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

    Disentangling gender and social difference for just and transformative biocultural approaches

    Díaz-Reviriego, I., Torralba, M., Vizuete, B., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Heindorf, C., LLanque Zonta, A. & Oteros-Rozas, E., 08.2024, In: People and Nature. 6, 4, p. 1394-1406 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Priority effects transcend scales and disciplines in biology

    Stroud, J. T., Delory, B. M., Barnes, E. M., Chase, J. M., De Meester, L., Dieskau, J., Grainger, T. N., Halliday, F. W., Kardol, P., Knight, T. M., Ladouceur, E., Little, C. J., Roscher, C., Sarneel, J. M., Temperton, V., van Steijn, T. L. H., Werner, C. M., Wood, C. W. & Fukami, T., 07.2024, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 39, 7, p. 677-688 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Contributing to sustainable development pathways in the South Pacific through transdisciplinary research: Conference report

    Riechers, M., Baumann, L., Braun, M., Carew, A., Chinappa, M., Dehm, J., Ganachaud, A., Holland, E., Kelsey, H., Lal, S., Landemard, M., Rocle, N. & Stockwell, B. L., 09.2024, In: Marine Policy. 167, 3 p., 106124.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Mainstreaming regenerative dynamics for sustainability

    Fischer, J., Farny, S., Abson, D. J., Zuin Zeidler, V., von Salisch, M., Schaltegger, S., Martín-López, B., Temperton, V. M. & Kümmerer, K., 08.2024, In: Nature Sustainability. 7, 8, p. 964–972 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    The importance of understanding the multiple dimensions of power in stakeholder participation for effective biodiversity conservation

    Lécuyer, L., Balian, E. V., Butler, J. R. A., Barnaud, C., Calla, S., Locatelli, B., Newig, J., Pettit, J., Pound, D., Quétier, F. F., Salvatori, V., Von Korff, Y. & Young, J. C., 08.2024, In: People and Nature. 6, 4, p. 1407-1420 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    CULTURAL TENSIONS AND VALUES-ACTION GAPS IN SUSTAINABILITY-ORIENTED INNOVATION: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INQUIRY

    Breuer, H. & Ivanov, K., 01.02.2024, In: International Journal of Innovation Management. 28, 1-2, 31 p., 2450005.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Provisions for nullification of conservation and management measures in RFMO objection procedures

    Schatz, V., 01.08.2024, In: Marine Policy. 166, 10 p., 106230.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Institutional arrangements and sustainable maintenance management of community-based mini-grids in Tanzania

    Ngoti, I. F., 01.09.2024, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 115, 10 p., 103632.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Sufficiency as relations of enoughness

    Hartmann, E., 06.12.2024, In: Sustainable Development. 32, 6, p. 7201-7214 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Modelling biodegradability based on OECD 301D data for the design of mineralising ionic liquids

    Amsel, A. K., Chakravarti, S., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 22.05.2024, In: Green Chemistry . 26, 12, p. 7363-7376 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review