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. Published

    Feasibility of online group stress management training compared to web-based individual training for employees—a randomized pilot study

    Boß, L., Hannibal, S. & Lehr, D., 24.04.2025, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 16, 12 p., 1524285.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. E-pub ahead of print

    The Impact of Sample Size on Reliability Metrics Stability in Isokinetic Strength Assessments: Does Size Matter?

    Warneke, K., Keiner, M., Wallot, S., Siegel, S. D., Günther, C., Wirth, K. & Puschkasch-Möck, S., 23.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. E-pub ahead of print

    Nonsterile Lactic Acid Production from Pulse Husks

    Krenz, L. M. M. & Pleissner, D., 22.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Waste and Biomass Valorization. 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. E-pub ahead of print

    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., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p., e517.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. E-pub ahead of print

    Management Responses to Climate Change: An Analysis of Scholarly Recommendations

    Imbrogiano, J. P., Schaltegger, S. & Boiral, O., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainable Development. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Assessing the Cultural Fit of a Digital Sleep Intervention for Refugees in Germany: Qualitative Study

    Blomenkamp, M., Kiesel, A., Baumeister, H., Lehr, D., Unterrainer, J., Sander, L. B. & Spanhel, K., 03.04.2025, In: JMIR Formative Research. 9, 15 p., e65412.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation

    Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Diversity on a small scale: phylogeography of the locally endemic dwarf succulent genus Oophytum (Aizoaceae) in the Knersvlakte of South Africa

    Schmidt, S. A., Schmiedel, U., Carstens, F., Rau, A.-L. & Rudolph-Bartsch, B., 01.04.2025, In: Annals of Botany. 135, 4, p. 735-756 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Green chemistry and sustainable chemistry related to water challenges: Solutions and prospects in a changing climate

    Mahjoub, B., Fersi, C., Bouteffeha, M. & Kümmerer, K., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 52, 11 p., 101000.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published
  12. Published

    Characterising landscape homogenisation: a qualitative approach based on five case studies

    Cortés-Capano, G., Shumi, G., Raatikainen, K. J., Mahdavi-Nezhad, Z. & Loos, J., 04.2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 13 p., 2485282.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Exploring Management Control Systems for Biodiversity: Insights from Three Food Companies

    Hübel, C. & Wenzig, J., 04.2025, In: Social and Environmental Accountability Journal. 45, 1, p. 42-72 31 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Gene flow across large distances in the cavity-nesting wasp Deuteragenia subintermedia in a central European forest

    Ruppert, L. S., Staab, M., Rappa, N. J., Frey, J. & Segelbacher, G., 04.2025, In: Ecology and Evolution. 15, 4, 11 p., e71294.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Horizontal portability: A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy

    Himes, A., Muraca, B., Allen, K., Chapman, M., Coelho-Junior, M. G., Cundill, G., Gould, R. K., Herrmann, T. M., Kenter, J. O., Nakachi, A. A., Nemogá, G. R., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Rono, B., Saito, T., Tadaki, M. & Bonn, A., 04.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 4, p. 752-764 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  16. Published

    How to promote spider diversity of heathlands: impact of management intensity

    Matevski, D., Temperton, V. M., Walmsley, D., Haerdtle, W., Daniels, J. & Boutaud, E., 04.2025, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 34, p. 1057-1070 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Nutrition-induced changes in the microbiota can cause dysbiosis and disease development

    Lachnit, T., Ulrich, L., Willmer, F. M., Hasenbein, T., Steiner, L. X., Wolters, M., Herbst, E. M. & Deines, P., 04.2025, In: mBio. 16, 4, 18 p., e03843-24.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Policy as normative influence? On the relationship between parental leave policy and social norms in gender division of childcare across 48 countries

    Author Collaboration für "Policy as normative influence?", Schindler, S., Schuster, C., Olsson, M. I. T., Froehlich, L. & Hübner, A. K., 04.2025, In: British Journal of Social Psychology. 64, 2, 24 p., e12806.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals: a scrutiny of urban strategies in the 100 Resilient Cities initiative

    Kochskämper, E., Glass, L.-M., Haupt, W., Malekpour, S. & Grainger-Brown, J., 04.2025, In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 68, 7, p. 1691-1717 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    When Testing Becomes Learning—Underscoring the Relevance of Habituation to Improve Internal Validity of Common Neurocognitive Tests

