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.
- 2025
- Published
Toward Sustainable Water Governance? Taking Stock of Paradigms, Practices, and Sustainability Outcomes
Bilalova, S., Newig, J. & Villamayor-Tomas, S., 01.01.2025, In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water. 12, 1, 12 p., e1762.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
A cultural comparison of children’s emotion knowledge: Data from two cultures
Schapira, R., von Salisch, M. & Voltmer, K., 01.2025, In: International Journal of Behavioral Development. 49, 1, p. 38-48 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Development of environmentally biodegradable drugs: what are the key challenges?
Bertram, M. G., Wong, B. B. M., Kümmerer, K. & Jörg, M., 01.2025, In: Expert Opinion on Drug Discovery. 20, 1, p. 1-4 4 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- Published
Die unionsrechtliche Regulierung von Hafenauffangeinrichtungen für Schiffsabfälle durch die PRF-Richtlinie
Schatz, V. & Wanner, L., 01.2025, In: Natur und Recht. 47, 1, p. 13-19 7 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Interplays between relational and instrumental values: insights from research experiences on human–nature relations
Riechers, M., Pearson, J., Diaz-Cruz, N., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Topp, E., 01.2025, In: Sustainability Science. 20, 1, p. 287-298 12 p., 104232.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Orientation-driven photosynthesized carbon belowground mediates intercropped peanut microbiota changes for pathogen resistance
Lu, J., Shen, Y., He, G., Li, S., Kumar, A., Sun, B. & Chen, Y., 01.2025, In: Plant and Soil. 506, 1, p. 209-226 18 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Revisiting the sustainability science research agenda
Sahle, M., Lahoti, S. A., Lee, S. Y., Brundiers, K., van Riper, C. J., Pohl, C., Chien, H., Bohnet, I. C., Aguilar-Rivera, N., Edwards, P., Pradhan, P., Plieninger, T., Boonstra, W. J., Flor, A. G., Di Fabio, A., Scheidel, A., Gordon, C., Abson, D. J., Andersson, E., Demaria, F., Kenter, J. O., Brooks, J., Kauffman, J., Hamann, M., Graziano, M., Nagabhatla, N., Mimura, N., Fagerholm, N., O’Farrell, P., Saito, O. & Takeuchi, K., 01.2025, In: Sustainability Science. 20, 1, p. 1-19 19 p., e0261190.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- Published
Water-related problématiques: five archetypical contexts of water governance
Bilalova, S., Villamayor-Tomas, S. & Newig, J., 01.2025, In: Ecology and Society. 30, 1, 40 p., 10.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
A metacoupling lens on the co-production of nature’s contributions to people: Insights for sustainability
Mayer, A., Martín-López, B., Locatelli, B., Rabeschini, G., Liu, J., Loos, J., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Riechers, M. & Isaac, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) XXXXXXXXX. Academic Press Inc., (Advances in Ecological Research).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Horizontal portability: A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy
Himes, A., Muraca, B., Allen, K., Chapman, M., Coelho-Junior, M. G., Cundill, G., Gould, R. K., Herrmann, T. M., Kenter, J. O., Nakachi, A. A., Nemogá, G. R., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Rono, B., Saito, T., Tadaki, M. & Bonn, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: People and Nature. 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Accepted/In press
Kollaboratives Forschen und Lernen im Prozess bildungsbezogener Arbeit
Hantke, H. & Hantsch, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: berufsbildung - Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog. 1/2025, 205Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Transfer › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Negotiating With Yourself and Winning: The Dual Commitment Model for Intrapersonal Sustainability Goal Conflicts
Sevincer, A. T., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Motivation Science.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Sustainability Strategies: What's in a Name? A Conceptual Restatement of Fundamental Mechanisms Toward Sustainability
Hartmann, E., 2025, In: Sustainable Development. sd.3443.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The Concept Benign by Design
Puhlmann, N. & Kümmerer, K., 2025, Encyclopedia of Green Chemistry: Volume 1. Török, B. (ed.). First Edition ed. Oxford: Elsevier, p. 17-29 13 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Unravelling deep roots in drylands: A systems thinking participatory approach to the SDGs
Aguiar, A. P. D., Collste, D., Cortés-Calderón, S., Sonetti-González, T., Alves-Martins, M., Castro, A. J., Diallo, A., Eriksson, K. M., Goffner, D., Harmáčková, Z. V., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Mancilla-García, M., Olofsson, V., Perez-Marin, A., Silva-Bezerra, F. G., Sinare, H. & Stragier, C., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Global Sustainability.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 2024
- Published
Transformational ethics to bridge the void between facts and truths
von Wehrden, H. & Wäger, P., 30.12.2024, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 33, 4, p. 333 1 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Other (editorial matter etc.) › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
Can we represent future generations in myopic democracies? Analyzing the design, feasibility and viability of institutional guardians of future generations
Rose, M., 26.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Policy Studies. 21 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Kommunales Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Eine Erhebung zum Stand von Nachhaltigkeit in niedersächsischen Landkreisen, Städten und Gemeinden
