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

    Welches Kontextverständnis braucht der inklusive Nawi-Unterricht?

    Weirauch, K., Hüfner, S. K., Abels, S. & Menthe, J., 2022, Unsicherheit als Element von naturwissenschaftsbezogenen Bildungsprozessen: Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik Virtuelle Jahrestagung 2021. Habig, S. & van Vorst, H. (eds.). Nürnberg, Duisburg: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Vol. 42. p. 356-359 4 p. (Die Tagung der Gesellschaft für Didaktik der Chemie und Physik (GDCP); vol. 42).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    Two degrees and the SDGs: a network analysis of the interlinkages between transnational climate actions and the Sustainable Development Goals

    Coenen, J., Glass, L.-M. & Sanderink, L., 01.07.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 4, p. 1489–1510 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    China in Africa: The Soft Power of Media Development

    Memon, N. S. & Sandano, I. A., 28.05.2023, In: Africa Development. 48, 4, p. 81-102 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Social innovation that connects people to coasts in the Anthropocene

    Celliers, L., Mañez Costa, M., Rölfer, L., Aswani, S. & Ferse, S., 27.03.2023, In: Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures. 1, 10 p., e24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Förderung von Mehrwegverpackungssystemen zur Verringerung des Verpackungsverbrauchs: Mögliche Maßnahmen zur Etablierung, Verbreitung und Optimierung von Mehrwegsystemen

    Rödig, L., Jepsen, D., Falkenstein, A., Zimmermann, T., Hauschke, F., Cayé, N., Schüler, K., Burger, A., Schomerus, T., Jacobj, H., Heckel, F., Gödde, J.-P., Seying, N. & Oppermann, A., 05.2025, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 338 p. (Texte/Umweltbundesamt; vol. 2025, no. 61).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  6. Published

    To assess progress in the social sciences, we should study knowledge cumulation, not disruptiveness

    Newig, J., Rose, M., Aksoy, Z., Beaudoin, S., Bolognesi, T., Fritsch, O., Hofmann, B., Jager, N. W., Kellner, E., Leipold, S., Persson, A., Runhaar, H. A. C. & Webb, R., 05.2023, SSRN Social Science Research Network, p. 1-4.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    Perspektiven auf Zeit im Recht: Das bisherige Verständnis von Zeit im Recht und die Notwendigkeit der Betrachtung von Zeit als Ressource

    Bertram, A., 2023, Zeitliche Dimensionen und Kritische Theorie(n) des Rechts: Tagung des Jungen Forums Rechtsphilosophie (JFR) in der internationalen Vereinigung für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie (IVR) im September 2020 und im Mai 2021 in Braunschweig und Hamburg. Stuttgart, p. 47-59

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  8. Published

    “Nationals” at Forty: From an Undefined UNCLOS Term to Due Diligence Obligations on the State of Nationality to Combat IUU Fishing

    Honniball, A. N. & Schatz, V. J., 2023, In: International Law Studies. 100, p. 229-265

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The Settlement of EEZ Fisheries Access Disputes under UNCLOS: Limitations to Jurisdiction and Compulsory Conciliation

    Schatz, V. J., 2023, In: Göttingen Journal of International Law. 13, 1, p. 82-118 37 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published