    Warneke, K., Oraže, M., Plöschberger, G., Herbsleb, M., Afonso, J. & Wallot, S., 04.2025, In: European Journal of Neuroscience. 61, 8, 14 p., e70117.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Advancing green chemistry performance assessment: the Estée Lauder Companies’ continuing journey towards meaningful transparency

    Thompson, E. C., Anastas, P., Bialk, H., D'Alessandro, D., Hoven, V. P., Kedwards, T. J., Liu, Z., Mudring, A. V., Saito, K., Zuin Zeidler, V. & Daher, G., 31.03.2025, In: Green Chemistry . 27, 18, p. 5015-5026 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Creating curricula for competence: Findings from a comparison of three sustainability graduate programs

    Birdman, J. & Lang, D. J., 29.03.2025, North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education.. Filho, W. L., Newman, J., Salvia, A. L., Trevisan, L. V. & Corazza, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, p. 1173-1188 16 p. (World Sustainability Series; vol. Part F280).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  23. E-pub ahead of print

    Einstieg in die chemische Reaktion – inklusiv und kontextorientiert

    Hüfner, S., Sander, H., Frey, F., List, F., Brodhun, F., Hartmann, A., Schneide, O., Stanze, C. & Abels, S., 11.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ChemKon. 2025, 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  24. Published

    Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change

    Author Collaboration "Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change", Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J., Díaz, S., Rifai, S. W., Corral-Rivas, J. J. & Klipel, J., 07.03.2025, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 387, 6738, eadl5414.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    From the environmental state to the sustainability state? Conceptualization, indicators, and examples

    Rose, M., 03.03.2025, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy. 21, 1, 16 p., 2463188.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published

    Does it occur or not? - A structured approach to support students in determining the spontaneity of chemical reactions

    Hofer, E. & Steininger, R., 01.03.2025, In: Chemistry Teacher International. 7, 1, p. 45-61 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Individual Differences in Infants' Speech Segmentation Performance: The Role of Mother-Infant Cardiac Synchrony

    Vanoncini, M., Kayhan, E., Elsner, B., Wunderwald, M., Wallot, S., Hoehl, S. & Boll-Avetisyan, N., 01.03.2025, In: Infancy. 30, 2, 13 p., e70020.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Is Russian gas still needed in the European Union? Model-based analysis of long-term scenarios

    Barner, L., Holz, F., von Hirschhausen, C. & Kemfert, C., 01.03.2025, In: Energy Strategy Reviews. 58, 10 p., 101646.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Successful Alien Plant Species Exhibit Functional Dissimilarity From Natives Under Varied Climatic Conditions but Not Under Increased Nutrient Availability

    Milanović, M., Bakker, J. D., Biederman, L., Borer, E. T., Catford, J. A., Cleland, E., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S., Komatsu, K., MacDougall, A. S., Römermann, C., Seabloom, E. W., Knapp, S. & Kühn, I., 01.03.2025, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 36, 2, 12 p., e70032.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Sustainable Development: Prioritizing Attributes and Validating Factors for the Success of Green Startups in Brazilian and German Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

    Oliveira, A. Y., Mendes, J. A. J., Zanon, L. G., Gerolamo, M. C. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 01.03.2025, In: Business Strategy and Development. 8, 1, 49 p., e70083.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Temporal variability in native plant composition clouds impact of increasing non-native richness along elevational gradients in Tenerife

    Buhaly, M., Ratier Backes, A., Arévalo, J. R. & Haider, S., 01.03.2025, In: Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 66, 10 p., 125845.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    The complex spatio-temporal dynamics of organic micropollutants in tidal rivers

    Schneider, J. R. L., Kümmerer, K., Logemann, J. & Radke, M., 01.03.2025, In: Chemosphere. 373, 10 p., 144180.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Trade-offs for healthy and sustainable diets in Europe: Social-ecological dynamics in an intensive agricultural system

    Jiménez-Aceituno, A., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Castro, A. J., Cortés-Calderón, S., Collste, D., Aparicio, G., Rölfer, L., Bote, M. A., Marín, L. M. R., Gómez-Tenorio, M. Á. & González-Martín, B., 01.03.2025, In: Global Food Security. 44, 21 p., 100829.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Tree diversity increases forest temperature buffering via enhancing canopy density and structural diversity

