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. 2024
  2. Published

    Biological measures to recover nitrogen compounds from liquid and solid streams

    Thielemann, A. K., Händel, N., Siddiqui, S. A., Aganovic, K., Kießling, M., Terjung, N., Smetana, S. & Pleißner, D., 01.09.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment. 7, 6 p., 100136.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Ein Recht auf Zeit: Zeit als Ressource

    Bertram, A., 01.09.2024, In: Juridikum : Zeitschrift für Kritik - Recht - Gesellschaft. 2024, 3, p. 364-373

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  4. Published

    From rebound to reinforcement effects. The role of analyzing underlying mechanisms for accounting

    Schaltegger, S., Amend, C. & Wüst, S., 01.09.2024, In: Journal of Sustainable Finance and Accounting. 3, 10 p., 100014.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Institutional arrangements and sustainable maintenance management of community-based mini-grids in Tanzania

    Ngoti, I. F., 01.09.2024, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 115, 10 p., 103632.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    One Fits Them All? Metaphors in Multilingual Biology Classes

    Sowinski, R. & Abels, S., 01.09.2024, Connecting Science Education with Cultural Heritage: Proceedings of the ESERA 2023 Conference. Kaya, G., Sardag, M. & Gul, K. (eds.). Oxford: European Science Education Research Association, Vol. 3. p. 246-256 11 p.

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

  7. Published

    Why gender matters for addressing chemical pollution

    Wang, M., Balayannis, A., Rother, H. A., Hemmati, M., Holthaus, A. & Zuin Zeidler, V., 01.09.2024, In: The Lancet Planetary Health. 8, 9, 1 p., e611.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  8. Published

    Contributing to sustainable development pathways in the South Pacific through transdisciplinary research: Conference report

    Riechers, M., Baumann, L., Braun, M., Carew, A., Chinappa, M., Dehm, J., Ganachaud, A., Holland, E., Kelsey, H., Lal, S., Landemard, M., Rocle, N. & Stockwell, B. L., 09.2024, In: Marine Policy. 167, 3 p., 106124.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Sustainable human resource management and job satisfaction—Unlocking the power of organizational identification: A cross-cultural perspective from 54 countries

    CSREM 2024 - Sustainable human resource management and job satisfaction & Wojtczuk-Turek, A., 09.2024, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 31, 5, p. 4910-4932 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The role of tree crown on the performance of trees at individual and community levels: whole-phenotypic context matters

    Klipel, J., da Cunha Morales, D., Bordin, K. M., Picolotto, R. C., Scarton Bergamin, R. & Müller, S. C., 09.2024, In: Plant Ecology. 225, 9, p. 907-918 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    The social–ecological ladder of restoration ambition

    Frietsch, M., Pacheco-Romero, M., Temperton, V. M., Kaplin, B. A. & Fischer, J., 09.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 9, p. 1251-1261 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Unveiling the Bounty: A Systematic Synthesis of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Mediterranean Lentil and Chickpea Cultivation Through Alternative Pulse Systems

    Vollheyde, A. L., Cebrián-Piqueras, M. & von Haaren, C., 09.2024, In: Legume Science. 6, 3, 20 p., e246.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  13. Published

    Reallabor versus Realexperiment: Was macht den Unterschied?

    Parodi, O., Ober, S., Lang, D. J. & Albiez, M., 26.08.2024, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 33, 2, p. 216-221 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  14. Published

    Nachbarschafts-Artenvielfalt kann trockenheitsbedingte Zuwachseinbußen bei Bäumen mindern

    Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 23.08.2024, Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft. Stojakowits, P. (ed.). München: AVM Akademische Verlagsgemeinschaft, Vol. 32. p. 119-131 13 p. (Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft; vol. 32).

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

  15. Published

    Digitale Kontaktnachverfolgung bei Infektionskrankheiten: Projektstudie ZIL-Kontakt

    Drews, P., Funk, B., Heger, J., Lehr, D., Zimmer, M. P. & Lemmer, K., 22.08.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 25 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsTransfer

  16. Published

    Promoting neighbourhood sharing: infrastructures of convenience and community

    Huber, A., Heinrichs, H. & Jäger-Erben, M., 22.08.2024, In: Buildings and Cities. 5, 1, p. 349-367 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  17. Published

    Zeit als Ressource im Recht

    Bertram, A., 20.08.2024, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. 362 p. (Fundamenta Juridica; vol. 80)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  18. Published

    LFB-Labs-digital: Schülerlabore als Ort der Lehrkräftefortbildung in der digitalen Welt: Ein Bericht zur Konzeption eines Verbundprojektes

    Kirchhoff, T., Schwedler, S., Abels, S., Acher, A., Anselmetti, D., Besa, K.-S., Biehl, J., Blumberg, E., Breiter, A., Brückmann, M., Büntemeyer, D., Tegani, M. E., Engelhardt, A., Grotjohann, N., Kiel, C., Kleine, M., Koerber, R., Lambrecht, M., Lehmenkühler, A., Meyer, D., Mußhoff, A., Panhorst, M., Peperkorn, C., Röllke, K., Roth, J., Schäfers, M. S., Schüler, H., Stinken-Rösner, L., Strauß, S., Stricker, J., Temmen, K., Tönsing, K., Verständig, D., Wegner, C., Wellensiek, N., Wenzel, A., Wördemann, D., Ziegler, M., Heinrich, M. & Wilde, M., 19.08.2024, In: PFLB - Zeitschrift für Schul- und Professionsentwicklung. 6, 1, p. 130-155 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  19. Published

    Safe-and-sustainable-by-design roadmap: identifying research, competencies, and knowledge sharing needs

    Apel, C., Sudheshwar, A., Kümmerer, K., Nowack, B., Midander, K., Strömberg, E. & Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., 19.08.2024, In: RSC Sustainability. 2, 10, p. 2833-2838 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Cradle-to-cradle business model tool: Innovating circular business models for startups

    Hoang, K. M. & Böckel, A., 15.08.2024, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 467, 13 p., 142949.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    What explains the performance of participatory governance?

    Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 09.08.2024, Pathways to Positive Public Administration: An International Perspective. Lucas, P., Nabatchi, T., O'Flynn, J. & Hart, P. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 165-186 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review