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. 2021
  2. Published

    The role of semi‐open habitats as dispersal corridors for plant species of woodlands and open habitats

    Travers, E., Pitz, W., Fichtner, A., Matthies, D. & Härdtle, W., 24.01.2021, In: Applied Vegetation Science. 24, 1, 12 p., e12526.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Pushing the Boundaries: Experience-Based Learning in Early Phases of Graduate Sustainability Curricula

    Birdman, J. M., Redman, A. & Lang, D. J., 22.01.2021, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 22, 2, p. 237-253 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Scientists’ Responsibility for Global Futures

    Caniglia, G., Zenk, L., Schernhammer, E., Bertau, M., Steiner, G., Kainz, M., Jaeger, C., Schlosser, P. & Laubichler, M. D., 22.01.2021, In: Science & Diplomacy. 2021, Special Issue Januar/2021, p. online

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship

    Farny, S. & Binder, J., 19.01.2021, World Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship. Dana, L. P. (ed.). 2 ed. Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 605-611 7 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    A new Parazuphium Jeannel, 1942 species (Coleoptera, Carabidae) from the Zagros Mountains in Iran

    Wrase, D. W. & Assmann, T., 18.01.2021, In: ZooKeys. 2021, 1011, p. 41-49 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Sensory Perception of Non-Deuterated and Deuterated Organic Compounds

    Salthammer, T., Monegel, F., Schulz, N., Uhde, E., Grimme, S., Seibert, J., Hohm, U. & Palm, W. U., 13.01.2021, In: Chemistry - A European Journal. 27, 3, p. 1046-1056 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. 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

  10. Published

    Governing Transitions towards Sustainable Agriculture - Taking Stock of an Emerging Field of Research

    Melchior, I. C. & Newig, J., 08.01.2021, In: Sustainability. 13, 2, p. 1-27 27 p., 528.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Making education for sustainable development happen in elementary schools: the role of teachers

    Timm, J.-M. & Barth, M., 02.01.2021, In: Environmental Education Research. 27, 1, p. 50-66 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review