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

    Does online-delivered Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia improve insomnia severity in nurses working shifts? Protocol for a randomised-controlled trial

    Ell, J., Brückner, H., Johann, A. F., Feige, B., Steinmetz, L., Frase, L., Järnefelt, H., Riemann, D., Lehr, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 01.12.2022, In: Sleep Medicine. 100, Sp1, p. s115 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  2. Published

    Does money "buy" tolerance toward damage-causing wildlife?

    Kansky, R., Kidd, M. & Fischer, J., 03.2021, In: Conservation Science and Practice. 3, 3, 16 p., e262.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Does location really matter? An inter-colony comparison of seabirds breeding at varying distances from productive oceanographic features in the Bering Sea

    Harding, A., Paredes, R., Suryan, R., Roby, D., Irons, D., Orben, R., Renner, H., Young, R., Barger, C., Dorresteijn, I. & Kitaysky, A., 01.10.2013, In: Deep-Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography. 94, p. 178-191 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published
  5. E-pub ahead of print

    Does it occur or not? - A structured approach to support students in determining the spontaneity of chemical reactions

    Hofer, E. & Steininger, R., 03.11.2023, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Chemistry Teacher International. 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Does isolation affect phenotypic variability and fluctuating asymmetry in the endangered Red Apollo?

    Habel, J. C., Reuter, M., Drees, C. & Pfaender, J., 08.2012, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 16, 4, p. 571-579 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Does Internet-based guided self-help for depression cause harm? An individual participant data meta-analysis on deterioration rates and its moderators in randomized controlled trials

    Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Andersson, G., Andrews, G., Berger, T. K., Carlbring, P., Rozental, A., Choi, I., Laferton, J. A. C., Johansson, R., Kleiboer, A., Lange, A., Lehr, D., Reins, J. A., Funk, B., Newby, J., Perini, S., Riper, H., Ruwaard, J., Sheeber, L., Snoek, F., Titov, N., Ünlü Ince, B., Van Bastelaar, K. M. P., Vernmark, K., Van Straten, A., Warmerdam, L., Salsman, N. & Cuijpers, P., 01.10.2016, In: Psychological Medicine. 46, 13, p. 2679-2693 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Does habitat heterogeneity increase farmland biodiversity ?

    Batary, P., Fischer, J., Baldi, A., Crist, T. O. & Tscharntke, T., 04.2011, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 9, 3, p. 152-153 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Does gender matter in gaining advantage in scientific fields of sustainability in Germany? A bibliographical approach

    Katz, C. & Thiem, A., 2011, World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi ; Selected Papers. Calvo, A., Fornengo, G., Raus, R. & Zucco, F. (eds.). CIRSDe – Centro Interdisciplinare di Ricerche e Studi delle Donne, Vol. 1. p. 135-143 (World Wide Women: Globalizzazione, Generi, Linguaggi; vol. 1).

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

  10. Published

    Does forest continuity enhance the resilience of trees to environmental change?

    Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Eckstein, D., Engelke, H.-H., Hehnke, T., Wagner, B. & Fichtner, A., 10.12.2014, In: PLoS ONE. 9, 12, 18 p., 0113507.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review