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. 2021
  2. Published

    Recht auf Ineffizienz: Eine Untersuchung des Verhältnisses von Grundrechten zur Effizienz

    Bertram, A., 2021, In: Die Öffentliche Verwaltung. 2021, p. 885-891

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Rekbaar en toch precies: Met elastiekjes het rekenkundige gemiddelde en de compensatielijn bepalen

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 2021, In: NVOX. 2021, 7, p. 6-7 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsEducation

  4. Published

    Resilience, Entrepreneurship and ICT: Latest Research from Germany, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia

    Halberstadt, J. (Editor), Faasch, H. (Editor), Marx Gómez, J. (Editor), Greyling, J. (Editor) & Mufeti, T. K. (Editor), 2021, Cham: Springer. 420 p. (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published
  6. Published

    SusTimeAbility: An educational approach to promoting time shaping competence

    Grauer, C., Fischer, D. & Frank, P., 2021, Hamar, Norway: Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences. 34 p. (Images and Objects - Active Methodology Tookit #12; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  7. Published

    Teachers' beliefs about and dispositions towards Inquiry-based Science Education

    Hofer, E., Koliander, B. & Puddu, S., 2021, Project-based Education and other activating Strategies in Science Education XVIII. : Conference Proceedings. Rusek, M., Tothova, M. & Vojir, K. (eds.). Prague: Charles University, Prague, p. 16-25 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The WTO’s Crisis: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    Bäumler, J., 2021, European Yearbook of International Economic Law. Bungenberg, M., Krajewski, M., Tams, C. J., Terhechte, J. P. & Ziegler, A. R. (eds.). Heidelberg: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 321-358 38 p. (European Yearbook of International Economic Law; vol. 11).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Submitted

    Transdisciplinary Partnerships for Developing Sustainable Food Forests

    Albrecht, S., Wiek, A. & Friedel, A., 2021, (Submitted) In: GAIA.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Transformative Indikatoren: Zielorientierung und Wirkungsabschätzung in Reallaboren

    Rose, M. & Schleicher, K., 2021, Wege transformativer Forschung: Zielorientierung und Indikatoren: Dokumentation des tF-Symposiums am 7. Oktober 2020. Gemeinhardt, A. & Lehmann, K. (eds.). Darmstadt: Schader-Stiftung, p. 53-63 11 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  11. Published
  12. Published

    Videoanalyse mit dem Kategoriensystem inklusiver naturwissenschaftlicher Unterricht (KinU)

    Brauns, S. & Abels, S., 2021, In: Progress in Science Education. 4, 2, p. 71-84 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Vorschläge für einen klimagerechten Ausbau der Photovoltaik und Windenergie

    Bett, A., Erlach, B., Gölz, S., Gutnik, M., Hentschel, A., Hirschl, B., Hübner, G., Kienzlen, V., Matthies, E., Müller, F. J. Y., Münch, W., O'Sullivan, M., Rech, B., Reusswig, F. W., Schöbel-Rutschman, S., Schomerus, T. & Stryi-Hipp, G., 2021, München: acatech - Deutsche Akademie der Technikwissenschaften e.V., 5 p. (Impuls; vol. November 2021).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  14. Published

    Was steckt hinter der mysteriösen Flasche? Ein Mystery als Stimulus für Fragen beim Forschenden Lernen

    Hofer, E., Puddu, S., Abels, S. & Lembens, A., 2021, In: Unterricht Physik. 32, 182, p. 42-45 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  15. Published

    Water Policy and Governance in Transition: The EU Water Framework Directive

    Kochskämper, E. & Newig, J., 2021, Water Resilience: Management and Governance in Times of Change. Baird, J. & Plummer, R. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature AG, p. 23-40 18 p. (Water Resilience).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Wiederherstellung degradierter Sandheidelebensräume

    Tischew, S., Dolnik, C., Meyer, F. & Härdtle, W., 2021, In: Natur und Landschaft. 96, 4, p. 184-191 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Wirtschaft und Verkehrswende: Nachhaltigkeitstransformation der Autoindustrie

    Schaltegger, S., 2021, In: Forum Nachhaltig Wirtschaften. 2021, 3, p. 88-89 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  18. 2020
  19. Published