    Schnabel, F., Beugnon, R., Yang, B., Richter, R., Eisenhauer, N., Huang, Y., Liu, X., Wirth, C., Cesarz, S., Fichtner, A., Perles-García, M. D., Hähn, G., Härdtle, W., Kunz, M., Castro-Izaguirre, N., Niklaus, P. A., von Oheimb, G., Schmid, B., Trogisch, S., Wendisch, M., Ma, K. & Bruelheide, H., 01.03.2025, In: Ecology Letters. 28, 3, p. 1-11 11 p., e70096.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  35. Published

    Alcohol use and drinking motives across five countries: a post-COVID-19 pandemic update

    Rupprecht, J., Spitzweck, B., Oettingen, G. & Sevincer, A. T., 03.2025, In: American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 51, 1, p. 85-95 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published
  37. Published

    Chagga women´s connections with nature: fostering relationality through arts-based methods

    Pearson, J., Massawe, J. J., Mbaruku, A. P., Mramba, E. I., Mwampamba, T. H. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 21 p., 2459108.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published
  39. Published
  40. Published

    Impact of land transformation, management and governance on subjective wellbeing across social–ecological systems

    Santillán-Carvantes, P., Tauro, A., Balvanera, P., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: Sustainability Science. 20, 2, p. 469-483 15 p., 119369.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Interactive effects of nitrogen deposition and climate change on a globally rare forest geophyte

    Ohse, B., Jansen, D., Härdtle, W. & Fichtner, A., 03.2025, In: Plant Biology. 27, 2, p. 297-309 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  42. Published

    Introducing the MusicLab Copenhagen Dataset

    Høffding, S., Bergstrøm, R. J. F., Bishop, L., Lucas, P., Burnim, K., Cancino-Chacón, C., Clim, A., Good, M., Hansen, N. C., Karlsen, E. S., Kvale, L. H., Laeng, B., Lartillot, O., Lippert, E., Martin, R., Nielsen, N., Omprakash, R., Paulsrud, T. S., Rosas, F., Swarbrick, D., Sørbø, S., Upham, F., Vrasdonk, A., Vuoskoski, J., Wallot, S., Yi, W., Danielsen, A. & Jensenius, A. R., 03.2025, In: Music and Science. 8, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Is ‘waste’ an appropriate concept in a sustainable bioeconomy?

    Halim, R., Iyer, A., Esteves, S. M., Milliken, S., Kalai, K., Pleissner, D., Stephan, L., Chentir, I., Ahmed, O., Nasri, W., Mohamed, S., Birkeland, N. K., Vanderschuren, H., Zainuddin, I. & Mburu, M., 03.2025, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 5, 7 p., 100044.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    More than food production: Assemblages of values underpinning women-led agroecological initiatives

    Vizuete, B., Groß, M., García-Llorente, M., Oteros-Rozas, E. & Martín-López, B., 03.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 3, p. 684-699 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    The role of emerging scientists in restoration ecology: insights from a SER2023 conference workshop

    Weidlich, E. W. A., Amaral, V., Lengefeld, E., Reis, B. P., Garbowski, M., Martelli, E., Moraes, L. F. D. & Murphy, S. D., 03.2025, In: Restoration Ecology. 33, 3, 5 p., e14318.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  46. Published

    Towards a global understanding of tree mortality

    International Tree Mortality Network, Senf, C., Esquivel-Muelbert, A., Pugh, T. A. M. & Klipel, J., 03.2025, In: New Phytologist. 245, 6, p. 2377-2392 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  47. Published

    Values-based barriers and good practices in sustainability-oriented innovation management

    Ivanov, K., 03.2025, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 32, 2, p. 1393-1411 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  48. E-pub ahead of print

    The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations

    Buhr, M. & Weissbrod, I., 28.02.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility. 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Promoting diversity of thought: bridging knowledge systems for a pluriverse approach to research

    Bülow, F., 25.02.2025, In: Earth Science, Systems and Society. 2025, 5

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Key learnings from integrating sustainability in european higher education institutions: The value of networks and reflective leadership

    Weiss, M., Mulà, I., Zimmermann, A. B. & Diethart, M., 20.02.2025, The Routledge Handbook of Global Sustainability Education and Thinking for the 21st Century. John, M. (ed.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 918-933 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  51. Published

    Accelerating the industrial transition with safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD)

    Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Tickner, J. A., Dierckx, A., Kümmerer, K., Apel, C. & Strömberg, E., 17.02.2025, In: RSC Sustainability. 3, 5, p. 2185-2191 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

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