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. Published

    Take the money and run? Implementation and disclosure of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects

    Hörisch, J., 20.06.2019, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 223, p. 127-135 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    “Take Care of You” – Efficacy of integrated, minimal-guidance, internet-based self-help for reducing co-occurring alcohol misuse and depression symptoms in adults: Results of a three-arm randomized controlled trial

    Baumgartner, C., Schaub, M. P., Wenger, A., Malischnig, D., Augsburger, M., Lehr, D., Blankers, M., Ebert, D. D. & Haug, S., 01.08.2021, In: Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 225, 10 p., 108806.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Tagungsbericht: Energie-Konferenz - Standortnachteil Deutschland: Sind die Industriestrompreise in Deutschland missbräuchlich überhöht?

    Guerra González, J., 01.03.2011, In: Natur und Recht. 33, 3, p. 199-200 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    Tag- und Nachtaktivität von Spinnen und Laufkäfern

    Drees, C., Hagen, K. & Huk, T., 04.2007, In: Praxis der Naturwissenschaften - Biologie in der Schule. 56, 3, p. 25-31 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  5. Published

    Tackling the knowledge-action gap in sustainable consumption: insights from a participatory school programme

    Barth, M., Fischer, D., Michelsen, G., Nemnich, C. & Rode, H., 01.09.2012, In: Journal of Education for Sustainable Development. 6, 2, p. 301-312 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Szenarienentwicklung für die "nachhaltige Hochschule": ein Beitrag für die Hochschulforschung?!

    Adomßent, M., Albrecht, P., Barth, M., Burandt, S., Franz-Balsen, A., Godemann, J. & Rieckmann, M., 2008, In: Die Hochschule. 17, 1, p. 23-40 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Systems Thinking Skills of Preschool Children in Early Childhood Education Contexts from Turkey and Germany

    Feriver, Ş., Olgan, R., Teksöz, G. & Barth, M., 11.03.2019, In: Sustainability. 11, 5, 26 p., 1478.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Systems Engineering in Public Administration: Proceedings of the IFIP Tc8/wg8.5 Working Conference on Systems Engineering in Public Administration, Lüneburg, Germany, 3–5 March, 1993

    Bonin, H. E. G. (Editor), 1993, Amsterdam: North-Holland Publ Co. 170 p. (IFIP TRANSACTIONS A-COMPUTER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; vol. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  9. Published

    System Properties Determine Food Security and Biodiversity Outcomes at Landscape Scale: A Case Study from West Flores, Indonesia

    Collier, N. F., Sayer, J., Boedhihartono, A. K., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. & Fischer, J., 20.03.2018, In: Land. 7, 1, 19 p., 39.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Systemic Risks from Different Perspectives

    Renn, O., Laubichler, M., Lucas, K., Kröger, W., Schanze, J., Scholz, R. W. & Schweizer, P., 01.09.2022, In: Risk Analysis. 42, 9, p. 1902-1920 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review