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

    Fungal hydrolysis in submerged fermentation for food waste treatment and fermentation feedstock preparation

    Pleissner, D., Kwan, T. H. & Lin, C. S. K., 04.2014, In: Bioresource Technology. 158, p. 48-54 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Functional trait similarity of native and invasive herb species in subtropical China-Environment-specific differences are the key

    Bachmann, D., Both, S., Bruelheide, H., Erfmeier, A., Ding, B.-Y., Gao, M., Härdtle, W. & Scherer-Lorenzen, M., 01.11.2012, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 83, p. 82-92 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Functional traits drive ground beetle community structures in Central European forests: Implications for conservation

    Nolte, D., Schuldt, A., Gossner, M. M., Ulrich, W. & Assmann, T., 01.09.2017, In: Biological Conservation. 213, Part A, p. 5-12 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Functional Involvement in Corporate Sustainability Management: Contribution of Corporate Functions to the Sustainable Development of Companies

    Schaltegger, S., Harms, D., Windolph, S. E. & Hörisch, J., 2012, Strategies for Sustainability: Institutional and Organisational Challenges: Proceedings of the 3rd International Sustainability Conference. Daub, C.-H., Burger, P., Scherrer, Y. M. & Frecè, J. T. (eds.). 1 ed. Basel: edition gesowip, p. 59 - 62 4 p.

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

  5. Published

    Functional flower traits and their diversity drive pollinator visitation

    Fornoff, F., Klein, A.-M., Hartig, F., Benadi, G., Venjakob, C., Schaefer, H. M. & Ebeling, A., 07.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 7, p. 1020-1030 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Functional domains of business incubators for refugee entrepreneurs

    Harima, A., Freudenberg, J. & Halberstadt, J., 10.12.2020, In: Journal of Enterprising Communities. 14, 5, p. 687-711 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Functional diversity and trait composition of butterfly and bird communities in Farmlands of Central Romania

    Hanspach, J., Loos, J., Dorresteijn, I., Wehrden, H., Moga, C. I. & David, A., 01.12.2015, In: Ecosystem Health and Sustainability. 1, 10, p. 1-8 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Functional complementarity and specialisation: The role of biodiversity in plant–pollinatorinteractions

    Blüthgen, N. & Klein, A.-M., 06.2011, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 12, 4, p. 282-291 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Functional and phylogenetic diversity of woody plants drive herbivory in a highly diverse forest

    Schuldt, A., Aßmann, T., Bruelheide, H., Durka, W., Eichenberg, D., Härdtle, W., Kröber, W., Michalski, S. G. & Purschke, O., 05.2014, In: New Phytologist. 202, 3, p. 864-873 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Funciones agroecológicas de los nichos de agrobiodiversidad en la ruralidad de Bogotá, Colombia

    Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Quiroga Manrique, C., Monroy-Hernández, J. & Pérez, D., 01.01.2023, In: ÍCONOS Revista de Ciencias Sociales. 27, 75, p. 201-224 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review