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

    Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’

    Kampfmann, T., Lang, D. J. & Weiser, A., 12.2024, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 162, 12 p., 103923.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The pace of life for forest trees

    Author Collaboration of "The pace of life for forest trees.", Bialic-Murphy, L., McElderry, R. M., Esquivel-Muelbert, A., van den Hoogen, J., Zuidema, P. A., Phillips, O. L., de Oliveira, E. A. & Klipel, J., 04.10.2024, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 386, 6717, p. 92-98 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Life Cycle Assessment of Consumption Patterns – Understanding the links between changing social practices and environmental impacts

    Suski, P., Augenstein, K. & Greiff, K., 20.10.2024, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 477, 13 p., 143813.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Promoting neighbourhood sharing: infrastructures of convenience and community

    Huber, A., Heinrichs, H. & Jäger-Erben, M., 22.08.2024, In: Buildings and Cities. 5, 1, p. 349-367 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  5. Published

    Ungleiche Partizipationschancen in heterogenen Lerngruppen: Eine ethnografische Studie in Klassenräten inklusiver Grundschulklassen

    Meyn, J., 01.12.2024, Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt. 322 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A cultural comparison of children’s emotion knowledge: Data from two cultures

    Schapira, R., von Salisch, M. & Voltmer, K., 01.2025, In: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 49, 1, p. 38-48 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    “We cannot escape this”: discussing leverage points for sustainability across scales with the example of Ouvéa, Kanaky New Caledonia

    Riechers, M., Baumann, L., Braun, M., Ganachaud, A., Heeg, P. & Sabinot, C., 12.2024, In: Regional Environmental Change. 24, 4, 15 p., 146.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Wirtschaftsvölkerrechtlicher Rahmen

    Bäumler, J., 2023, Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtenrecht: LkSG, GwB, EU-HolzhandelsVO, EU-KonfliktmineralienVO, BetrVG, WRegG, CSR-RL-UmsG. Kaltenborn, M., Krajewski, M., Rühl, G. & Saage-Maaß, M. (eds.). München: C.H. Beck Verlag, p. 34-44 20 p. (Beck'sche Kurz-Kommentare).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  9. Published

    Citizen Science-Based Monitoring of Cavity-Nesting Wild Bees and Wasps – Benefits for Volunteers, Insects, and Ecological Science

    Lindermann, L., Grabener, S., Hellwig, N., Stahl, J. & Dieker, P., 04.09.2024, In: Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. 9, 1, 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    § 22 Level Playing Field and Sustainable Development

    Bäumler, J., 05.04.2024, EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement: A Handbook. Kübek, G., Tams, C. J. & Terhechte, J. P. (eds.). Baden Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 359-380 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesTransfer