School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
Eco-morphological changes and potential salmon habitat suitability since pre-industrial times in the Mulde River system (Germany)
Offermann, M., Hein, M., Hegemann, R., Gödecke, K., Hegner, L., Henke, Y., Schäfer, N., Shelukhina, H., Liebscher, E., Opel, S., Rabiger-Völlmer, J., Werther, L. & Zielhofer, C., 05.12.2025, In: E and G Quaternary Science Journal. 74, 2, p. 325-354 30 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
What the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) should adopt from Bland–Altman analyses
Warneke, K., Siegel, S. D., Afonso, J. & Wallot, S., 05.12.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research . 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Social-Ecological Dynamics of Green and Blue Infrastructure in the Indian Megacity of Bengaluru
Thapa, P., Lakshmisha, A., Bhaskar, D., Nagendra, H., Plieninger, T. & Thiel, A., 16.04.2025, Ecology of Tropical Cities, Volume I: Natural and Social Sciences Applied to the Conservation of Urban Biodiversity. Angeoletto, F., Tryjanowski, P. & Fellowes, M. D. E. (eds.). Springer Nature, Vol. I. p. 277-298 22 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Regeneration and sustainable chemistry: Current dynamics, interconnections, and perspectives
Zuin Zeidler, V. G. & Corrêa Gomes, C. J., 12.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 56, 7 p., 101055.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
How the phrasing of climate change terminology impacts people’s understanding and their intention to behave sustainably
Reinsberg, F., Wallot, S., Loschelder, D. & Genschow, O., 12.2025, In: Climatic Change. 178, 12, 18 p., 237.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Barriers and Enablers of Interdisciplinary Climate Education: Insights From Secondary Teachers
Castellazzi, E., Hakkarainen, V., Saari, M. & Raymond, C. M., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Australian Journal of Environmental Education.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Managing Organizations in the Natural Environment: Envisaging New Research Journeys
Halme, M. & Schaltegger, S., 12.2025, In: Organization and Environment. 38, 4, p. 475-480 6 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- Accepted/In press
The Pluralistic Illusion of Gender Inequality
Sevincer, A. T. & Stoet, G., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Psychological Reports.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Intraspecific and intraindividual trait variability decrease with tree richness in a subtropical tree biodiversity experiment
Castro Sánchez-Bermejo, P., Carmona, C. P., Schuman, M. C., Benavides, R., Sachsenmaier, L., Li, S., Liu, X. & Haider, S., 12.2025, In: Nature Communications. 16, 1, 15 p., 11009.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Playing the part: Children's willingness and embarrassment to play gender stereotype-violating roles
Parks-Stamm, E. J., Leuthold, C., Schuster, C., Day-Murray, K. & Martiny, S. E., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Developmental Psychology.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
