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
Beyond Propensity: Thresholds, Costs, and Interventions in Negotiation Avoidance
Hunsaker, D. A., Zhang, H. & Lee, A. J., 2025, In: Negotiation and Conflict Management Research. 18, 4, p. 37-56 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Generationengerechtigkeit in der Klimapolitik
Kemfert, C., 01.11.2025, In: Wirtschaftsdienst. 105, 11, p. 803-807 5 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Hydro-Functional Traits and Their Dissimilarity to the Neighbourhood Buffer Tree Growth Against the 2018–2020 Central European Drought
Sachsenmaier, L., Schnabel, F., Tezeh, F. R., Castro Sánchez-Bermejo, P., Eisenhauer, N., Ferlian, O., Haider, S., Richter, R., Paligi, S. S., Schuldt, B. & Wirth, C., 11.2025, In: Global Change Biology. 31, 11, 19 p., e70588.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Gamification Design Patterns to Address Values-Based and Sustainability-Oriented Innovation Challenges
Breuer, H. & Ivanov, K., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Creativity and Innovation Management. 23 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Rewilding in Europe: A Systematic Characterization and Classification of 89 Rewilding Projects
Zoderer, B. M., Busse von Colbe, J. & Loos, J., 01.11.2025, In: Conservation Letters. 18, 6, 13 p., e13157.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Accepted/In press
Taxing your cake and growing it too: public beliefs on the dual benefits of progressive taxation
Becker, B., Castanho Silva, B. & Lierse, H., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Public Policy. 20 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Developing Social-Emotional Competencies in Childhood and Adolescence: Antecedents and Consequences Across Different Age Groups
Voltmer, K. & Rueth, J. E., 01.04.2025, In: Zeitschrift fur Entwicklungspsychologie und Padagogische Psychologie. 57, 2 Special Issue, p. 35-37 3 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- Published
Measuring environmental (in)justices: Insights from a systematic literature review on methodological approaches
Loos, J., Gohr, C., Zafra-Calvo, N., Cortés-Capano, G., Tonninger, A. L. & von Wehrden, H., 19.12.2025, In: iScience. 28, 12, 18 p., 113889.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Climate impact perceptions and associations with reported behaviors and policy support in three countries
Frings, N. L., Nielsen, K. S., Rahmani Azad, Z. & Hahnel, U. J. J., 12.2025, In: Journal of Environmental Psychology. 108, 13 p., 102841.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Widespread Decline of Ground Beetles in Germany
Chowdhury, S., Bowler, D. E., Boutaud, E., Bleich, O., Bruelheide, H., Buse, J., Engel, T., Gebert, J., Grescho, V., Gürlich, S., Harry, I., Jansen, F., Klenke, R. A., van Klink, R., Winter, M. & Bonn, A., 11.2025, In: Diversity and Distributions. 31, 11, 11 p., e70112.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
