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. 2023
  2. Published

    The Power of Words: Formation of Partnerships through Circular Startups

    Böckel, A., Farny, S. & Bocken, N., 01.08.2023, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023, 1

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Advancing protected area effectiveness assessments by disentangling social-ecological interactions: A case study from the Luangwa Valley, Zambia

    Frietsch, M., Zafra-Calvo, N., Ghoddousi, A. & Loos, J., 08.2023, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 5, 8, 16 p., e12974.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Are Si–C bonds formed in the environment and/or in technical microbiological systems?

    Rücker, C., Winkelmann, M. & Kümmerer, K., 08.2023, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 30, 39, p. 91492-91500 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Reduction of the Microbial Load of Digestate by the Cultivation of Galdieria sulphuraria Under Acidic Conditions

    Pleissner, D. & Händel, N., 08.2023, In: Waste and Biomass Valorization. 14, 8, p. 2621-2627 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Science Communication as a Collective Intelligence Endeavor: A Manifesto and Examples for Implementation

    Holford, D., Fasce, A., Wulf, M., Kause, A., Tapper, K., Demko, M., Lewandowski, S., Hahn, U., Abels, C. M., Ahmed, A.-R., Sameer, A., Boender, S. T., Bruns, H., Fischer, H., Gilde, C., Hanel, P. H. P., Herzog, S. M., Lehmann, S., Nurse, M. S., Orr, C., Pescetelli, N., Petrescu, M., Sa, S., Schmid, P., Sirota, M. & Wulf, M., 08.2023, In: Science Communication. 45, 4, p. 539-554 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published

    Stakeholders’ Perspectives of Species Diversity in Tree Plantations: a Global Review

    Cagnoni, L. B., Weidlich, E. W. A., Guillemot, J., Morselo, C., Weih, M., Adler, A. & Brancalion, P. H. S., 08.2023, In: Current Forestry Reports. 9, 4, p. 251-262 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published
  9. Published

    Genetic editing of wood for sustainability: Trees engineered to have less lignin could make paper production less polluting

    Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 14.07.2023, In: Science. 381, 6654, p. 124-125 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    A Daily Breathing Practice Bolsters Girls’ Prosocial Behavior and Third and Fourth Graders’ Supportive Peer Relationships: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    von Salisch, M. & Voltmer, K., 01.07.2023, In: Mindfulness. 14, 7, p. 1622-1635 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Disentangling the practice of landscape approaches: a Q-method analysis on experiences in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes

    Torralba, M., Nishi, M., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A., Quintas-Soriano, C., García-Martín, M. & Plieninger, T., 01.07.2023, In: Sustainability Science. 18, 4, p. 1893-1906 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review