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. 2025
  2. E-pub ahead of print

    Context-based science education to promote diversity-equity-inclusion – a systematic literature review on the understanding of context in science education

    Hüfner, S. K., Weirauch, K., List, F., Menthe, J. & Abels, S., 08.10.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Studies in Science Education. 41 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Enhancing professional development in digital STEM education: cross-disciplinary success factors and barriers

    Lüsse, M., Sowinski, R., Stamer, L.-M., Abels, S. & Brückmann, M., 08.10.2025, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 2025, 16, 18 p., 16:1653606.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. E-pub ahead of print

    Driesch und Uexküll

    Schmieg, G., 03.2026, Plessner Handbuch: Leben – Werk – Wirkung. Fischer, J. (ed.). J.B. Metzler, 6 p. Kap.II.8

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  5. Published

    Exploring biocultural diversity: A systematic analysis and refined classification to inform decisions on conservation and sustainability

    Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Hanspach, J., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Lagies, A. S. & Castro, A. J., 10.2025, In: Ambio. 54, 10, p. 1581-1597 17 p., e517.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Inconsistent short-term effects of enhanced structural complexity on soil microbial properties across German forests

    Schwarz, R., Eisenhauer, N., Ammer, C., Bradler, P. M., Decker, O., Delory, B. M., Dietrich, P., Fichtner, A., Huang, Y., Lettenmaier, L., Junginger, M., Mitesser, O., Müller, J., von Oheimb, G., Pierick, K., Scherer-Lorenzen, M. & Cesarz, S., 10.2025, In: Applied Soil Ecology. 214, 13 p., 106335.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Uncovering decolonial pedagogies for learning agroecological transitions: comparative analysis of South America cases

    Bonatti, M., Reynaldo, R. G., Martín-López, B., Bolivar, S., Cordero-Fernández, M., Miguel, G. C., Martin, A., Hämmerle, J., Schröter, B., Erismann, C., da Silva Rosa, T., Hellin, J., Schlindwein, I., Osorio, Á. A., Medina, L., Baldivieso, C., Eufemia, L., Jacobi, J., Lobo Guerrero, A. M. & Sieber, S., 10.2025, In: Global Environmental Change. 94, 15 p., 103042.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. E-pub ahead of print

    Older people care increases the gender gap in academia

    Vidal-Abarca, M. R., Martín-López, B., Sala-Bubaré, A., Anton-Pardo, M., Catalan, N., Freixa, A., Lupon, A., Nicolás-Ruiz, N., Poblador, S., Rodríguez-Lozano, P., Sánchez-Montoya, M. D. M. & Suárez, M. L., 12.2025, In: Scientific Reports. 15, 1, 10 p., 33336.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Expert Consensus Messaging as a Lever Against Vaccination Misinformation

    Kause, A. & Schmid, P., 24.09.2025, In: Collabra: Psychology. 11, 1, 16 p., 143778.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. E-pub ahead of print

    Don’t let generative AI shape how we see chemistry

    Moores, A. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 16.09.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Nature Reviews Chemistry. 9, p. 649-650 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  11. Published

    Effects of Warming, Nitrogen and Grazing on Plant Functional Traits Differ Between Alpine and Sub-Alpine Grasslands

    Halbritter, A. H., Atkinson, J., Maré, C., Ahler, S. J., Andersen, E. A. S., Bradler, P. M., Correia, M., Elsy, A., Eshelman, S. E., Geange, S. R., Hayden, M., Mauki, D., Eckberg, J., Erkelenz, J., Guclu, C., Löwenstein, C. E., Maitner, B. S., Baumane, M., Dawson, H. R., Enquist, B., Garen, J. C., Holle, M. J. M., Labella, J. C., Lepley, K., Michaletz, S. T., Olivier, B., Ray, C. A., von Oppen, J., Telford, R. J. & Vandvik, V., 01.09.2025, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 36, 5, 15 p., e70061.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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