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

    Seven years of the GAIA Masters Student Paper Award

    Fischer, D., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 1-1 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  2. Published

    Analysis of life cycle datasets for the material gold

    Fritz, B. & Schmidt, M., 2021, Progress in Life Cycle Assessment 2019 . Albrecht, S., Fischer, M., Leistner, P. & Schebek, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 99-112 14 p. (Sustainable Production, Life Cycle Engineering and Management).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Circular Business Models: OVercoming Barriers, Unleashing Potentials

    Schomerus, T., Hansen, E. G., Ahle, U., Alcayaga, A., Blomsma, F., Büchle, D., Denker, A.-K., Fichter, K., Fiolka, K., Fröhling, M., Häge, A., Hoffmann, V., Jaeger-Erben, M., Kohl, H., Lüdeke-Freund, F., Nitz, T., Schiller, C., Tauer, R., Tischner, C., Vollkommer, D., Wilhelm, D. & Zefferer, H., 29.04.2021, München: acatech/SYSTEMIQ, 150 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsTransfer

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Future-Proofing Fuel Cells: Critical Raw Material Governance in Sustainable Energy

    David, M., Lyth, S. M., Lindner, R. & Harrington, G. F., 12.08.2021, 1 ed. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. 135 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  6. Published

    Wie partizipativ sind Bottom-up-Transformationen?

    David, M., Schönborn, S. & Bleicher, A., 2020, Dezentral, partizipativ und kommunikativ: Zukunft der Energiewende. Kamlage, J.-H. & Engler, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Nordhausen: Verlag Traugott Bautz GmbH, p. 177-203 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Legacy effects of pre-crop plant functional group on fungal root symbionts of barley

    Roy, J., van Duijnen, R., Leifheit, E. F., Mbedi, S., Temperton, V. M. & Rillig, M. C., 09.2021, In: Ecological Applications. 31, 6, 16 p., e02378.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Terry Erwin’s legacy: from taxonomy and natural history to biodiversity research and conservation biology

    Assmann, T., 16.06.2021, In: ZooKeys. 1044, p. 23-39 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Towards a caring transdisciplinary research practice: navigating science, society and self

    Sellberg, M. M., Cockburn, J., Holden, P. B. & Lam, D. P. M., 23.06.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 292-305 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review