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

    One planet: one health. A call to support the initiative on a global science–policy body on chemicals and waste

    Brack, W., Barcelo Culleres, D., Boxall, A. B. A., Budzinski, H., Castiglioni, S., Covaci, A., Dulio, V., Escher, B. I., Fantke, P., Kandie, F., Fatta-Kassinos, D., Hernández, F. J., Hilscherová, K., Hollender, J., Hollert, H., Jahnke, A., Kasprzyk-Hordern, B., Khan, S. J., Kortenkamp, A., Kümmerer, K., Lalonde, B., Lamoree, M. H., Levi, Y., Lara Martín, P. A., Montagner, C. C., Mougin, C., Msagati, T., Oehlmann, J., Posthuma, L., Reid, M., Reinhard, M., Richardson, S. D., Rostkowski, P., Schymanski, E., Schneider, F., Slobodnik, J., Shibata, Y., Snyder, S. A., Fabriz Sodré, F., Teodorovic, I., Thomas, K. V., Umbuzeiro, G. A., Viet, P. H., Yew-Hoong, K. G., Zhang, X. & Zuccato, E., 01.12.2022, In: Environmental Sciences Europe. 34, 1, 10 p., 21.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Engaging Refugees With a Culturally Adapted Digital Intervention to Improve Sleep: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

    Spanhel, K., Hovestadt, E., Lehr, D., Spiegelhalder, K., Baumeister, H., Bengel, J. & Sander, L. B., 23.02.2022, In: Frontiers in Psychiatry. 13, 13 p., 832196.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Contextualising coastal management and adaptation: Examining situated practices and path dependencies in Ireland and Germany

    Tubridy, F., Walsh, C., Lennon, M. & Scott, M., 01.04.2022, In: Ocean and Coastal Management. 220, 11 p., 106095.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    An automated, modular system for organic waste utilization using heterotrophic alga Galdieria sulphuraria: Design considerations and sustainability

    Julius Pahmeyer, M., Anusha Siddiqui, S., Pleissner, D., Gołaszewski, J., Heinz, V. & Smetana, S., 01.03.2022, In: Bioresource Technology. 348, 7 p., 126800.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Assembly history modulates vertical root distribution in a grassland experiment

    Alonso-Crespo, I. M., Weidlich, E. W. A., Temperton, V. M. & Delory, B. M., 01.2023, In: Oikos. 2023, 1, 13 p., e08886.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Exploring the implications of the value concept for performance assessment of sustainable business models

    Norris, S., 2022, 7th International Conference on New Business Models: Sustainable Business Model Challenges: Economic Recovery and Digital Transformation; Conference Proceedings. Laura, M., Minà, A. & Alaimo Di Loro, ‪. (eds.). Rom: LUMSA University, p. 743-755 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Neighbourhood Species Richness Reduces Crown Asymmetry of Subtropical Trees in Sloping Terrain

    Perles García, M. D., Kunz, M., Fichtner, A., Meyer, N., Härdtle, W. & von Oheimb, G., 16.03.2022, In: Remote Sensing. 14, 6, 14 p., 1441.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    You Are Where You Eat: A Theoretical Perspective on Why Identity Matters in Local Food Groups

    Poeggel, K., 23.02.2022, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6, 13 p., 782556.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Palaeoecological Interpretation of a Late Holocene Sediment Sequence from the Alpine Belt of the Southern Mongolian Altai Mountains

    Goenster-Jordan, S., Urban, B. & Buerkert, A., 17.02.2022, In: Open Quaternary. 8, 1, 18 p., 2.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Promoting pro-environmental behavior through citizen science? A case study with Chilean schoolchildren on marine plastic pollution.

    Wichmann , C. S., Fischer, D., Geiger, S. M., Honorato-Zimmer , D., Kruse, K., Knickmeier, K., Sundermann, A. & Thiel , M., 01.07.2022, In: Marine Policy. 141, 105035.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review