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

    Urban storm water infiltration systems are not reliable sinks for biocides: evidence from column experiments

    Bork, M., Lange, J., Graf-Rosenfellner, M., Hensen, B., Olsson, O., Hartung, T., Fernández-Pascual, E. & Lang, F., 31.03.2021, In: Scientific Reports. 11, 1, 12 p., 7242.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The Relationship between Stakeholder Theory and Corporate Social Responsibility: Differences, Similarities, and Implications for Social Issues in Management

    Dmytriyev, S. D., Freeman, R. E. & Hörisch, J., 09.2021, In: Journal of Management Studies. 58, 6, p. 1441-1470 30 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Reconciling conservation and development in protected areas of the Global South

    Loos, J., 01.08.2021, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 54, p. 108-118 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Utilization of digested sewage sludge in lactic acid fermentation

    Pleissner, D., Krieg, C. & Peinemann, J. C., 03.2021, In: Detritus - Multidisciplinary Journal for Waste Resource & Residues. 14, p. 48-53 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The knowledge transfer potential of online data pools on nature-based solutions

    Schröter, B., Zingraff-Hamed, A., Ott, E., Huang, J., Hüesker, F., Nicolas, C. & Schröder, N. J. S., 25.03.2021, In: Science of the Total Environment. 762, 11 p., 143074.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Leverage points to foster human–nature connectedness in cultural landscapes

    Riechers, M., Pătru-Dușe, I. A. & Balázsi, Á., 01.09.2021, In: Ambio. 50, 9, p. 1670-1680 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Towards a relational paradigm in sustainability research, practice, and education

    Walsh, Z., Böhme, J. & Wamsler, C., 01.2021, In: Ambio. 50, 1, p. 74-84 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    The concept of resilience in recent sustainability research

    Nüchter, V., Abson, D. J., von Wehrden, H. & Engler, J. O., 01.03.2021, In: Sustainability. 13, 5, p. 1-21 21 p., 2735.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Human-nature connectedness as leverage point

    Riechers, M., Balázsi, Á., García-Llorente, M. & Loos, J., 13.05.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 215-221 7 p.

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

  10. Published

    Well done (for someone of your gender)! Experimental evidence of teachers’ stereotype-based shifting standards for test grading and elaborated feedback

    Schuster, C., Narciss, S. & Bilz, J., 06.2021, In: Social Psychology of Education. 24, 3, p. 809-834 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review