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. 2024
  2. Published

    LFB-Labs-digital: Schülerlabore als Ort der Lehrkräftefortbildung in der digitalen Welt: Ein Bericht zur Konzeption eines Verbundprojektes

    Kirchhoff, T., Schwedler, S., Abels, S., Acher, A., Anselmetti, D., Besa, K.-S., Biehl, J., Blumberg, E., Breiter, A., Brückmann, M., Büntemeyer, D., Tegani, M. E., Engelhardt, A., Grotjohann, N., Kiel, C., Kleine, M., Koerber, R., Lambrecht, M., Lehmenkühler, A., Meyer, D., Mußhoff, A., Panhorst, M., Peperkorn, C., Röllke, K., Roth, J., Schäfers, M. S., Schüler, H., Stinken-Rösner, L., Strauß, S., Stricker, J., Temmen, K., Tönsing, K., Verständig, D., Wegner, C., Wellensiek, N., Wenzel, A., Wördemann, D., Ziegler, M., Heinrich, M. & Wilde, M., 19.08.2024, In: PFLB - Zeitschrift für Schul- und Professionsentwicklung. 6, 1, p. 130-155 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  3. Published

    Safe-and-sustainable-by-design roadmap: identifying research, competencies, and knowledge sharing needs

    Apel, C., Sudheshwar, A., Kümmerer, K., Nowack, B., Midander, K., Strömberg, E. & Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., 19.08.2024, In: RSC Sustainability. 2, 10, p. 2833-2838 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    Cradle-to-cradle business model tool: Innovating circular business models for startups

    Hoang, K. M. & Böckel, A., 15.08.2024, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 467, 13 p., 142949.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    What explains the performance of participatory governance?

    Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 09.08.2024, Pathways to Positive Public Administration: An International Perspective. Lucas, P., Nabatchi, T., O'Flynn, J. & Hart, P. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 165-186 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Disentangling associations of human wellbeing with green infrastructure, degree of urbanity, and social factors around an Asian megacity

    Thapa, P., Torralba, M., Nölke, N., Chowdhury, K., Nagendra, H. & Plieninger, T., 08.08.2024, In: Landscape Ecology. 39, 8, 20 p., 152.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Dating the Neanderthal environment: Detailed luminescence chronology of a palaeochannel sediment core at the Palaeolithic site of Lichtenberg in the Lower Saxony, northern Germany

    Rahimzadeh, N., Hein, M., Urban, B., Weiss, M., Tanner, D. C., Khosravichenar, A., Tsukamoto, S. & Lauer, T., 01.08.2024, In: Quaternary Geochronology. 83, 10 p., 101564.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Enhancing the transformative potential of interventions for the sustainable use of natural resources

    Loos, J., Cortés-Capano, G., Riechers, M., Walsh, C. & Leventon, J., 01.08.2024, In: Biological Conservation. 296, 10 p., 110691.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Expanding the pie or spoiling the cake? How the number of negotiation issues affects integrative bargaining

    Warsitzka, M., Zhang, H., Beersma, B., Freund, P. A. & Trötschel, R., 01.08.2024, In: Journal of Applied Psychology. 109, 8, p. 1224-1249 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral strategies for psychological detachment: Comparing effectiveness and mechanisms of change

    Reis, D., Hart, A., Krautter, K., Prestele, E., Lehr, D. & Friese, M., 01.08.2024, In: Journal of Occupational Health Psychology. 29, 4, p. 258-279 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Provisions for nullification of conservation and management measures in RFMO objection procedures

    Schatz, V., 01.08.2024, In: Marine Policy. 166, 10 p., 106230.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review