Redenius, P. & Heinrichs, H., 17.12.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 36 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 8).Research output: Working paper › Research communication reports › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
Students’ Beliefs About Trigger Warnings
Sevincer, A. T., Tenbrueggen, L. & Sokolis, M., 13.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Psychological Reports. 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Impact of land transformation, management and governance on subjective wellbeing across social–ecological systems
Santillán-Carvantes, P., Tauro, A., Balvanera, P., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C. & Martín-López, B., 12.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainability Science. 15 p., 119369.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Genome size influences plant growth and biodiversity responses to nutrient fertilization in diverse grassland communities
Morton, J. A., Arnillas, C. A., Biedermann, L., Borer, E. T., Brudvig, L. A., Buckley, Y. M., Cadotte, M. W., Davies, K., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Estrada, C., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Jentsch, A., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Raynaud, X., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C. J., Vesela, K., Wallace, A., Leitch, I. J., Leitch, A. R. & Hersch-Green, E. I., 11.12.2024, In: PLoS Biology. 22, 12, 21 p., e3002927.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Sufficiency as relations of enoughness
Hartmann, E., 06.12.2024, In: Sustainable Development. 32, 6, p. 7201-7214 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Orte zum Wohlfühlen: Ein Reiseführer zur kreativen Gestaltung zukunftsfähiger Städte und Gemeinden
Heinrichs, H., Redenius, P. & Hoernemann, D., 05.12.2024, München: oekom verlag GmbH. 94 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Book
- Accepted/In press
Between the lines: linking carbon management to carbon accounting actions in the pursuit of corporate decarbonization
Johnson, M. P., Strobel, J. & Trencher, G., 04.12.2024, (Accepted/In press) In: Accounting, Auditing and Accountability Journal. 28 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Diversity on a small scale: phylogeography of the locally endemic dwarf succulent genus Oophytum (Aizoaceae) in the Knersvlakte of South Africa
Schmidt, S. A., Schmiedel, U., Carstens, F., Rau, A.-L. & Rudolph-Bartsch, B., 04.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Annals of Botany. 21 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Failed mobility transition in an ideal setting and implications for building a green city
Andert, M. & Nagel, M., 02.12.2024, In: Npj Climate Action. 3, 1, 15 p., 114.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Applying the Three Horizons approach in local and regional scenarios to support policy coherence in SDG implementation: Insights from arid Spain
López-Rodríguez, M. D., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Quintas-Soriano, C., Miguel Requena-Mullor, J., Garau, E., Alba-Patiño, D., Otamendi-Urroz, I., Aguiar, A. P. D., Cortés-Calderón, S. & Castro, A. J., 01.12.2024, In: Global Environmental Change. 89, 16 p., 102922.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Effectiveness of a guided multicomponent internet and mobile gratitude training program - A pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Lehr, D., Freund, H., Sieland, B., Kalon, L., Berking, M., Riper, H. & Ebert, D. D., 01.12.2024, In: Internet Interventions. 38, 12 p., 100787.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Investigation of the utilization of oat pomace and acid whey in technical scale succinic acid fermentation including downstream processing
Kleps, C., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.12.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 4, 7 p., 100028.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Self-regulatory thought across time and domains
Sevincer, A. T., Feller, E. & Wallot, S., 01.12.2024, In: Motivation Science. 10, 4, p. 277-289 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Ungleiche Partizipationschancen in heterogenen Lerngruppen: Eine ethnografische Studie in Klassenräten inklusiver Grundschulklassen
Meyn, J., 01.12.2024, Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt. 322 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Monographs › Research › peer-review
- Published
Advancing sustainable chemistry education: Insights from real-world case studies
Araripe, E. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 12.2024, In: Current Research in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, 10 p., 100436.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’
Kampfmann, T., Lang, D. J. & Weiser, A., 12.2024, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 162, 12 p., 103923.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Applicability of the European Commission's framework on safe and sustainable by design to the pharmaceutical sector
Puhlmann, N., Abbate, E., Kümmerer, K., Oomen, A. G., Ragas, A. M. J. & Moermond, C., 12.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 42, 15 p., 101845.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
A social-ecological approach to support equitable land use decision-making
Brück, M., Benra, F., Duguma, D. W., Fischer, J., Jiren, T. S., Law, E. A., Pacheco-Romero, M., Schultner, J. & Abson, D. J., 12.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 12, p. 1752-1767 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Can isometric testing substitute for the one repetition maximum squat test?
