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. Accepted/In press

    Negotiating With Yourself and Winning: The Dual Commitment Model for Intrapersonal Sustainability Goal Conflicts

    Sevincer, A. T., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Motivation Science.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Is Russian gas still needed in the European Union? Model-based analysis of long-term scenarios

    Barner, L., Holz, F., von Hirschhausen, C. & Kemfert, C., 01.03.2025, In: Energy Strategy Reviews. 58, 10 p., 101646.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The complex spatio-temporal dynamics of organic micropollutants in tidal rivers

    Schneider, J. R. L., Kümmerer, K., Logemann, J. & Radke, M., 01.03.2025, In: Chemosphere. 373, 10 p., 144180.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Green chemistry and sustainable chemistry related to water challenges: Solutions and prospects in a changing climate

    Mahjoub, B., Fersi, C., Bouteffeha, M. & Kümmerer, K., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 52, 11 p., 101000.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    More than food production: Assemblages of values underpinning women-led agroecological initiatives

    Vizuete, B., Groß, M., García-Llorente, M., Oteros-Rozas, E. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 3, p. 684-699 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. E-pub ahead of print

    Social perceptions of carnivores across the globe – a literature review

    Newsom, A., Lozano, J. & Martín-López, B., 09.02.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nachbarschafts-Artenvielfalt kann trockenheitsbedingte Zuwachseinbußen bei Bäumen mindern

    Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 23.08.2024, Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft. Stojakowits, P. (ed.). München: AVM Akademische Verlagsgemeinschaft, Vol. 32. p. 119-131 13 p. (Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft; vol. 32).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Die Grenzen des Rechts im Schutz vor sexueller Belästigung: Eine Untersuchung von Rechtsetzung und Rechtsanwendung des § 184i StGB unter Berücksichtigung der unterschiedlichen Betroffenheit der Geschlechter

    Bertram, A., 2018, Grenzen des Rechts. Foblets, M.-C., Höland, A. & Henschel, D. (eds.). Universitätsverlag Halle-Wittenberg, p. 187-212 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  9. Published

    The global distribution of authorship in economics journals

    Aigner, E., Greenspon, J. & Rodrik, D., 01.05.2025, In: World Development. 189, 18 p., 106926.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. E-pub ahead of print

    How, when and why do negotiators use reference points? A qualitative interview study with negotiation practitioners

    Mann, M., Trötschel, R., Warsitzka, M. & Hüffmeier, J., 20.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Journal of Conflict Management. 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review