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

    Leaf trait variation within individuals mediates the relationship between tree species richness and productivity

    Proß, T., Haider, S., Auge, H. & Bruelheide, H., 01.02.2024, In: Oikos. 2024, 2, 14 p., e10255.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Exploring the “works with nature” pillar of food sovereignty: a review of empirical cases in academic literature

    Benavides-Frias, C., Ortiz Przychodzka, S., Díaz-Reviriego, I., Oteros-Rozas, E., Burke, L. & Hanspach, J., 2024, In: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 48, 3, p. 332-356 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Exploring fruitful links between real-world laboratory and disciplinary research Introduction of the DKN Future Earth working group LinkLab

    Weiser, A., Wanner, M., Stelzer, F., Lang, D. J., Berger, H., Förster, A., Liedtke, C., Micklitz, H. W., Niewöhner, J., Parodi, O., Potthast, T., Schneider, F., Sörgel, F., Ziehl, M. & Ziemer, G., 27.10.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 3, p. 335-337 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    “We are Rosas”: a case study on how identity matters in local food groups

    Pöggel, K. & Fischer, D., 27.11.2023, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 19, 1, 17 p., 2278244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Welche Faktoren bedingen die Akzeptanz von Technologien zum digital-gestützten Üben durch Lehrkräfte? Eine systematische Literaturübersicht

    Kahnbach, L. & Lehr, D., 21.11.2023, Digitales Lehren und Lernen im Fachunterricht : Aktuelle Entwicklungen, Gegenstände und Prozesse. Michael, A., Michael, B., Christion, H. & Poldi, K. (eds.). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa Verlag, p. 133-158 26 p.

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

  6. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit und Weltbeziehung: eine resonanztheoretische Untersuchung

    Gehlen, Y., 01.01.2023, Deutschland: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. 274 p. (Umweltsoziologie; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  7. Published

    Broad values as the basis for understanding deliberation about protected area management

    Goodson, D. J., van Riper, C. J., Andrade, R., Stewart, W., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. A. & Raymond, C. M., 03.2024, In: Sustainability Science. 19, 2, p. 449-467 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Plural valuation in southwestern Ethiopia: Disaggregating values associated with ecosystems in a smallholder landscape

    Brück, M., Schultner, J., Negash, B. B., Damu, D. F. & Abson, D. J., 02.2024, In: People and Nature. 6, 1, p. 91-106 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Substantial light woodland and open vegetation characterized the temperate forest biome before Homo sapiens

    Pearce, E. A., Mazier, F., Normand, S., Fyfe, R., Andrieu, V., Bakels, C., Balwierz, Z., Bińka, K., Boreham, S., Borisova, O. K., Brostrom, A., de Beaulieu, J. L., Gao, C., González-Sampériz, P., Granoszewski, W., Hrynowiecka, A., Kołaczek, P., Kuneš, P., Magri, D., Malkiewicz, M., Mighall, T., Milner, A. M., Möller, P., Nita, M., Noryśkiewicz, B., Pidek, I. A., Reille, M., Robertsson, A. M., Salonen, J. S., Schläfli, P., Schokker, J., Scussolini, P., Šeirienė, V., Strahl, J., Urban, B., Winter, H. & Svenning, J. C., 10.11.2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 45, 15 p., eadi9135.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Collaborative benchmarking of functional-structural root architecture models: Quantitative comparison of simulated root water uptake

    Schnepf, A., Black, C. K., Couvreur, V., Delory, B. M., Doussan, C., Heymans, A., Javaux, M., Khare, D., Koch, A., Koch, T., Kuppe, C. W., Landl, M., Leitner, D., Lobet, G., Meunier, F., Postma, J. A., Schäfer, E. D., Selzner, T., Vanderborght, J. & Vereecken, H., 10.08.2023, In: In Silico Plants. 5, 1, 21 p., diad005.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review