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. 2022
  2. Published

    Broadening the scope of ecosystem services research: Disaggregation as a powerful concept for sustainable natural resource management

    Brück, M., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & Schultner, J., 01.02.2022, In: Ecosystem Services. 53, 11 p., 101399.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Chemistry and materials science for a sustainable circular polymeric economy

    Zuin Zeidler, V. G. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2022, In: Nature Reviews Materials. 7, 2, p. 76-78 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Essential ecosystem service variables for monitoring progress towards sustainability

    Balvanera, P., Brauman, K. A., Cord, A. F., Drakou, E. G., Geijzendorffer, I. R., Karp, D. S., Martín-López, B., Mwampamba, T. H. & Schröter, M., 01.02.2022, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 54, 9 p., 101152.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Falling “fortresses”: Unlocking Governance Entanglements and Shifting Knowledge Paradigms to Counter Climate Change Threats in Biodiversity Conservation

    Ghosh, A., Sen, A., Dutta, K. & Ghosh, P., 01.02.2022, In: Environmental Management. 69, 2, p. 305-322 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Kinetic and Stoichiometric Modeling-Based Analysis of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Production Potential by Crypthecodinium cohnii from Glycerol, Glucose and Ethanol

    Berzins, K., Muiznieks, R., Baumanis, M. R., Strazdina, I., Shvirksts, K., Prikule, S., Galvanauskas, V., Pleissner, D., Pentjuss, A., Grube, M., Kalnenieks, U. & Stalidzans, E., 01.02.2022, In: Marine Drugs. 20, 2, 18 p., 115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Klimaschutzmaßnahmen im Lichte des Welthandelsrechts

    Bäumler, J. & Dorwig, J., 01.02.2022, In: Klima und Recht - KlimR. 1, 2, p. 38-42 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  8. Published

    Potential supply and actual use of cultural ecosystem services in mountain protected areas and their surroundings

    Crouzat, E., De Frutos, A., Grescho, V., Carver, S., Büermann, A., Carvalho-Santos, C., Kraemer, R., Mayor, S., Pöpperl, F., Rossi, C., Schröter, M., Stritih, A., Sofia Vaz, A., Watzema, J. & Bonn, A., 01.02.2022, In: Ecosystem Services. 53, 12 p., 101395.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Spatial variation in human disturbances and their effects on forest structure and biodiversity across an Afromontane forest

    Beche, D., Tack, A., Nemomissa, S., Warkineh, B., Lemessa, D., Rodrigues, P., Fischer, J. & Hylander, K., 01.02.2022, In: Landscape Ecology. 37, 2, p. 493-510 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Advancing research on ecosystem service bundles for comparative assessments and synthesis

    Meacham, M., Norströma, A. V., Peterson, G. D., Andersson, E., Bennett, E. M., Biggs, R., Crouzat, E., Cord, A. F., Enfors, E., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Fischer, J., Hamann, M., Hanspach, J., Hicks, C., Jacobs, S., Lavorel, S., Locatelli, B., Martín-López, B., Plieninger, T. & Queiroz, C., 02.2022, In: Ecosystems and People. 18, 1, p. 99-111 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Der Scheidige Gelbstern (Gagea spathacea): Schutzstrategien für eine Verantwortungsart in Deutschland

    Fichtner, A., Jansen, D., Härdtle, W., Matthies, D., Arnold, V., Erfmeier, A., Hemke, T., Lütt, S., Schmidt, M., Sturm, K., von Oheimb, G., Wiebe, C. & Ohse, B., 02.2022, In: Natur und Landschaft. 97, 2, p. 71-77 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review