Warneke, K., Keiner, M., Behm, D. G., Wirth, K., Kaufmann, M., Sproll, M., Konrad, A., Wallot, S. & Hillebrecht, M., 12.2024, In: European Journal of Applied Physiology. 124, 12, p. 3683-3692 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Collaborative governance and personal relationships for sustainability transformation in the textile sector
Beyers, F., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 10 p., 13347.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces insomnia in nurses suffering from shift work disorder: A randomised-controlled pilot trial
Ell, J., Brückner, H. A., Johann, A. F., Steinmetz, L., Güth, L. J., Feige, B., Järnefelt, H., Vallières, A., Frase, L., Domschke, K., Riemann, D., Lehr, D. & Spiegelhalder, K., 12.2024, In: Journal of Sleep Research. 33, 6, 14 p., e14193.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Fostering students’ participation in the implementation of the sustainable development goals at higher education institutions
Filho, W. L., Trevisan, L. V., Dinis, M. A. P., Ulmer, N., Paço, A., Borsari, B., Sierra, J. & Salvia, A., 12.2024, In: Discover Sustainability. 5, 1, 24 p., 22.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
How Germany is phasing out lignite: insights from the Coal Commission and local communities
Radtke, J. & David, M., 12.2024, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 14, 1, 18 p., 7.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Investigating non-inferiority of internet-delivered versus face-to-face cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I): a randomised controlled trial (iSleep well)
Benz, F., Grolig, L., Hannibal, S., Buntrock, C., Cuijpers, P., Domschke, K., Ebert, D. D., Ell, J., Janneck, M., Jenkner, C., Johann, A. F., Josef, A., Kaufmann, M., Koß, A., Mallwitz, T., Mergan, H., Morin, C. M., Riemann, D., Riper, H., Schmid, S. R., Smit, F., Spille, L., Steinmetz, L., Van Someren, E. J. W., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: Trials. 25, 1, 17 p., 371.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Land use intensification causes the spatial contraction of woody-plant based ecosystem services in southwestern Ethiopia
Duguma, D. W., Law, E., Shumi, G., Schultner, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 12.2024, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 5, 1, 10 p., 263.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Lessons from Ethiopian coffee landscapes for global conservation in a post-wild world
Hylander, K., Nemomissa, S., Fischer, J., Zewdie, B., Ayalew, B. & Tack, A. J. M., 12.2024, In: Communications Biology. 7, 1, 13 p., 714.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
National ecosystem restoration pledges are mismatched with social-ecological enabling conditions
Benra, F., Brück, M., Sigman, E., Pacheco-Romero, M., Shumi, G., Abson, D. J., Frietsch, M. & Fischer, J., 12.2024, In: Communications Earth and Environment. 5, 1, 10 p., 731.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Overcoming the crisis: Social and ecological impacts of the 17th and 18th century Northern Wars on Kazuń village (Poland) and its surrounding area
Związek, T., Obremska, M., Targowski, M., Sobechowicz, Ł., Siwek, W. A., Gąsiorowski, M., Theuerkauf, M., Kozłowska-Szyc, M., Guzowski, P., Poniat, R., Mulczyk, A., Szewczyk, K., Panecki, T., Solon, J., Zachara-Związek, U. & Słowiński, M., 12.2024, In: Journal of Historical Geography. 86, p. 377-390 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Psychological interventions to prevent the onset of major depression in adults: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis
IPD-PrevDep Consortium, Buntrock, C., Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Sakata, M., Furukawa, T. A., Ebert, D. D., Cuijpers, P. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: The Lancet Psychiatry. 11, 12, p. 990-1001 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
(Re)productivity: a category for the critical analysis of bioeconomic approaches
Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 12.2024, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 20, 1, 9 p., 2428465.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Soil conditions modify species diversity effects on tree functional trait expression
Davrinche, A. & Haider, S., 12.2024, In: Scientific Reports. 14, 1, 16 p., 17114.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Temperate alley-cropping agroforestry improves pest control potential by promoting spider abundance and functional diversity
Matevski, D., Sagolla, V., Beule, L. & Schuldt, A., 12.2024, In: Journal of Applied Ecology. 61, 12, p. 3079-3091 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The impact of biodiversity information on willingness to pay
Hörisch, J., Petersen, L. & Jacobs, K., 12.2024, In: Journal of Industrial Ecology. 28, 6, p. 1641-1656 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review