    The Caterpillar Hunter Beetles Calosoma Weber (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in the southern Levant

    Aßmann, T., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Drees, C., Friedmann, A.-L.-L., Hetzel, A., Orbach, E., Renan, I., Reuter, C. & Wrase, D. W., 31.12.2020, In: Israel Journal of Entomology. 50, 2, p. 133-158 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published
  21. Published

    Economic evaluation of water supply systems operated with solar-driven electro-chlorination in rural regions in Nepal, Egypt and Tanzania

    Otter, P., Sattler, W., Grischek, T., Jaskolski, M., Mey, E., Ulmer, N., Grossmann, P., Matthias, F., Malakar, P., Goldmaier, A., Benz, F. & Ndumwa, C., 15.12.2020, In: Water Research. 187, 116384.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Unsustainability as a key source of epi- and pandemics: conclusions for sustainability and ecosystems accounting

    Schaltegger, S., 15.12.2020, In: Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change. 16, 4, p. 613-619 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Kompetenzentwicklung von Lehramtsstudierenden sichtbar machen: Professionalisierung für einen inklusiven naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht

    Sellin, K., Brauns, S., Egger, D., Abels, S. & Barth, M., 14.12.2020, Sonderpädagogik und Bildungsforschung – Fremde Schwestern?. Grosche, M., Decristan, J., Urton, K., Jansen, N. C., Bruns, G. & Ehl, B. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Klinkhardt, p. 171-175 5 p. (Klinkhardt Forschung - Perspektiven sonderpädagogischer Forschung).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Sustainable Single-Stage Solid-Liquid Extraction of Hesperidin and Rutin from Agro-Products Using Cyrene

    Milescu, R. A., Segatto, M. L., Stahl, A., Mcelroy, C. R., Farmer, T. J., Clark, J. H. & Zuin, V. G., 14.12.2020, In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering. 8, 49, p. 18245-18257 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Transformative education: towards a relational, justice-oriented approach to sustainability

    Walsh, Z., Böhme, J., Lavelle, B. D. & Wamsler, C., 11.12.2020, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 21, 7, p. 1587-1606 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published

    Functional domains of business incubators for refugee entrepreneurs

    Harima, A., Freudenberg, J. & Halberstadt, J., 10.12.2020, In: Journal of Enterprising Communities. 14, 5, p. 687-711 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Going beyond certificates: A systematic review of alternative trade arrangements in the global food sector

    Rathgens, J., Gröschner, S. & von Wehrden, H., 10.12.2020, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 276, 11 p., 123208.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  28. Published

    The Protection of Foreign Investments in Disputed Maritime Areas

    Benatar, M. & Schatz, V. J., 08.12.2020, Investments in Conflict Zones : The Role of International Investment Law in Armed Conflicts, Disputed Territories, and ‘Frozen’ Conflicts . Ackermann, T. & Wuschka, S. (eds.). Leiden, Niederlande: Brill | Nijhoff, p. 176 - 208 33 p. (Nijhoff International Investment Law Series; vol. 15).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  29. Published

    Wir brauchen New Green Deals

    Kemfert, C., 02.12.2020, In: DIW Wochenbericht. 87, 49, p. 918 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  30. Published

    Applying the pathways to nature connectedness at a societal scale: a leverage points perspective

    Richardson, M., Dobson, J., Abson, D. J., Lumber, R., Hunt, A., Young, R. & Moorhouse, B., 01.12.2020, In: Ecosystems and People. 16, 1, p. 387-401 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Editorial: Conversion of organic waste-to-food and feed

    Pleissner, D. & Smetana, S., 01.12.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 26, 3 p., 100394.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  32. Published

    Green and Sustainable Chemistry in South America: What have been done and seen there?

    Zuin, V. G. & de Souza, R. O. M. A., 01.12.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 26, 100408.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  33. Published
  34. Published

    Indigenous and local knowledge in environmental management for human-nature connectedness: a leverage points perspective

    Burgos-Ayala, A., Jiménez-Aceituno, A., Torres-Torres, A. M., Rozas-Vásquez, D. & Lam, D. P. M., 01.12.2020, In: Ecosystems and People. 16, 1, p. 290-303 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    Integrating stakeholder theory and sustainability accounting: A conceptual synthesis

    Hörisch, J., Schaltegger, S. & Freeman, R. E., 01.12.2020, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 275, 12 p., 124097.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Provenance- and life-history stage-specific responses of the dwarf shrub Calluna vulgaris to elevated vapour pressure deficit

    Ibe, K., Walmsley, D., Fichtner, A., Coners, H., Leuschner, C. & Härdtle, W., 01.12.2020, In: Plant Ecology. 221, 12, p. 1219-1232 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Targeted metabolomics of pellicle and saliva in children with different caries activity

    Schulz, A., Lang, R., Behr, J., Hertel, S., Reich, M., Kümmerer, K., Hannig, M., Hannig, C. & Hofmann, T., 01.12.2020, In: Scientific Reports. 10, 1, 11 p., 697.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Techniques to Control Microbial Contaminants in Nonsterile Microalgae Cultivation

    Pleißner, D., Lindner, A. V. & Ambati, R. R., 01.12.2020, In: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 192, 4, p. 1376-1385 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  39. Published

    Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there

    Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Hodgson, A., Kendrick, I., Lyon, C., Page, G., Patterson, J., Riedy, C., Strasser, T., Verveen, S., Adams, D., Goldstein, B., Klaes, M., Leicester, G., Linyard, A., McCurdy, A., Ryan, P., Sharpe, B., Silvestri, G., Abdurrahim, A. Y., Abson, D., Adetunji, O. S., Aldunce, P., Alvarez-Pereira, C., Amparo, J. M., Amundsen, H., Anderson, L., Andersson, L., Asquith, M., Augenstein, K., Barrie, J., Bent, D., Bentz, J., Bergsten, A., Berzonsky, C., Bina, O., Blackstock, K., Boehnert, J., Bradbury, H., Brand, C., Böhme, J., Bøjer, M. M., Carmen, E., Charli-Joseph, L., Choudhury, S., Chunhachoti-ananta, S., Cockburn, J., Colvin, J., Connon, I. L. C., Cornforth, R., Cox, R. S., Cradock-Henry, N., Cramer, L., Cremaschi, A., Dannevig, H., Day, C. T., de Lima Hutchison, C., de Vrieze, A., Desai, V., Dolley, J., Duckett, D., Durrant, R. A., Egermann, M., Elsner (Adams), E., Fremantle, C., Fullwood-Thomas, J., Galafassi, D., Gobby, J., Golland, A., González-Padrón, S. K., Gram-Hanssen, I., Grandin, J., Grenni, S., Lauren Gunnell, J., Gusmao, F., Hamann, M., Harding, B., Harper, G., Hesselgren, M., Hestad, D., Heykoop, C. A., Holmén, J., Holstead, K., Hoolohan, C., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Horlings, L. G., Howden, S. M., Howell, R. A., Huque, S. I., Inturias Canedo, M. L., Iro, C. Y., Ives, C. D., John, B., Joshi, R., Juarez-Bourke, S., Juma, D. W., Karlsen, B. C., Kliem, L., Kläy, A., Kuenkel, P., Kunze, I., Lam, D., Lang, D. J., Larkin, A., Light, A., Luederitz, C., Luthe, T., Maguire, C., Mahecha-Groot, A. M., Malcolm, J., Marshall, F., Maru, Y., McLachlan, C., Mmbando, P., Mohapatra, S., Moore, M. L., Moriggi, A., Morley-Fletcher, M., Moser, S., Mueller, K. M., Mukute, M., Mühlemeier, S., Naess, L. O., Nieto-Romero, M., Novo, P., ÓBrien, K., O'Connell, D. A., O'Donnell, K., Olsson, P., Pearson, K. R., Pereira, L., Petridis, P., Peukert, D., Phear, N., Pisters, S. R., Polsky, M., Pound, D., Preiser, R., Rahman, M. S., Reed, M. S., Revell, P., Rodriguez, I., Rogers, B. C., Rohr, J., Nordbø Rosenberg, M., Ross, H., Russell, S., Ryan, M., Saha, P., Schleicher, K., Schneider, F., Scoville-Simonds, M., Searle, B., Sebhatu, S. P., Sesana, E., Silverman, H., Singh, C., Sterling, E., Stewart, S. J., Tàbara, J. D., Taylor, D., Thornton, P., Tribaldos, T. M., Tschakert, P., Uribe-Calvo, N., Waddell, S., Waddock, S., van der Merwe, L., van Mierlo, B., van Zwanenberg, P., Velarde, S. J., Washbourne, C. L., Waylen, K., Weiser, A., Wight, I., Williams, S., Woods, M., Wolstenholme, R., Wright, N., Wunder, S., Wyllie, A. & Young, H. R., 01.12.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 70, 18 p., 101724.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published
  41. Published

    Wasserstoff: Grün und effizient!

