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

    Global patterns of ecologically unequal exchange: Implications for sustainability in the 21st century

    Dorninger, C., Hornborg, A., Abson, D., von Wehrden, H., Schaffartzik, A., Giljum, S., Engler, J. O., Feller, R. L., Hubacek, K. & Wieland, H., 01.01.2021, In: Ecological Economics. 179, 14 p., 106824.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Temporal dynamics and ecotoxicological risk assessment of personal care products, phthalate ester plasticizers, and organophosphorus flame retardants in water from Lake Victoria, Uganda

    Nantaba, F., Palm, W. U., Wasswa, J., Bouwman, H., Kylin, H. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2021, In: Chemosphere. 262, 11 p., 127716.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    A matter of connection: The 4 Cs of learning in pre-service teacher education for sustainability

    Brandt, J. O., Barth, M., Merritt, E. & Hale, A., 10.01.2021, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 279, p. 1-13 13 p., 123749.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Hafenzugang für Kreuzfahrtschiffe in der COVID-19 Pandemie: Eine völkerrechtliche Perspektive

    Schatz, V. J., 2022, In: Zeitschrift für das Recht der Transportwirtschaft. 10, 9, p. 353-357

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    European Yearbook of International Economic Law 2023

    Bäumler, J. (Editor), Binder, C. (Editor), Bungenberg, M. (Editor), Krajewski, M. (Editor), Rühl, G. (Editor), Tams, C. J. (Editor), Terhechte, J. (Editor) & Ziegler, A. R. (Editor), 17.10.2024, Cham: Springer International Publishing AG. 489 p. (European Yearbook of International Economic Law; vol. 14)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  6. Published

    Indikatoren für kleine und mittlere Kommunen

    Redenius, P. & Heinrichs, H., 24.10.2022, Institut für Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung (INSUGO), p. 1-8, 8 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft.; no. 2).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Transformationsnarrative: Kurzgutachten

    Hartmann, E. & Heinrichs, H., 28.09.2022, Institut für Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung (INSUGO), 10 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 1).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  9. Published

    How do professional designers engage with sustainability? A systematic literature review

    Mejía, G. M., Fischer, D., Silver, J., Xie, Y. & Fehler, M., 01.01.2022, In: Journal of Design Research. 20, 4, p. 297-317 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Rezension: Philip Wallmeier, 2021, Rückzug als Widerstand. Dissidente Lebensformen in der globalen Politik

    Möller, S., 01.12.2022, In: Ökologisches Wirtschaften. 37, 4, p. 53-54 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsResearch