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

    Combustion at the late Early Pleistocene site of Cueva Negra del Estrecho del Río Quípar (Murcia, Spain)

    Walker, M. J., Anesin, D., Angelucci, D. E., Avilés-Fernández, A., Berna, F., Buitrago-López, A. T., Fernández-Jalvo, Y., Haber-Uriarte, M., López-Jiménez, A., López-Martínez, M., Martín-Lerma, I., Ortega-Rodrigáñez, J., Polo-Camacho, J. L., Rhodes, S. E., Richter, D., Rodríguez-Estrella, T., Schwenninger, J. L. & Skinner, A. R., 01.06.2016, In: Antiquity. 90, 351, p. 571-589 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Diversity and specificity of host-natural enemy interactions in an urban-rural interface

    Pereira-Peixoto, M. H., Pufal, G., Staab, M., Feitosa Martins, C. & Klein, A. M., 01.06.2016, In: Ecological Entomology. 41, 3, p. 241-252 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Exploring the Capacity of Water Framework Directive Indices to Assess Ecosystem Services in Fluvial and Riparian Systems: Towards a Second Implementation Phase

    Vidal-Abarca, M. R., Santos-Martín, F., Martín-López, B., Sánchez-Montoya, M. M. & Suárez Alonso, M. L., 01.06.2016, In: Environmental Management. 57, 6, p. 1139-1152 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    IEA SHC Task 42 / ECES Annex 29 WG A1: Engineering and Processing of PCMs, TCMs and Sorption Materials

    Ristić, A., Furbo, S., Moser, C., Schranzhofer, H., Lazaro, A., Delgado, M., Peñalosa, C., Zalewski, L., Diarce, G., Alkan, C., Gunasekara, S. N., Haussmann, T., Gschwander, S., Rathgeber, C., Schmit, H., Barreneche, C., Cabeza, L., Ferrer, G., Konuklu, Y., Paksoy, H., Rammelberg, H., Munz, G., Herzog, T., Jänchen, J. & Barrio, E. P. D., 01.06.2016, In: Energy Procedia. 91, p. 207-217 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Reaction of Calcium Chloride and Magnesium Chloride and their Mixed Salts with Ethanol for Thermal Energy Storage

    Korhammer, K., Apel, C., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W. K. L., 01.06.2016, In: Energy Procedia. 91, p. 161-171 11 p., 125043.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Response of saproxylic beetles to small-scale habitat connectivity depends on trophic levels

    Buse, J., Entling, M. H., Ranius, T. & Assmann, T., 01.06.2016, In: Landscape Ecology. 31, 5, p. 939-949 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Rule-based analysis of throughfall kinetic energy to evaluate biotic and abiotic factor thresholds to mitigate erosive power

    Goebes, P., Schmidt, K., Härdtle, W., Seitz, S., Stumpf, F., von Oheimb, G. & Scholten, T., 01.06.2016, In: Progress in Physical Geography. 40, 3, p. 431-449 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Taming a Wicked Problem: Resolving Controversies in Biodiversity Offsetting

    Maron, M., Ives, C. D., Kujala, H., Bull, J. W., Maseyk, F. J. F., Bekessy, S., Gordon, A., Watson, J. E. M., Lentini, P. E., Gibbons, P., Possingham, H. P., Hobbs, R. J., Keith, D. A., Wintle, B. A. & Evans, M. C., 01.06.2016, In: BioScience. 66, 6, p. 489-498 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Environmental fate and effect assessment of thioridazine and its transformation products formed by photodegradation

    Wilde, M. L., Menz, J., Trautwein, C., Leder, C. & Kümmerer, K., 06.2016, In: Environmental Pollution. 213, p. 658-670 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Freiheit als Wert? Neue Beobachtungen zu einer alten Debatte

    Oermann, N. O., 06.2016, In: Orientierungen zur Wirtschafts- und Gesellschaftspolitik. 143, p. 18-25 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesEducationpeer-review

  12. Published

    Renewable Energy: support mechanisms

    Schomerus, T., 06.2016, Climate Change Law. Farber, D. & Peeters, M. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 465-475 11 p. (Elgar Encyclopedia of Environmental Law series; no. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaTransfer

  13. Published

    Thermal synthesis of a thermochemical heat storage with heat exchanger optimization

    Fopah Lele, A., Kuznik, F., Osterland, T. & Ruck, W., 25.05.2016, In: Applied Thermal Engineering. 101, p. 669-677 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Importance of actors and agency in sustainability transitions: A systematic exploration of the literature

    Fischer, L. B. & Newig, J., 13.05.2016, In: Sustainability. 8, 5, 21 p., 476.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  15. Published

    Are the Rural Electrification Efforts in the Ecuadorian Amazon Sustainable?

    Feron, S., Heinrichs, H. & Cordero, R., 05.05.2016, In: Sustainability. 8, 5, p. 1-22 22 p., 443.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Self-guided internet-based and mobile-based stress management for employees: results of a randomised controlled trial

    Ebert, D. D., Heber, E., Berking, M., Riper, H., Cuijpers, P., Funk, B. & Lehr, D., 05.05.2016, In: Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 73, 5, p. 315-323 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. 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., 03.05.2016, In: JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association. 315, 17, p. 1854-1863 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Efficacy of an internet-based self-help intervention to reduce co-occurring alcohol misuse and depression symptoms in adults: Study protocol of a three-arm randomised controlled trial

    Schaub, M. P., Blankers, M., Lehr, D., Boss, L., Riper, H., Dekker, J., Goudriaan, A. E., Maier, L. J., Haug, S., Amann, M., Dey, M., Wenger, A. & Ebert, D. D., 01.05.2016, In: BMJ Open. 6, 5, 13 p., e011457.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Habitat management on multiple spatial scales can enhance bee pollination and crop yield in tropical homegardens

    Motzke, I., Klein, A. M., Saleh, S., Tscharntke, T. & Wanger, T. C., 01.05.2016, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 223, p. 144-151 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Social factors mediating human–carnivore coexistence: Understanding thematic strands influencing coexistence in Central Romania

    Dorresteijn, I., Milcu, A. I., Leventon, J., Hanspach, J. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 4, p. 490-500 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Soil and tree species traits both shape soil microbial communities during early growth of Chinese subtropical forests

    Pei, Z., Eichenberg, D., Bruelheide, H., Kröber, W., Kühn, P., Li, Y., von Oheimb, G., Purschke, O., Scholten, T., Buscot, F. & Gutknecht, J. L. M., 01.05.2016, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 96, p. 180-190 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review