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.
- 2026
- Published
Decentralized fermentative production of succinic acid from food industry residues: Life-cycle- and economic assessments
Lüttger, A., Kleps, C., Sula, K., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleissner, D., 03.2026, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 9, 9 p., 100165.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Do consumers prefer multidimensional or multiple single-issue sustainability labels? Evidence from rice markets in Germany and Singapore
Checco, J., Demont, M., Coote, L. V., Schulze, M., Permani, R., Muflikh, Y. N., Mitchell, J. & Aziz, A. A., 03.2026, In: Food Quality and Preference. 137, 15 p., 105812.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Enhanced forest structural heterogeneity increases functional β-diversity but reduces α- and γ-diversity in soil nematodes
Schwarz, R., Bradler, P. M., Chao, A., Chuang, P.-Y., Ciobanu, M., Decker, O., Delory, B. M., Dietrich, P., Dittrich, S., Fichtner, A., Lettenmaier, L., Junginger, M., Mitesser, O., Mori, A., Müller, J., von Oheimb, G., Pierick, K., Eisenhauer, N. & Cesarz, S., 03.2026, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 214, 14 p., 110078.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Perceived plasticity of climate-relevant behaviors and policy support among high- and lower-income individuals
Nielsen, K. S., Dablander, F., Debnath, R., Emogor, C. A., Ghai, S., Gwozdz, W., Hahnel, U. J. J., Hofmann, W. & Bauer, J. M., 03.2026, In: Global Environmental Change. 96, 13 p., 103107.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Structuring success: How issue-packaging agendas foster better joint outcomes in multi-issue negotiations
Zhang, H., Geiger, I., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 03.2026, In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 123, 9 p., 104856.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Pluralism and integration? A systematic review of ecological economics methodological foundations
Kretschmer, M. F., Engler, J. O., von Wehrden, H., Rathgens, J. & Ament, J. A., 02.2026, In: Ecological Economics. 240, 10 p., 108832.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Time to take the Declaration of Helsinki seriously? A systematic review of comparison conditions in clinical trials on internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Grolig, L., Brückner, H. A., Heimes, H., Buntrock, C., Hempeler, C., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 02.2026, In: Sleep Medicine Reviews. 85, 10 p., 102224.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Do sex differences influence test habituation and internal data validity in neurocognitive testing? A blinded measurement error analysis
Warneke, K., Oraze, M., Herbsleb, M., Afonso, J. & Wallot, S., 26.01.2026, In: Neuroscience. 593, p. 106-121 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
International regulation of commercially exploited sharks: challenging the notion of shark “bycatch” in tuna RFMOs
Schatz, V. J. & Kachelriess, D., 07.01.2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics. 18 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Effectiveness of and Mechanisms of Change in a Self-Help Web- and App-Based Resilience Intervention on Perceived Stress in the General Working Population: Randomized Controlled Trial
Hannibal, S., Behrendt, D., Wessa, M., Schäfer, S. K., Dalkner, N. & Lehr, D., 05.01.2026, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 28, 23 p., e78335.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Tree species richness drives multiple facets of bee diversity via understorey microenvironment
Xie, T. T., Li, Y., Wang, M. Q., Staab, M., Chen, J. T., Liu, X. W., Shi, X. Y., Zhou, Q. S., Niu, Z. Q., Ma, K. P., Bruelheide, H., Luo, A., Chesters, D., Hao, J. S. & Zhu, C. D., 02.01.2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Arthropod species loss underpins biomass declines
Wildermuth, B., Bröcher, M., Ladouceur, E., Meyer, S. T., Schielzeth, H., Staab, M., Achury, R., Blüthgen, N., Hertzog, L., Hines, J., Roscher, C., Schweiger, O., Weisser, W. W. & Ebeling, A., 01.2026, In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. 10, 1, p. 83-94 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Flower resource availability and Tetragonisca fiebrigi flower visits in two farming communities of Bolivian Chiquitanía
Benavides-Frias, C., Saravia-Nava, A., Rodriguez, P., Sun, P., Benra, F., Morón Aguilar, D. & Hanspach, J., 01.2026, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 65, 15 p., e03990.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems
Frietsch, M., Kaplin, B. A., Mukuralinda, A., Nkurikiyimana, D., William, A., Bariyanga, J. D., Duguma, D. W., Kayitanirwa, C., Mujawamariya, M., Nsengimana, V., Nshimyumuremyi, P., Nyiramvuyekure, V., Nduwamungu, J., Serge, S., Turikunkiko, E., Tuyizere, D. & Fischer, J., 01.2026, In: Trees, Forests and People. 23, 5 p., 101134.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Participatory mapping of local people's values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda
Ndayizeye, G., Kmoch, L., Baumann, M., Nsengimana, V., Fischer, J. & Plieninger, T., 01.2026, In: Restoration Ecology. 34, 1, 13 p., e70217.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Practical implementation of artificial intelligence for climate change mitigation in cities – priorities, collaborations and challenges
