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

    Setting the research agenda for measuring sustainability performance: systematic application of the world café method

    Silva, S. L. & Günther, E., 18.09.2018, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 9, 4, p. 455-469 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    How can sustainable chemistry contribute to a circular economy?

    Pleißner, D., 06.09.2018, In: Detritus - Multidisciplinary Journal for Waste Resource & Residues. 3, September, p. 4-6 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Harnessing place attachment for local climate mitigation? Hypothesising connections between broadening representations of place and readiness for change

    Upham, P., Johansen, K., Bögel, P. M., Axon, S., Garard, J. & Carney, S., 02.09.2018, In: Local Environment. 23, 9, p. 912-919 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  5. Published

    From disagreements to dialogue: unpacking the Golden Rice debate

    Kettenburg, A. J., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1469-1482 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Human–nature connectedness as a ‘treatment’ for pro-environmental behavior: making the case for spatial considerations

    Klaniecki, K., Leventon, J. & Abson, D. J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1375-1388 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Nitrogen cycling and storage in Gagea spathacea (Liliaceae): ecological insights for protecting a rare woodland species

    Fichtner, A., Matthies, D., Armbrust, M., Jansen, D., Sturm, K., Walmsley, D., von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.09.2018, In: Plant Ecology. 219, 9, p. 1117–1126 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Reconnecting with nature for sustainability

    Ives, C. D., Abson, D. J., von Wehrden, H., Dorninger, C., Klaniecki, K. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1389-1397 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Sustainable software products—Towards assessment criteria for resource and energy efficiency

    Kern, E., Hilty, L. M., Guldner, A., Maksimov, Y. V., Filler, A., Gröger, J. & Naumann, S., 01.09.2018, In: Future Generation Computer Systems. 86, p. 199-210 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Temporal Dynamics of Ecosystem Services

    Rau, A. L., von Wehrden, H. & Abson, D. J., 01.09.2018, In: Ecological Economics. 151, p. 122-130 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    The future of health debates? A design thinking sketch of the VR Health Arena

    Fischer, M., 01.09.2018, In: Health and Technology. 8, 4, p. 281-290 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Neon ist ein Gas und hat zwei Ringe – Zur Trennung der makroskopischen und submikroskopischen Ebene des Periodensystems

    Abels, S., Koliander, B., Plotz, T. & Heidinger, C., 09.2018, In: ChemKon. 25, 6, p. 238-242 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  13. Published

    Post Hoc Assessment of Stand Structure Across European Wood-Pastures: Implications for Land Use Policy

    Roellig, M., Costa, A., Garbarino, M., Hanspach, J., Hartel, T., Jakobsson, S., Lindborg, R., Mayr, S., Plieninger, T., Sammul, M., Varga, A. & Fischer, J., 09.2018, In: Rangeland Ecology and Management. 71, 5, p. 526-535 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Rethinking biodiversity governance in European agricultural landscapes: Acceptability of alternative governance scenarios

    Velten, S., Schaal, T., Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Hanspach, J., Fischer, J. & Newig, J., 09.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 77, p. 84-93 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Role of psychology in sociotechnical transitions studies: Review in relation to consumption and technology acceptance

    Bögel, P. M. & Upham, P., 09.2018, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 28, p. 122-136 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Transferring sustainability solutions across contexts through city-university partnerships

    Keeler, L. W., Beaudoin, F. D., Lerner, A. M., John, B., Beecroft, R., Tamm, K., Wiek, A. & Lang, D. J., 09.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 9, 17 p., 2966.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Unterricht zum Thema "Flucht und Flüchtlinge"? eine Analyse von Lehrmaterialien aus dem Internet

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 09.2018, In: Zeitschrift für Bildungsforschung. 8, 2, p. 137 - 152 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Maschinelles Lernen als bildungspolitischer Kontrollverlust: Eine spekulative Kontrollgeschichte der Bildungsplanung

    Herberg, J. A., 31.08.2018, Machine Learning : Medien, Infrastrukturen und Technologien der Künstlichen Intelligenz. Engemann, C. & Sudmann, A. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 143-166 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  19. Published

    Hydrolyzed organic residues as sources of secondary raw materials

    Pleißner, D. & Peinemann, J. C., 29.08.2018, In: Chemie Ingenieur Technik. 90, 9, p. 1161-1161 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  20. Published
  21. Published

    More than Yield: Ecosystem Services of Traditional versus Modern Crop Varieties Revisited

    Ficiciyan, A., Loos, J., Sievers-Glotzbach, S. & Tscharntke, T., 09.08.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 8, 15 p., 2834.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch