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. 2023
  2. Published

    Governing landscapes: An agenda for the assessment of grasslands and savannahs

    Eufemia, L., Wawrzynowicz, I., Bonatti, M., Partelow, S., Fischer, J. & Sieber, S., 09.03.2023, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Resource Management. 2, 7 p., 1134393.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Chronological and sedimentological investigations of the Late Pleistocene succession in Osterbylund (Schleswig-Holstein, Germany)

    Thiel, C., Kenzler, M., Stephan, H.-J., Frechen, M., Urban, B. & Sierralta, M., 06.03.2023, In: E&G Quaternary Science Journal. 72, 1, p. 57-72 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Sustainable development through aesthetic expertise? Results and reflection of an experimental case study on arts-science policy intervention.

    Heinrichs, H. & Hoernemann, D., 06.03.2023, In: Visions for Sustainability. 19, p. 125-151 27 p., 7311.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  5. Published

    A kinetic study of the photolysis of sulfamethoxazole with special emphasis on the photoisomer

    Palm, W. U., Schmidt, N., Stahn, M. & Grimme, S., 01.03.2023, In: Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences. 22, 3, p. 615-630 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    An environmental justice perspective on ecosystem services

    Loos, J., Benra, F., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Bremer, L. L., Chan, K. M. A., Egoh, B., Felipe-Lucia, M., Geneletti, D., Keeler, B., Locatelli, B., Loft, L., Schröter, B., Schröter, M. & Winkler, K. J., 01.03.2023, In: Ambio. 52, 3, p. 477-488 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Linking Tourism and Conservation on Privately Owned Natural Areas: A Systematic Review of English-Language Literature

    Müller, N., Rathgens, J., Fletcher, R. & Hilser, S., 01.03.2023, In: Society and Natural Resources. 36, 3, p. 306-325 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Meat substitutes: Resource demands and environmental footprints

    Smetana, S., Ristic, D., Pleissner, D., Tuomisto, H. L., Parniakov, O. & Heinz, V., 01.03.2023, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 190, 12 p., 106831.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    The traditional ecological knowledge conundrum

    Hartel, T., Fischer, J., Shumi, G. & Apollinaire, W., 01.03.2023, In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 38, 3, p. 211-214 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Enhancing the structural diversity between forest patches — A concept and real-world experiment to study biodiversity, multifunctionality and forest resilience across spatial scales

    Müller, J., Mitesser, O., Cadotte, M. W., van der Plas, F., Mori, A., Ammer, C., Chao, A., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Baldrian, P., Bässler, C., Biedermann, P., Cesarz, S., Claßen, A., Delory, B. M., Feldhaar, H., Fichtner, A., Hothorn, T., Kuenzer, C., Peters, M. K., Pierick, K., Schmitt, T., Schuldt, B., Seidel, D., Six, D., Steffan-Dewenter, I., Thorn, S., von Oheimb, G., Wegmann, M., Weisser, W. W. & Eisenhauer, N., 03.2023, In: Global Change Biology. 29, 6, p. 1437-1450 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Rent Control, Market Segmentation, and Misallocation: Causal Evidence from a Large-Scale Policy Intervention

    Mense, A., Michelsen, C. & Kholodilin, K. A., 03.2023, In: Journal of Urban Economics. 134, 22 p., 103513.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Reply to: Plant traits alone are good predictors of ecosystem properties when used carefully

    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., 03.2023, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 7, 3, p. 335-336 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  13. Published

    The 'need for speed': Towards circular disruption-What it is, how to make it happen and how to know it's happening

    Blomsma, F., Bauwens, T., Weissbrod, I. & Kirchherr, J., 03.2023, In: Business Strategy and the Environment. 32, 3, p. 1010-1031 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Transformation gezielt kommunizieren: Kurzgutachten

    Hartmann, E., Heinrichs, H. & Herzhoff, G., 03.2023, Institut für Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung (INSUGO), 11 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 3).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  15. Published

    Triggering root system plasticity in a changing environment with bacterial bioinoculants – Focus on plant P nutrition

    Baudson, C., Delory, B. M., du Jardin, P. & Delaplace, P., 03.2023, In: Plant and Soil. 484, 1-2, p. 49-63 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Social capital strengthens agency among fish farmers: Small scale aquaculture in Bulacan, Philippines

    Manlosa, A. O., Albrecht, J. & Riechers, M., 21.02.2023, In: Frontiers in Aquaculture. 2, 14 p., 1106416.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  17. Published

    Maximal strength measurement: A critical evaluation of common methods—a narrative review

    Warneke, K., Wagner, C. M., Keiner, M., Hillebrecht, M., Schiemann, S., Behm, D. G., Wallot, S. & Wirth, K., 17.02.2023, In: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. 5, 11 p., 1105201.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  18. Published

    “What is a ‘very severe cyclone’ please”? Uncovering knowledge and communication gaps in climate resilience realities

    Ghosh, A., Sen, A. & Frietsch, M., 15.02.2023, In: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 86, 17 p., 103499.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Increasing the accuracy and efficiency of wildlife census with unmanned aerial vehicles: a simulation study

    Fust, P. & Loos, J., 09.02.2023, In: Wildlife Research. 50, 12, p. 1008-1020 13 p., WR22074.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Activating an Integrative Mindset Improves the Subjective Outcomes of Value-Driven Conflicts

    Schuster, C., Harinck, F. & Trötschel, R., 01.02.2023, In: Negotiation and Conflict Management Research. 16, 1, p. 80-99 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Can rare arable plants benefit biological pest control potential of cereal aphids in croplands?

    Twerski, A., Albrecht, H., Gallé, R., Sauter, F., Császár, P. & Fischer, C., 01.02.2023, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 66, p. 40-49 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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