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

    “Nationals” at Forty: From an Undefined UNCLOS Term to Due Diligence Obligations on the State of Nationality to Combat IUU Fishing

    Honniball, A. N. & Schatz, V. J., 2023, In: International Law Studies. 100, p. 229-265

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Neural Networks for Energy Optimization of Production Processes in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises

    Willenbacher, M., Wohlgemuth, V. & Risch, L., 2023, Advances and New Trends in Environmental Informatics. Wohlgemuth, V., Naumann, S., Behrens, G., Arndt, H.-K. & Höb, M. (eds.). Springer Verlag, p. 129-145 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapter

  4. Published

    Perspektiven auf Zeit im Recht: Das bisherige Verständnis von Zeit im Recht und die Notwendigkeit der Betrachtung von Zeit als Ressource

    Bertram, A., 2023, Zeitliche Dimensionen und Kritische Theorie(n) des Rechts: Tagung des Jungen Forums Rechtsphilosophie (JFR) in der internationalen Vereinigung für Rechts- und Sozialphilosophie (IVR) im September 2020 und im Mai 2021 in Braunschweig und Hamburg. Stuttgart, p. 47-59

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

  5. Published

    Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2023: Die Strandlingsrasen (Littorelletea uniflorae p.p.)

    Remy, D., Tischew, S., Dierschke, H., Heinken, T., Hölzel, N., Bergmeier, E., Schneider, S., Horn, K. & Härdtle, W., 2023, In: Tuexenia. 42, p. 321-350 30 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Plant Community of the Year 2024: Vegetation of wet meadows (Calthion palustris)

    Schneider, S., Bergmeier, E., Boch, S., Ewald, J., Härdtle, W., Heinken, T., Hölzel, N., Horn, K., Lütt, S., Remy, D., Ruthsatz, B., Schwabe, A., Tischew, S., Becker, T. & Dierschke, H., 2023, In: Tuexenia. 43, p. 277-334 58 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Rebound effects: Management and Prevention. Guideline for Companies

    Wolff, F., Gensch, C.-O., Kampffmeyer, N., Schöpflin, P., Lautermann, C., Gebauer, J., Schaltegger, S., Norris, S., Wüst, S., Thiel, D. & Buda, F., 2023, Öko-Institut.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Rebound-Effekte: Management und Vermeidung. Leitfaden für Unternehmen

    Wolff, F., Gensch, C.-O., Kampffmeyer, N., Schöpflin, P., Lautermann, C., Gebauer, J., Schaltegger, S., Norris, S., Wüst, S., Thiel, D. & Buda, F., 2023, Öko-Institut.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Schöningen: a reference site for the Middle Pleistocene

    Serangeli, J., Verheijen, I., Rodríguez-Álvarez, B., Altamura, F., Bigga, G., Schoch, W. H., Urban, B., van Kolfschoten, T., Venditti, F. & Conard, N. J., 2023, In: Journal of Mediterranean Earth Sciences. 15, p. 369-387 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Science on ecosystems and people to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

    Schröter, M., Berbés-Blázquez, M., Albert, C., Hill, R., Krause, T., Loos, J., Mannetti, L. M., Martín-López, B., Neelakantan, A., Parrotta, J. A., Quintas-Soriano, C., Abson, D. J., Alkemade, R., Amelung, B., Baptiste, B., Barrios, E., Djoudi, H., Drakou, E. G., Durance, I., García Llorente, M., Geneletti, D., Harmáčková, Z. V., Jacobs, S., Kaiser, N. N., Kingsley, J., Klain, S., Martínez-Harms, M. J., Murali, R., O’Farrell, P., Pandit, R., Pereira, L., Rana, S., Riechers, M., Rusch, G. M., Sala, J. E., Schulp, C. J. E., Sitas, N., Subramanian, S. M., Villasante, S. & van Oudenhoven, A., 2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 10 p., 2220913.

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

  11. Published

    The Settlement of EEZ Fisheries Access Disputes under UNCLOS: Limitations to Jurisdiction and Compulsory Conciliation

    Schatz, V. J., 2023, In: Goettingen Journal of International Law. 13, 1, p. 82-118 37 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Virtual Voting in RFMOs: A Procedural Odyssey at the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

    Schatz, V. & Perraudeau, M., 2023, In: International Organizations Law Review. 20, 3, p. 305-329 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    What factors enable social-ecological transformative potential? The role of learning practices, empowerment, and networking

    Tuckey, A. J., Harmáčková, Z. V., Peterson, G. D., Norström, A. V., Moore, M.-L., Olsson, P., Lam, D. & Jimenez-Aceituno, A., 2023, In: Ecology and Society. 28, 2, 20 p., 27.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Wirtschaftsvölkerrechtlicher Rahmen

    Bäumler, J., 2023, Lieferkettensorgfaltspflichtenrecht: LkSG, GwB, EU-HolzhandelsVO, EU-KonfliktmineralienVO, BetrVG, WRegG, CSR-RL-UmsG. Kaltenborn, M., Krajewski, M., Rühl, G. & Saage-Maaß, M. (eds.). München: C.H. Beck Verlag, p. 34-44 20 p. (Beck'sche Kurz-Kommentare).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions in collection of commentariesResearch

  15. 2022
  16. Published

    The programme on ecosystem change and society (PECS) – a decade of deepening social-ecological research through a place-based focus

    Norström, A. V., Agarwal, B., Balvanera, P., Baptiste, B., Bennett, E. M., Brondízio, E., Biggs, R., Campbell, B., Carpenter, S. R., Castilla, J. C., Castro, A. J., Cramer, W., Cumming, G. S., Felipe-Lucia, M., Fischer, J., Folke, C., DeFries, R., Gelcich, S., Groth, J., Ifejika Speranza, C., Jacobs, S., Hofmann, J., Hughes, T. P., Lam, D. P. M., Loos, J., Manyani, A., Martín-López, B., Meacham, M., Moersberger, H., Nagendra, H., Pereira, L., Polasky, S., Schoon, M., Schultz, L., Selomane, O. & Spierenburg, M., 31.12.2022, In: Ecosystems and People. 18, 1, p. 598–608 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Bio-cultural diversity in south America: Overcoming agro-extractivism linked to unhealthy diets

    Tribaldos, T., Jacobi, J., Llanque, A. & Nogales, M. T., 30.12.2022, Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Diets. Kevany, K. & Prosperi, P. (eds.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 636-647 12 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  18. Published

    Gamification and sustainable behaviour: A case study of China

    Miao, H., Saleh, M. S. M. & Zolkepli, I. A., 29.12.2022, Sustainability Communication across Asia: Fundamental Principles, Digital Strategies and Community Engagement. Saleh, M. S. M., Rahman, N. A. A. & Kasuma, S. A. A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 123-136 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  19. Published

    Sustainability communication: West vs Asia

    Saleh, M. S. M., 29.12.2022, Sustainability Communication across Asia: Fundamental Principles, Digital Strategies and Community Engagement. Saleh, M. S. M., Rahman, N. A. A. & Kasuma, S. A. A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 1-14 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  20. Published

    Sustainability communication across Asia: Fundamental principles, digital strategies and community engagement

    Saleh, M. S. M. (Editor), Rahman, N. A. A. (Editor) & Kasuma, S. A. A. (Editor), 29.12.2022, Taylor and Francis Inc. 238 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  21. Published

    The roles of the sharing economy in promoting sustainability communication and practices in China

    Tong, Z., Miao, H. & Saleh, M. S. M., 29.12.2022, Sustainability Communication across Asia: Fundamental Principles, Digital Strategies and Community Engagement. Saleh, M. S. M., Rahman, N. A. A. & Kasuma, S. A. A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 31-43 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  22. Published

    Für eine neue Ganzheitlichkeit: Nachhaltige Chemie

    Kümmerer, K. & Große Ophoff, M., 28.12.2022, In: Politische Ökologie. 40, 171, p. 90 - 96 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer