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

    How production-theory can support the analysis of recycling systems in the electronic waste sector

    Laurin, L., Möller, A., Prox, M. & Schmidt, M., 01.01.2006, Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment - Conference Record. IEEE - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., p. 272-275 4 p. 1650075. (IEEE International Symposium on Electronics and the Environment).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    How Participatory Should Environmental Governance Be? Testing the Applicability of the Vroom-Yetton-Jago Model in Public Environmental Decision-Making

    Lührs, N., Jager, N. W., Challies, E. & Newig, J., 01.02.2018, In: Environmental Management. 61, 2, p. 249-262 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    How much sustainability substance is in urban visions? An analysis of visioning projects in urban planning

    John, B., Keeler, L. W., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 01.11.2015, In: Cities. 48, p. 86 - 98 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    How mindfulness training cultivates introspection and competence development for sustainable consumption

    Frank, P., Sundermann, A. & Fischer, D., 04.10.2019, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 20, 6, p. 1002-1021 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    How interest groups adapt to the changing forest governance landscape in the EU: A case study from Germany

    Jürges, N. & Newig, J., 01.01.2015, In: Forest Policy and Economics. 50, p. 228-235 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    How Germany is phasing out lignite: insights from the Coal Commission and local communities

    Radtke, J. & David, M., 12.2024, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 14, 1, 18 p., 7.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    How Do Sustainability Intrapreneurs Overcome Innovation Conflicts?

    Gerlach, A., 2004, Conference proceedings. ERP Environment, p. 132-141 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  9. Published

    How do rhizobacterial volatiles influence root system architecture, biomass production and allocation of the model grass Brachypodium distachyon?

    Delaplace, P., Ormeno-Lafuente, E., Nguyen, M., Delory, B., Baudson, C., Mendaluk - Saunier de Cazenave, M., Spaepen, S., Varin, S., Brostaux, Y. & du Jardin, P., 12.01.2016, 24th Plant & Animal Genome Conference, Brachypodium Genomics Workshop. Scherago International, 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    How do professional designers engage with sustainability? A systematic literature review

    Mejía, G. M., Fischer, D., Silver, J., Xie, Y. & Fehler, M., 01.01.2022, In: Journal of Design Research. 20, 4, p. 297-317 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch