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

    Priority effects influence plant traits and biomass in a grassland field experiment

    Weidlich, E. W. A. & Temperton, V. M., 25.08.2016, Best practice in restoration: The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration Abstract Volume, August 22–26, 2016, Freising, Germany. Technische Universität München, p. 259 1 p.

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

  3. Published

    Kritik als unabdingbare gesellschaftlich Dienstleistung. Der Beitrag feministischer Theorie und Praxis zur Nachhaltigkeitsforschung

    Gottschlich, D. & Katz, C., 22.08.2016, Nachhaltigkeit . Jähnichen, T., Meireis, T., Rehm, J., Reihs, S. & Reuter, H.-R. (eds.). Gütersloh: Gütersloher Verlagshaus, p. 162-182 20 p. (Jahrbuch Sozialer Protestantismus; vol. 9).

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

  4. Published

    Sustainability assessments designed for multiple functions: five cases about water resources, nanotechnologies and communities

    Wiek, A., Kuzdas, C., Foley, R., Withycombe Keeler, L., Forrest, N. & Kay, B., 12.08.2016, Sustainability Assessment: Applications and Opportunities. Gibson, R. B. (ed.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 127-145 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Model of mobility demands for future short distance public transport systems

    Sandau, A., Marx Gómez, J., Stamer, D., Wagner vom Berg, B. & Halberstadt, J., 07.08.2016, Conf-IRM 2016 Proceedings. AIS eLibrary, 13 p.

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

  6. Published

    Proof of concept: Enterprise Crowdfunding

    Marx Gómez, J., Sandau, A., Sevimli, K., Schmitt, C. & Halberstadt, J., 07.08.2016, Conf-IRM 2016 Proceedings. AIS eLibrary, 6 p.

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

  7. Published

    A novel bioenergy feedstock in Latin America? Cultivation potential of Acrocomia aculeata under current and future climate conditions

    Plath, M., Moser, C., Bailis, R., Brandt, P., Hirsch, H., Klein, A. M., Walmsley, D. & von Wehrden, H., 01.08.2016, In: Biomass and Bioenergy. 91, p. 186-195 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Antineoplastic compounds in the environment: Substances of special concern

    Kümmerer, K., Haiß, A., Schuster, A., Hein, A. & Ebert, I., 01.08.2016, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 23, 15, p. 14791–14804 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Characterizing social-ecological units to inform biodiversity conservation in cultural landscapes

    Hanspach, J., Loos, J., Dorresteijn, I., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 01.08.2016, In: Diversity and Distributions. 22, 8, p. 853-864 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Disaggregated contributions of ecosystem services to human well-being: a case study from Eastern Europe

    Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Leventon, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 01.08.2016, In: Regional Environmental Change. 16, 6, p. 1779-1791 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Effects of land use on taxonomic and functional diversity: a cross-taxon analysis in a Mediterranean landscape

    Hevia, V., Carmona, C. P., Azcárate, F. M., Torralba, M., Alcorlo, P., Ariño, R., Lozano, J., Castro-Cobo, S. & González, J. A., 01.08.2016, In: Oecologia. 181, 4, p. 959-970 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    "Occupational eMental Health" in der Lehrergesundheit: Ein metaanalytisches Review zur Wirksamkeit von Online-Gesundheitstrainings bei Lehrkräften

    Lehr, D., Heber, E., Sieland, B., Hillert, A., Funk, B. & Ebert, D. D., 01.08.2016, In: Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung. 11, 3, p. 182-192 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  13. Published

    Operationalizing ecosystem services for the mitigation of soil threats: A proposed framework

    Schwilch, G., Bernet, L., Fleskens, L., Giannakis, E., Leventon, J., Marañón, T., Mills, J., Short, C., Stolte, J., Van Delden, H. & Verzandvoort, S., 01.08.2016, In: Ecological Indicators. 67, p. 586-597 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Nachhaltiger Konsum als Bildungsherausforderung: Perspektiven für die Gestaltung von Schule und Unterricht

    Fischer, D., 08.2016, In: Politik unterrichten. 31, 1, p. 37-46 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  15. Published

    Nitrogen Addition Enhances Drought Sensitivity of Young Deciduous Tree Species

    Dziedek, C., Härdtle, W., von Oheimb, G. & Fichtner, A., 22.07.2016, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 7, 7, 12 p., 1100.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Crying wolf: Limitations of predator–prey studies need not preclude their salient messages

    Ritchie, E. G., Schultner, J., Nimmo, D. G., Fischer, J., Hanspach, J., Kuemmerle, T., Kehoe, L. & Dorresteijn, I., 13.07.2016, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 283, 1834, 1 p., 20161244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    The role of gestures in a teacher-student-discourse about atoms

    Abels, S. J., 06.07.2016, In: Chemistry education Research and Practice. 17, 3, p. 618-628 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Distribution of Organophosphate Esters between the Gas and Particle Phase-Model Predictions vs Measured Data

    Sühring, R., Wolschke, H., Diamond, M. L., Jantunen, L. M. & Scheringer, M., 05.07.2016, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 13, p. 6644-6651 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Participatory Scenario Planning: From Scenario ‘Stakeholders’ to Scenario ‘Owners’

    Freeth, R. & Drimie, S., 03.07.2016, In: Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development. 58, 4, p. 32-43 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    The coexistence of amenity and biodiversity in urban landscapes

    Ives, C. D. & Kelly, A. H., 03.07.2016, In: Landscape Research. 41, 5, p. 495-509 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    A poor international standard for trap selectivity threatens carnivore conservation

    Virgós, E., Lozano Mendoza, J., Cabezas-Díaz, S., Macdonald, D. W., Zalewski, A., Atienza, J. C., Proulx, G., Ripple, W. J., Rosalino, L. M., Santos-Reis, M., Johnson, P. J., Malo, A. F. & Baker, S. E., 01.07.2016, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 25, 8, p. 1409-1419 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch