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. 2016
  2. Published

    UV-photodegradation of desipramine: Impact of concentration, pH and temperature on formation of products including their biodegradability and toxicity

    Khaleel, N. D. H., Mahmoud, W. M. M., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.10.2016, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 566-567, p. 826-840 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Feuer kann man nicht nur sehen: Kinder erforschen Verbrennungsprozesse

    Bolek, R., 10.2016, In: Grundschule Sachunterricht. 72, p. 10-16 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  4. Published

    The long-term effects of wall attached microalgal biofilm on algae-based wastewater treatment

    Su, Y., Mennerich, A. & Urban, B., 10.2016, In: Bioresource Technology. 218, p. 1249-1252 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bioconversion of agri-food residues into lactic acid

    Venus, J. & Pleißner, D., 29.09.2016, The 15th International Symposium Prospects for me: Book of Abstracts. Vondnar, D. C. (ed.). Cluj-Napoca, Rumänien: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, p. 125 1 p. (University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca; no. 3/2016).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    A social–ecological perspective on harmonizing food security and biodiversity conservation

    Wittman, H., Chappell, M. J., Abson, D. J., Kerr, R. B., Blesh, J., Hanspach, J., Perfecto, I. & Fischer, J., 26.09.2016, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1291-1301 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Telomere length and environmental conditions predict stress levels but not parental investment in a long-lived seabird

    Young, R. C., Barger, C. P., Dorresteijn, I., Haussmann, M. F. & Kitaysky, A. S., 08.09.2016, In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. 556, p. 251-259 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    General strategies to increase the repeatability in non-target screening by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

    Bader, T., Schulz, W., Kümmerer, K. & Winzenbacher, R., 07.09.2016, In: Analytica Chimica Acta. 935, p. 173-186 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    A Global Synthesis of Jatropha Cultivation: Insights into Land Use Change and Management Practices

    Walmsley, D. C., Bailis, R. & Klein, A.-M., 06.09.2016, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 17, p. 8993-9002 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Two types of ‘enough’: sufficiency as minimum and maximum

    Spengler, L., 02.09.2016, In: Environmental Politics. 25, 5, p. 921-940 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    A comparison of feasible methods for microalgal biomass determinations during tertiary wastewater treatment

    Su, Y., Mennerich, A. & Urban, B., 01.09.2016, In: Ecological Engineering. 94, p. 532-536 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    An applied methodology for stakeholder identification in transdisciplinary research

    Leventon, J., Fleskens, L., Claringbould, H., Schwilch, G. & Hessel, R., 01.09.2016, In: Sustainability Science. 11, 5, p. 763-775 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Business Models for Sustainability: A Co-Evolutionary Analysis of Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Transformation

    Schaltegger, S., Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Hansen, E. G., 01.09.2016, In: Organization & Environment. 29, 3, p. 264-289 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Effect of a Web-Based Guided Self-Help Intervention for Prevention of Major Depression in Adults with Subthreshold Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial

    Buntrock, C., Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Smit, F., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Cuijpers, P., 01.09.2016, In: Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 71, 9, p. 526-527 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Endogenous environmental policy for small open economies with transboundary pollution

    Fünfgelt, J. & Schulze, G. G., 01.09.2016, In: Economic Modelling. 57, p. 294-310 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Introduction to the Assessment - Characteristics of the Region

    Quante, M., Colijn, F., Bakker, J. P., Härdtle, W., Heinrich, H., Lefebvre, C., Nöhren, I., Olesen, J. E., Pohlmann, T., Sterr, H., Sündermann, J. & Tölle, M. H., 01.09.2016, North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment. Quante, M. & Colijn, F. (eds.). 1. ed. Cham: Springer, p. 1-52 52 p. (Regional Climate Studies).

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

  17. Published

    Possible underestimations of risks for the environment due to unregulated emissions of biocides from households to wastewater

    Wieck, S., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.09.2016, In: Environmental international. 94, p. 695-705 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Utilizing international networks for accelerating research and learning in transformational sustainability science

    Keeler, L. W., Wiek, A., Lang, D. J., Yokohari, M., van Breda, J., Olsson, L., Ness, B., Morato, J., Segalas, J., Martens, P., Bojorquez-Tapia, L. A. & Evans, J., 01.09.2016, In: Sustainability Science. 11, 5, p. 749-762 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Internet- and mobile-based stress management for employees with adherence-focused guidance: Efficacy and mechanism of change

    Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Heber, E., Riper, H., Cuijpers, P. & Berking, M., 09.2016, In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. 42, 5, p. 382-394 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Reliability and Validity of Assessing User Satisfaction With Web-Based Health Interventions

    Boss, L., Lehr, D., Reis, D., Vis, C., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Ebert, D. D., 31.08.2016, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 18, 8, 13 p., e234.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Exploring the potential role of priority effects for ecological restoration

    Temperton, V. M., Nelson, C. & Weidlich, E. W. A., 25.08.2016, 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER Europe): The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, abstract volume. Kollmann, J. & Hermann, J.-M. (eds.). Technische Universität München, p. 108 1 p.

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