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

    Five priorities to advance transformative transdisciplinary research

    Augenstein, K., Lam, D. P., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Bernert, P., Charli-Joseph, L., Cockburn, J., Kampfmann, T., Pereira, L. M. & Sellberg, M. M., 01.06.2024, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 68, 11 p., 101438.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Investigation of the carbon footprint of the cultivation of the heterotrophic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria on hydrolyzed straw and digestate

    Heidorn, J. R., Smetana, S. & Pleißner, D., 01.06.2024, In: Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment. 6, 7 p., 100087.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Legal and political arguments on aquatic ecosystem services and hydropower development – A case study on Kemi River basin, Finland

    Albrecht, E., Isaac, R. & Räsänen, A., 01.06.2024, In: Ecosystem Services. 67, 14 p., 101623.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Mixed farmers' perception of the ecological-economic performance of diversified farming

    Rosa-Schleich, J., Loos, J., Ferrante, M., Mußhoff, O. & Tscharntke, T., 01.06.2024, In: Ecological Economics. 220, 11 p., 108174.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Quantifying ecosystem services of rewetted peatlands − the MoorFutures methodologies

    Tanneberger, F., Berghöfer, A., Brust, K., Hammerich, J., Holsten, B., Joosten, H., Michaelis, D., Moritz, F., Reichelt, F., Schäfer, A., Scheid, A., Trepel, M., Wahren, A. & Couwenberg, J., 01.06.2024, In: Ecological Indicators. 163, 10 p., 112048.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    A framework for assessing social structure in community governance of sustainable urban drainage systems: insights from a literature review

    Muwafu, S. P., Rölfer, L., Scheffran, J. & Costa, M. M., 06.2024, In: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change. 29, 5, 19 p., 42.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Forest history from a single tree species perspective: natural occurrence, near extinction and reintroduction of European yew (Taxus baccata L.) on the Darss-Zingst peninsula, southern Baltic Sea coast

    Kaiser, K., Theuerkauf, M., van der Maaten, E., van der Maaten-Theunissen, M. & Beil, A., 06.2024, In: European Journal of Forest Research. 143, 3, p. 917-942 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Setting the agenda for climate assemblies. Trade-offs and guiding principles

    Pfeffer, J., 06.2024, In: Climate Policy. 24, 6, p. 843-858 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. E-pub ahead of print

    A theoretical framework to support green agripreneurship avoiding greenwashing

    Mendes, J. A. J., Oliveira, A. Y., Santos, L. S., Gerolamo, M. C. & Zeidler, V. G. Z., 23.05.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. 57 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Modelling biodegradability based on OECD 301D data for the design of mineralising ionic liquids

    Amsel, A. K., Chakravarti, S., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 22.05.2024, In: Green Chemistry . 26, 12, p. 7363-7376 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review