Hintz, M. J., Gross, M., Creutzig, F. & Kaack, L. H., 01.2026, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 131, 104498.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Reconceptualizing the role of socioeconomic material stocks in the leverage points framework to enable transformative change
Haas, W., Abson, D. J., Haberl, H., Spittler, N., Wiedenhofer, D. & Dorninger, C., 01.2026, In: Ecological Economics. 239, 9 p., 108759.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Resilience and regeneration for a world in crisis
Fischer, J., Farny, S., Pacheco-Romero, M. & Folke, C., 01.2026, In: Ambio. 55, 1, p. 24-34 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations
Buhr, M. & Weissbrod, I., 01.2026, In: Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility. 35, 1, p. 340-366 27 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Understanding preferences for nature's contributions to people between and within social actors sheds insights for inclusive conservation
Gross, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Sanya, J., Pearson, J., Sesabo, J. & Martín-López, B., 01.2026, In: People and Nature. 8, 1, p. 65-80 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Assessing the epistemic dimension of people–place relationships for inclusive ecosystem governance
Hakkarainen, V., Soini, K. & Raymond, C. M., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: People and Nature.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Die politisch-demokratische Dimension von Beruflichkeit im Kontext nachhaltiger Entwicklung – Einblicke in ein Fortbildungskonzept zur Professionalisierung des ausbildenden Personals
Dück, F., Hantke, H., Heitzhausen, S., Murawski, L. & Zurstrassen, B., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: berufsbildung - Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Education for sustainable lifestyles: a powerful tool for what and for whom?
Grauer, C., Solbakken, I., Fischer, D. & Didham, R. J., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Handbook of Research on Sustainable Lifestyles. Cohen, M. J., McGreevy, S., Lorek, S., Lambino, R. & Bengtsson, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar PublishingResearch output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Social perceptions of carnivores across the globe – a literature review
Newsom, A., Lozano, J. & Martín-López, B., 2026, In: Human Dimensions of Wildlife. 31, 1, p. 97-120 24 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 2025
- Published
Erratum: Author Correction: The role of self-care and self-compassion in networks of resilience and stress among healthcare professionals (Scientific reports (2025) 15 1 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-01111-1.)
Pank, C., von Boros, L., Lieb, K., Dalkner, N., Egger-Lampl, S., Lehr, D., Schäfer, S. K., Tüscher, O. & Wessa, M., 30.12.2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, p. 45737 1 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Assessments of life cycle and biodegradation properties uncovered distinct profiles of pharmaceutical excipients guiding selection for drug formulations
Bading, M., Griffing, E., Olsson, O., Harris, J., Scher, J., Sakurai, A., Overcash, M. & Kümmerer, K., 28.12.2025, In: Green Chemistry . 27, 48, p. 15568-15581 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 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
Networks of influence: Linking capitals and agency to understand actors' roles in sustainability interventions
Rolfer, L., Isaac, R., Lopez-Rodriguez, M. D., Martin-Lopez, B., Celliers, L. & Krause, G., 19.12.2025, In: One Earth. 8, 12, 13 p., 101495.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Safe and Sustainable-by-Design under The European Green Deal - Regulatory Readiness or Pressure for Companies?
Sudheshwar, A., Apel, C., Kümmerer, K., Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Scheper, J. K., Falk, A., Batel, A., Markard, J., Som, C., Wang, Z. & Nowack, B., 13.12.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
New rationalities, inner logic, and hope for sustainable future coasts
Celliers, L., Ferse, S., Bruns, A., Eisenack, K., Hornidge, A. K., Klepp, S., Lahl, R., Neumann, B., Riechers, M., Bogusz, T., Fuchs, N., Gee, K., Hampton, S., Hinkel, J., Kny, J., Kriegl, M., Krönert, T., Costa, M. M., Otto, L., Pfaff, M. & Rölfer, L., 11.12.2025, In: Global Sustainability. 9, e2.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- 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
Aarhus-Konvention unter Druck: UK und EU stellen den Compliance-Mechanismus in Frage
Bertram, A., 04.12.2025, Junge Wissenschaft im Öffentlichen Recht e.V.Research output: other publications › Articles in scientific forums or blogs › Transfer
- Published
Disentangling the influence of environmental conditions on sex determination in haplodiploid organisms
Wittmann, K., Klein, A. M., Pichler, M. & Staab, M., 03.12.2025, In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 94, 12, p. 2584-2596 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Leugnung des Existenzrechts Israels: Zur Verfassungsmäßigkeit einer potenziellen Verschärfung des § 130 StGB
Schatz, V. J., Bertram, A. & Bartmann, E., 01.12.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Recht und Politik. p. 1-11Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
A critical analysis of the policy potential for sustainable agriculture in India
Chauhan, N. & von Wehrden, H., 12.2025, In: Discover Sustainability. 6, 1, 13 p., 233.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps
Author collaboration of "Biological invasions: a global assessment of geographic distributions, long-term trends, and data gaps", Seebens, H., Meyerson, L. A., Richardson, D. M., Lenzner, B., Tricarico, E., Courchamp, F. & Haider, S., 12.2025, In: Biological Reviews. 100, 6, p. 2542-2583 42 p.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
Environmental justice gaps in human-wildlife conflict research from a social-ecological systems perspective
Alba-Patiño, D., Martín-López, B., Delibes-Mateos, M., Requena-Mullor, J. M. & Castro, A. J., 12.2025, In: Biological Conservation. 312, 11 p., 111515.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Five Frontiers for Science and Practice of Ecosystem Restoration in East African Forest Landscapes
Duguma, D. W., Löhr, K., Temperton, V. M., Apollinaire, W., Baumann, M., Kaplin, B. A., Nyiramvuyekure, V., Vögele, S., Kmoch, L., Plieninger, T., Loos, J., Aime, T., Beatrice, N., Bohn, S., Ernest, U., Frietsch, M., Gatali, C., Innocent, N., Kangondo, A., Franklin, B., Maniraho, L., Martín-López, B., Mukaneza, D., Ndagijimana, V., Ndayizeye, G., Nizeyimana, M., Nyandwi, E., Nzibaza, V., Sieber, S., Sun, P., Ullman, J. L., Umuziranenge, G., Wollni, M. & Fischer, J., 12.2025, In: Integrative Conservation. 4, 4, p. 534-545 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Forb diversity globally is harmed by nutrient enrichment but can be rescued by large mammalian herbivory
Nelson, R. A., Sullivan, L. L., Hersch-Green, E. I., Seabloom, E. W., Borer, E. T., Tognetti, P. M., Adler, P. B., Biederman, L., Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C., Cancela, J. P., Carvalheiro, L. G., Catford, J. A., Dickman, C. R., Dolezal, A. J., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Elgersma, K. J., Eskelinen, A., Estrada, C., Garbowski, M., Graff, P., Gruner, D. S., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Johanson, N., Koerner, S. E., Lannes, L. S., MacDougall, A. S., Martinson, H., Morgan, J. W., Olde Venterink, H., Orr, D., Osborne, B. B., Peri, P. L., Power, S. A., Raynaud, X., Risch, A. C., Shrestha, M., Smith, N. G., Stevens, C. J., Veen, G. F. C., Virtanen, R., Wardle, G. M., Wolf, A. A., Young, A. L. & Harrison, S. P., 12.2025, In: Communications Biology. 8, 1, 10 p., 444.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From consumers to pioneers: insights from thermal energy communities in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands
Herreras Martínez, S., Mesman, J., Sneum, D. M., Holstenkamp, L., Harmsen, R., Menkveld, M., Akerboom, S. & Faaij, A., 12.2025, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 15, 1, 31 p., 5.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
How methods influence nature's values we find – A comparison of three elicitation methods
Kuhn, L., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. Á., Riechers, M., Loos, J. & Martín-López, B., 12.2025, In: Ecological Economics. 238, 11 p., 108721.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 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
- 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
- Published
Investigating values and environmental attitudes in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Detjen, L., Schröder, S., Schwenck, M., Summa, J., Schreiber, J. & von Wehrden, H., 12.2025, In: Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences. 15, 4, p. 773-787 15 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Local nutrient addition drives plant diversity losses but not biotic homogenization in global grasslands
Chen, Q., Blowes, S. A., Harpole, W. S., Ladouceur, E., Borer, E. T., MacDougall, A., Martina, J. P., Bakker, J. D., Tognetti, P. M., Seabloom, E. W., Daleo, P., Power, S., Roscher, C., Adler, P. B., Donohue, I., Wheeler, G., Stevens, C., Veen, G. F. C., Risch, A. C., Wardle, G. M., Hautier, Y., Estrada, C., Hersch-Green, E., Niu, Y., Peri, P. L., Eskelinen, A., Gruner, D. S., Olde Venterink, H., D’Antonio, C., Cadotte, M. W., Haider, S., Eisenhauer, N., Catford, J., Virtanen, R., Morgan, J. W., Tedder, M., Bagchi, S., Caldeira, M. C., Bugalho, M. N., Knops, J. M. H., Dickman, C. R., Hagenah, N., Jentsch, A., Macek, P., Osborne, B. B., Laanisto, L. & Chase, J. M., 12.2025, In: Nature Communications. 16, 1, 8 p., 4903.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Long-term heterotrophic cultivation of Galdieria sulphuraria at technical scale under non-sterile conditions
Pleissner, D., Händel, N., Schönfelder, S., Petrusan, J. I., Queiroz Silva, B., Schröder, J., Müller, J., Cowan, K. & Smetana, S., 12.2025, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 8, 8 p., 100116.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
- Published
Marine biodiversity change impacts relational values: expert survey shows policy mismatch
Dajka, J. C., Levi, S., Verstraeten, A. M., Menendez, V. A., Smith, M., Snow, B., Vargas-Fonseca, O. A. & Hillebrand, H., 12.2025, In: NPJ Ocean Sustainability. 4, 1, 8 p., 42.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
