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

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. Published

    The relevance of cultural aspects in cross cultural management in multinational companies

    Ferraris, A., Longo, M. & Warsitzka, M., 01.05.2016, Managing Globalization: New Business Models, Strategies and Innovation. Vrontis, D., Bresciani, S. & Rossi, M. (eds.). Cambridge Scholars Publishing, p. 50-76 27 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  13. Published

    Direct negative density-dependence in a pond-breeding frog population

    Băncilă, R. I., Ozgul, A., Hartel, T., Sos, T. & Schmidt, B. R., 05.2016, In: Ecography. 39, 5, p. 449-455 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Herausforderungen des kulturellen Wandels in Richtung Nachhaltigkeit

    Heinrichs, H., 05.2016, Umweltpolitik für die Transformation fit machen: Neue Grundkonfigurationen für eine angewandte Umweltpolitik. Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, p. 7-9 3 p. (Für Mensch & Umwelt).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  15. Published

    Root-emitted volatile organic compounds: can they mediate belowground plant-plant interactions?

    Delory, B. M., Delaplace, P., Fauconnier, M. L. & du Jardin, P., 05.2016, In: Plant and Soil. 402, 1-2, p. 1-26 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  16. Published

    Unfamiliar fuel: How the UK public views the infrastructure required to supply hydrogen for road transport

    Bellaby, P., Upham, P., Flynn, R. & Ricci, M., 27.04.2016, In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 41, 15, p. 6534-6543 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Transforming European Water Governance? Participation and River Basin Management under the EU Water Framework Directive in 13 Member States

    Jager, N. W., Challies, E., Kochskämper, E., Newig, J., Benson, D., Blackstock, K., Collins, K., Ernst, A., Evers, M., Feichtinger, J., Fritsch, O., Gooch, G., Grund, W., Hedelin, B., Hernández-Mora, N., Frank, H., Huitema, D., Irvine, K., Klinke, A., Lange, L., Loupsans, D., Lubell, M., Maganda, C., Matczak, P., Parés, M., Saarikoski, H., Slavíková, L., van der Arend, S. & von Korff, Y., 19.04.2016, In: Water. 8, 4, 22 p., 156.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Systematic student-driven literature reviews in sustainability science: An effective way to merge research and teaching

    Abson, D. J., Gralla, F., Lang, D. J., Rau, A. L., von Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C. & Meyer, M., 15.04.2016, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 119, p. 229-235 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    What determines PCB concentrations in soils in rural and urban areas? Insights from a multi-media fate model for Switzerland as a case study

    Glüge, J., Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 15.04.2016, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 550, p. 1152-1162 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Incremental contribution of pollination and other ecosystem services to agricultural productivity: Effects of service quantity and quality

    Garibaldi, L. A., Aizen, M. A., Cunningham, S. A., Harder, L. D. & Klein, A. M., 14.04.2016, Pollination Services to Agriculture : Sustaining and Enhancing a Key Ecosystem Service. Gemmill-Herren, B. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 33-42 10 p.

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

  21. Published

    Water quantity and quality in the Zerafshan River basin: Only an upstream riparian problem?

    Olsson, O., Wegerich, K. & Kabilov, F., 08.04.2016, Water and Security in Central Asia: Solving a Rubik's Cube. Stucki, V., Wegerich, K., Rahaman, M. M. & Varis, O. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 99-111 13 p.

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