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

    Cities are hotspots for threatened species

    Ives, C. D., Lentini, P. E., Threlfall, C. G., Ikin, K., Shanahan, D. F., Garrard, G. E., Bekessy, S. A., Fuller, R. A., Mumaw, L., Rayner, L., Rowe, R., Valentine, L. E. & Kendal, D., 01.01.2016, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 25, 1, p. 117-126 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Climate Conflicts: A case of international environmental and humanitarian law

    Christiansen, S. M., 01.01.2016, 1 ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing. 245 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Decentralized utilization of wasted organic material in urban areas: A case study in Hong Kong

    Pleissner, D., 01.01.2016, In: Ecological Engineering. 86, p. 120-125 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Decision Support Through Carbon Management Accounting - A Framework-Based Literature Review

    Zvezdov, D. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2016, Corporate Carbon and Climate Accounting. Schaltegger, S., Zvezdov, D., Alvarez Etxeberria, I. & Günther, E. (eds.). Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 27-44 18 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Degradation of cyclophosphamide and 5-fluorouracil by UV and simulated sunlight treatments: Assessment of the enhancement of the biodegradability and toxicity

    Lutterbeck, C. A., Wilde, M. L., Baginska, E., Leder, C., Machado, Ê. L. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Pollution. 208, Part B, p. 467-476 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Disentangling trade-offs and synergies around ecosystem services with the influence network framework: Illustration from a consultative process over the French Alps

    Crouzat, E., Martín-López, B., Turkelboom, F. & Lavorel, S., 01.01.2016, In: Ecology and Society. 21, 2, 18 p., 32.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Ecosystem services values in Spain: A meta-analysis

    Quintas-Soriano, C., Martín-López, B., Santos-Martín, F., Loureiro, M., Montes, C., Benayas, J. & García-Llorente, M., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 55, p. 186-195 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    How does the context and design of participatory decision making processes affect their outcomes? Evidence from sustainable land management in global drylands

    de Vente, J., Reed, M. S., Stringer, L. C., Valente, S. & Newig, J., 01.01.2016, In: Ecology and Society. 21, 2, 24 p., 24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Marginal Calluna populations are more resistant to climate change, but not under high-nitrogen loads

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Belz, K., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.01.2016, In: Plant Ecology. 217, 1, p. 111-122 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Occupational e-Mental Health: Current Approaches and Promising Perspectives for Promoting Mental Health in Workers

    Lehr, D., Geraedts, A., Persson Asplund, R., Khadjesari, Z., Heber, E., de Bloom, J., Ebert, D. D., Angerer, P. & Funk, B., 01.01.2016, Healthy at Work: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Wiencke, M., Cacace, M. & Fischer, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 257-281 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  13. Published

    Participatory and collaborative governance for sustainable flood risk management: An emerging research agenda

    Challies, E., Newig, J., Thaler, T., Kochskämper, E. & Levin-Keitel, M., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 55, 2, p. 275-280 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Social Bots as algorithmic pirates and messengers of techno-environmental agency

    Leistert, O., 01.01.2016, Algorithmic Cultures: Essays on Meaning, Performance and New Technologies. Seyferth, R. & Roberge, J. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 158 - 172 15 p. (Routledge advances in sociology; vol. 189).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  15. Published

    The role of scenarios in fostering collective action for sustainable development: Lessons from central Romania

    Nieto-Romero, M., Milcu, A., Leventon, J., Mikulcak, F. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2016, In: Land Use Policy. 50, p. 156-168 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard: A Systematic Review of Architectures

    Hansen, E. G. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 133, 2, p. 193-221 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    The value of time in biological conservation and supplied ecosystem services: A willingness to give up time exercise

    García-Llorente, M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C., López, I., Castro, H., Montes, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 124, p. 13-21 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Using gender theories to analyse nature resource management

    Katz, C., 01.01.2016, Contemporary Perspectives on Ecofeminism. Phillips, M. & Rumens, N. (eds.). Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 193-209 17 p. (Routledge explorations in environmental studies).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  19. Published

    archiDART: an R package for the automated computation of plant root architectural traits

    Delory, B. M., Baudson, C., Brostaux, Y., Lobet, G., du Jardin, P., Pagès, L. & Delaplace, P., 01.2016, In: Plant and Soil. 398, 1-2, p. 351-365 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Sustainability: Politics and Governance

    Heinrichs, H. & Biermann, F., 01.2016, Sustainability Science: An introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 129-137 9 p.

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

  21. Published

    Sustainability Science: An Introduction

    Heinrichs, H. (Editor), Martens, W. J. M. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Wiek, A. (Editor), 01.2016, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. 367 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesEducation