School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- 2026
- Accepted/In press
Assessing the epistemic dimension of people–place relationships for inclusive ecosystem governance
Hakkarainen, V., Soini, K. & Raymond, C. M., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: People and Nature.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Die politisch-demokratische Dimension von Beruflichkeit im Kontext nachhaltiger Entwicklung – Einblicke in ein Fortbildungskonzept zur Professionalisierung des ausbildenden Personals
Dück, F., Hantke, H., Heitzhausen, S., Murawski, L. & Zurstrassen, B., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: berufsbildung - Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Education for sustainable lifestyles: a powerful tool for what and for whom?
Grauer, C., Solbakken, I., Fischer, D. & Didham, R. J., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Handbook of Research on Sustainable Lifestyles. Cohen, M. J., McGreevy, S., Lorek, S., Lambino, R. & Bengtsson, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar PublishingResearch output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social perceptions of carnivores across the globe – a literature review
Newsom, A., Lozano, J. & Martín-López, B., 2026, In: Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 31, 1, p. 97-120 24 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 2025
- Published
Erratum: Author Correction: The role of self-care and self-compassion in networks of resilience and stress among healthcare professionals (Scientific reports (2025) 15 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-01111-1.)
Pank, C., von Boros, L., Lieb, K., Dalkner, N., Egger-Lampl, S., Lehr, D., Schäfer, S. K., Tüscher, O. & Wessa, M., 30.12.2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, p. 45737 1 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Assessments of life cycle and biodegradation properties uncovered distinct profiles of pharmaceutical excipients guiding selection for drug formulations
Bading, M., Griffing, E., Olsson, O., Harris, J., Scher, J., Sakurai, A., Overcash, M. & Kümmerer, K., 28.12.2025, In: Green Chemistry . 27, 48, p. 15568-15581 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Measuring environmental (in)justices: Insights from a systematic literature review on methodological approaches
Loos, J., Gohr, C., Zafra-Calvo, N., Cortés-Capano, G., Tonninger, A. L. & von Wehrden, H., 19.12.2025, In: iScience. 28, 12, 18 p., 113889.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Networks of influence: Linking capitals and agency to understand actors' roles in sustainability interventions
Rolfer, L., Isaac, R., Lopez-Rodriguez, M. D., Martin-Lopez, B., Celliers, L. & Krause, G., 19.12.2025, In: One Earth. 8, 12, 13 p., 101495.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Safe and Sustainable-by-Design under The European Green Deal - Regulatory Readiness or Pressure for Companies?
Sudheshwar, A., Apel, C., Kümmerer, K., Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Scheper, J. K., Falk, A., Batel, A., Markard, J., Som, C., Wang, Z. & Nowack, B., 13.12.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
New rationalities, inner logic, and hope for sustainable future coasts
Celliers, L., Ferse, S., Bruns, A., Eisenack, K., Hornidge, A. K., Klepp, S., Lahl, R., Neumann, B., Riechers, M., Bogusz, T., Fuchs, N., Gee, K., Hampton, S., Hinkel, J., Kny, J., Kriegl, M., Krönert, T., Costa, M. M., Otto, L., Pfaff, M. & Rölfer, L., 11.12.2025, In: Global Sustainability. 9, e2.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