    Kemfert, C., 01.12.2020, In: Wirtschaftsdienst. 100, 12, p. 906 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  42. Published

    Woody plant diversity, composition and structure in relation to environmental variables and land-cover types in Lake Wanchi watershed, central highlands of Ethiopia

    Angessa, A. T., Lemma, B., Yeshitela, K., Fischer, J., May, F. & Shumi, G., 01.12.2020, In: African Journal of Ecology. 58, 4, p. 627-638 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Circular value creation architectures: Make, ally, buy, or laissez-faire

    Hansen, E. G. & Revellio, F., 12.2020, In: Journal of Industrial Ecology. 24, 6, p. 1250-1273 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    Governing global telecoupling toward environmental sustainability

    Newig, J., Challies, E., Cotta, B., Lenschow, A. & Schilling-Vacaflor, A., 12.2020, In: Ecology and Society. 25, 4, p. 1-17 17 p., 21.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Plant traits alone are poor predictors of ecosystem properties and long-term ecosystem functioning

    van der Plas, F., Schröder-Georgi, T., Weigelt, A., Barry, K., Meyer, S., Alzate, A., Barnard, R. L., Buchmann, N., de Kroon, H., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Engels, C., Fischer, M., Gleixner, G., Hildebrandt, A., Koller-France, E., Leimer, S., Milcu, A., Mommer, L., Niklaus, P. A., Oelmann, Y., Roscher, C., Scherber, C., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Scheu, S., Schmid, B., Schulze, E. D., Temperton, V., Tscharntke, T., Voigt, W., Weisser, W., Wilcke, W. & Wirth, C., 12.2020, In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. 4, 12, p. 1602-1611 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Quantifying simultaneous innovations in evolutionary medicine

    Painter, D. T., van der Wouden, F., Laubichler, M. D. & Youn, H., 12.2020, In: Theory in Biosciences. 139, 4, p. 319-335 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    The revolution is conditional? The conditionality of hydrogen fuel cell expectations in five European countries

    Upham, P., Bögel, P., Dütschke, E., Burghard, U., Oltra, C., Sala, R., Lores, M. & Brinkmann, J., 12.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 70, 10 p., 101722.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Media representation of environmental issues in Malaysia: Newspapers and environment non-government organisation newsletters

    Saleh, M. S. M. & Heinrichs, H., 30.11.2020, In: Pacific Journalism Review. 26, 2, p. 118-131 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  49. Published

    Handelsbeschränkungen und Patentschutz für Impfstoffe: Europa- und völkerrechtliche Aspekte

    Bäumler, J. & Terhechte, J. P., 19.11.2020, In: Neue Juristische Wochenschrift. 73, 48, p. 3481-3487 7 p., 48.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  50. Published

    A cross-scale assessment of productivity–diversity relationships

    Craven, D., van der Sande, M. T., Meyer, C., Gerstner, K., Bennett, J. M., Giling, D. P., Hines, J., Phillips, H. R. P., May, F., Bannar-Martin, K. H., Chase, J. M. & Keil, P., 01.11.2020, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 29, 11, p. 1940-1955 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Entrepreneurship for Sustainable Development: A Review and Multilevel Causal Mechanism Framework

    Johnson, M. P. & Schaltegger, S., 01.11.2020, In: Entrepreneurship: Theory and Practice. 44, 6, p. 1141-1173 33 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  52. Published

    Kann man Wald ernten? Ästhetische Zugänge zum systemischen Denken im Sachunterricht: Das Beispiel Wald

    Bruhn, K., Edelhoff, S. H., Kater-Wettstädt, L., Richter, S., Schürmann, H. & Barth, M., 01.11.2020, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. 63 p. (Infis-Beiträge: BNE hoch X ; vol. 1, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation