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

    Co-production of nature's contributions to people: What evidence is out there?

    Kachler, J., Isaac, R., Martín-López, B., Bonn, A. & Felipe-Lucia, M. R., 01.08.2023, In: People and Nature. 5, 4, p. 1119-1134 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Does stakeholder participation improve environmental governance? Evidence from a meta-analysis of 305 case studies

    Newig, J., Jager, N. W., Challies, E. R. T. & Kochskämper, E., 01.09.2023, In: Global Environmental Change : Human and Policy Dimensions. 82, 11 p., 102705.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Toward spatial fit in the governance of global commodity flows

    Coenen, J., Sonderegger, G., Newig, J., Meyfroidt, P., Challies, E. R. T., Bager, S., Busck-Lumholt, L. M., Corbera, E., Friis, C., Frohn Pedersen, A., Laroche, P. C. S. J., Parra Paitan, C., Qin, S., Roux, N. & Zaehringer, J. G., 07.06.2023, In: Ecology and Society. 28, 2, 18 p., 24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Repensar la conexión con la naturaleza a través de las emociones

    Castro, A. J., Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Suárez Alonso, M. L., Vidal-Abarca, M. R. & Martín-López, B., 08.06.2023, In: Ecosistemas. 32, especial, 3 p., 2502.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Pathways to water sustainability? A global study assessing the benefits of integrated water resources management

    Bilalova, S., Newig, J., Tremblay-Lévesque, L.-C., Roux, J., Herron, C. & Crane, S., 01.10.2023, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 343, 10 p., 118179.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Into the Hive-Mind: Shared Absorption and Cardiac Interrelations in Expert and Student String Quartets

    Høffding, S., Yi, W., Lippert, E., Sanchez, V. G., Bishop, L., Laeng, B., Danielsen, A., Jensenius, A. R. & Wallot, S., 06.2023, In: Music and Science. 6, p. 1-15 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Rechtliche Rahmenbedingungen der Verklappung von Ladungsrückständen fester Massengüter durch Seeschiffe

    Schatz, V. & Wanner, L., 01.05.2023, In: Natur und Recht. 45, 5, p. 306-314 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    Thesenpapier zum Fachgespräch zum Thema „Weiterentwicklung des Parlamentarischen Beirats für nachhaltige Entwicklung“

    Rose, M., 24.05.2023, 4 p.. No. 20(26)63, May 24, 2023.

    Research output: Memorandum/expositionQA/hearings

  9. Published

    Coronabezogene Zukunftsangst bei Grundschulkindern im Verlauf von 8 Monaten der Pandemie

    Voltmer, K. & von Salisch, M., 23.05.2023, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 72, 4, p. 305-322 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Submitted

    Transdisciplinary Partnerships for Developing Sustainable Food Forests

    Albrecht, S., Wiek, A. & Friedel, A., 2021, (Submitted) In: GAIA.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch