner, T., 01.06.2021, In: Ecosystem Services. 49, 11 p., 101284.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Assessing social-ecological vulnerability of coastal systems to fishing and tourism

    Lazzari, N., Becerro, M. A., Sanabria-Fernandez, J. A. & Martín-López, B., 25.08.2021, In: Science of the Total Environment. 784, 13 p., 147078.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Efficacy and Moderators of Internet-Based Interventions in Adults with Subthreshold Depression: An Individual Participant Data Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

    Reins, J. A., Buntrock, C., Zimmermann, J., Grund, S., Harrer, M., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H., Weisel, K., Domhardt, M., Imamura, K., Kawakami, N., Spek, V., Nobis, S., Snoek, F., Cuijpers, P., Klein, J. P., Moritz, S. & Ebert, D. D., 02.2021, In: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics. 90, 2, p. 94-106 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Towards the design of organosilicon compounds for environmental degradation by using structure biodegradability relationships

    Grabitz, E., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.09.2021, In: Chemosphere. 279, 12 p., 130442.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Controller als Partner im Nachhaltigkeits-Management

    Petersen, H., Lühn, M., Nuzum, A.-K., Schaltegger, S. & Wenzig, J., 01.04.2021, In: Controlling & Management Review. 65, 3, p. 8-15 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review