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

    A tale of scale: Plot but not neighbourhood tree diversity increases leaf litter ant diversity

    Skarbek, C. J., Noack, M., Bruelheide, H., Härdtle, W., Oheimb, G., Scholten, T., Seitz, S. & Staab, M., 01.02.2020, In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 89, 2, p. 299-308 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Tree-species interactions increase light absorption and growth in Chinese subtropical mixed-species plantations

    Forrester, D. I., Rodenfels, P., Haase, J., Härdtle, W., Leppert, K. N., Niklaus, P. A., Oheimb, G., Scherer-Lorenzen, M. & Bauhus, J., 01.10.2019, In: Oecologia. 191, 2, p. 421-432 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Embracing conflicts for interpersonal competence development in project-based sustainability courses

    Konrad, T., Wiek, A. & Barth, M., 09.01.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 1, p. 76-96 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Rettet die Bienen! Eine differenzierte Perspektive auf das Bienensterben

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Barth, M., 12.2019, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Sachunterricht: Grundlagen und Praxisbeispiele. Wulfmeyer, M. (ed.). Baltmannsweiler: Schneider Verlag Hohengehren, Vol. 43. p. 77-92 16 p. (Basiswissen Grundschule; vol. 43).

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

  5. Published

    Natural formation of chloro- and bromoacetone in salt lakes of Western Australia

    Sattler, T., Sörgel, M., Wittmer, J., Bourtsoukidis, E., Krause, T., Atlas, E., Benk, S., Bleicher, S., Kamilli, K., Ofner, J., Kopetzky, R., Held, A., Palm, W. U., Williams, J., Zetzsch, C. & Schöler, H. F., 01.11.2019, In: Atmosphere. 10, 11, 21 p., 663.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Human-carnivore relations: Conflicts, tolerance and coexistence in the American West

    Expósito-Granados, M., Castro, A. J., Lozano, J., Aznar-Sanchez, J. A., Carter, N. H., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Malo, A. F., Olszańska, A., Morales-Reyes, Z., Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Cortés-Avizanda, A., Fischer, J. & Martín-López, B., 06.12.2019, In: Environmental Research Letters. 14, 12, 14 p., 123005.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Globales Lernen in der Schule: Partizipation im Spannungsfeld von Inklusion und Exklusion

    Kater-Wettstädt, L. & Terhart, H., 2019, In: ZEP - Zeitschrift für internationale Bildungsforschung und Entwicklungspädagogik. 42, 3, p. 16-21 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Growth-trait relationships in subtropical forest are stronger at higher diversity

    Bongers, F. J., Schmid, B., Sun, Z., Li, Y., Härdtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Li, Y., Li, S., Staab, M., Ma, K. & Liu, X., 01.01.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 1, p. 256-266 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability entrepreneurship to address large distances in international food supply

    Weber, H., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 01.09.2020, In: Business Strategy and Development. 3, 3, p. 318-331 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review