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. 2018
  2. Published

    What can conservation strategies learn from the ecosystem services approach? Insights from ecosystem assessments in two Spanish protected areas

    García-Llorente, M., Harrison, P. A., Berry, P., Palomo, I., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Iniesta-Arandia, I., Montes, C., García Del Amo, D. & Martín-López, B., 01.06.2018, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 27, 7, p. 1575-1597 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Facing the heat: A systematic literature review exploring the transferability of solutions to cope with urban heat waves

    Hintz, M. J., Lüderitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 06.2018, In: Urban Climate. 24, p. 714-727 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis

    Schrickel, I., 06.2018, Den Kalten Krieg vermessen: Über Reichweite und Alternativen einer binären Ordnungsvorstellung. Reichherzer, F., Droit, E. & Hansen, J. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg , p. 199-214 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Large mammal diversity matters for wildlife tourism in Southern African Protected Areas: Insights for management

    Arbieu, U., Grünewald, C., Martín-López, B., Schleuning, M. & Böhning-Gaese, K., 06.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 31, p. 481-490 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Multi-trophic guilds respond differently to changing elevation in a subtropical forest

    Binkenstein, J., Klein, A. M., Assmann, T., Buscot, F., Erfmeier, A., Ma, K., Pietsch, K. A., Schmidt, K., Scholten, T., Wubet, T., Bruelheide, H., Schuldt, A. & Staab, M., 06.2018, In: Ecography. 41, 6, p. 1013-1023 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published
  8. Published

    The Role of Trust in Natural Resource Management Conflicts: A Forestry Case Study from Germany

    Juerges, N., Viedma, A., Leahy, J. & Newig, J., 06.2018, In: Forest Science. 64, 3, p. 330-339 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Action research in science education: an analytical review of the literature

    Laudonia, I., Mamlok-Naaman, R., Abels, S. & Eilks, I., 27.05.2018, In: Educational Action Research. 26, 3, p. 480-495 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Is Peru prepared for large-scale sustainable rural electrification?

    Feron, S. & Cordero, R. R., 22.05.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 5, 20 p., 1683.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Preventing household food waste via nudging: an exploration of consumer perceptions

    von Kameke, C. & Fischer, D., 20.05.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 184, 2018, p. 32-40 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Inter- and intraspecific consumer trait variations determine consumer diversity effects in multispecies predator−prey systems

    Flöder, S., Bromann, L. & Moorthi, S., 16.05.2018, In: Aquatic Microbial Ecology. 81, 3, p. 243-256 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published
  14. Published

    Applying Place-Based Social-Ecological Research to Address Water Scarcity: Insights for Future Research

    Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C., Brandt, J., Atkinson, C. L., Baxter, C. V., Burnham, M., Egoh, B. N., Garcia-Llorente, M., Julian, J. P., Martin-López, B., Liao, F. H., Running, K., Vaughn, C. C. & Norström, A. V., 10.05.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 5, 13 p., 1516.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Beyond Biodiversity Conservation: Land Sharing Constitutes Sustainable Agriculture in European Cultural Landscapes

    Loos, J. & Wehrden, H., 02.05.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 5, 11 p., 1395.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Innovative Höchstspannungsfreileitungssysteme - technische, landschaftsbildliche, ökologische und rechtliche Aspekte

    Lutz, L. M., Reutter, L., Butzeck, C., Runge, K. & Schomerus, C.-T., 01.05.2018, In: Natur und Landschaft. 93, 5, p. 201-207 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Modeling normativity in sustainability: a comparison of the sustainable development goals, the Paris agreement, and the papal encyclical

    Schmieg, G., Meyer, E., Schrickel, I., Herberg, J., Caniglia, G., Vilsmaier, U., Laubichler, M., Hörl, E. & Lang, D., 01.05.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 3, p. 785-796 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Regional variations of organophosphorus flame retardants: Fingerprint of large river basin estuaries/deltas in Europe compared with China

    Wolschke, H., Sühring, R., Massei, R., Tang, J. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.05.2018, In: Environmental Pollution. 236, May 2018, p. 391-395 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    The governance of land use strategies: Institutional and social dimensions of land sparing and land sharing

    Jiren, T. S., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2018, In: Conservation Letters. 11, 3, 8 p., e12429.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    From lignin to nylon: Cascaded chemical and biochemical conversion using metabolically engineered Pseudomonas putida

    Kohlstedt, M., Starck, S., Barton, N., Stotzenberger, J., Selzer, M., Mehlmann, K., Schneider, R., Pleißner, D., Rinkel, J., Dickschat, J. S., Venus, J., van Duuren, J. N. J. H. & Wittmann, C., 05.2018, In: Metabolic Engineering. 47, May 2018, p. 279-293 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    The environmental performance of participatory and collaborative governance: A framework of causal mechanisms

    Newig, J., Challies, E., Jager, N. W., Kochskämper, E. & Adzersen, A., 05.2018, In: Policy Studies Journal. 46, 2, p. 269-297 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review