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. 2018
  2. Published

    Editorial overview: Green and sustainable chemistry conference 2017

    Liu, Z. & Kümmerer, K., 01.02.2018, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 9, Special Issue: 2, 2018, p. A1-A2 2 p.

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

  3. Published

    How Participatory Should Environmental Governance Be? Testing the Applicability of the Vroom-Yetton-Jago Model in Public Environmental Decision-Making

    Lührs, N., Jager, N. W., Challies, E. & Newig, J., 01.02.2018, In: Environmental Management. 61, 2, p. 249-262 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Integrating methods for ecosystem service assessment: Experiences from real world situations

    Dunford, R., Harrison, P., Smith, A., Dick, J., Barton, D. N., Martin-Lopez, B., Kelemen, E., Jacobs, S., Saarikoski, H., Turkelboom, F., Verheyden, W., Hauck, J., Antunes, P., Aszalós, R., Badea, O., Baró, F., Berry, P., Carvalho, L., Conte, G., Czúcz, B., Garcia Blanco, G., Howard, D., Giuca, R., Gomez-Baggethun, E., Grizetti, B., Izakovicova, Z., Kopperoinen, L., Langemeyer, J., Luque, S., Lapola, D. M., Martinez-Pastur, G., Mukhopadhyay, R., Roy, S. B., Niemelä, J., Norton, L., Ochieng, J., Odee, D., Palomo, I., Pinho, P., Priess, J., Rusch, G., Saarela, S. R., Santos, R., van der Wal, J. T., Vadineanu, A., Vári, Á., Woods, H. & Yli-Pelkonen, V., 01.02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, Part C, p. 499-514 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Material utilization of organic residues

    Peinemann, J. & Pleißner, D., 01.02.2018, In: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology. 184, 2, p. 733-745 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Organic farming promotes bee abundance in vineyards in Italy but not in South Africa

    Kehinde, T., von Wehrden, H., Samways, M., Klein, A. M. & Brittain, C., 01.02.2018, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 22, 1, p. 61-67 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Stakeholders perceptions of the endangered Egyptian vulture: Insights for conservation

    Cortés-Avizanda, A., Martín-López, B., Ceballos, O. & Pereira, H. M., 01.02.2018, In: Biological Conservation. 218, February 2018, p. 173-180 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The pace of range expansion: a long-term study on the flightless ground beetle Carabus hortensis (Coleoptera: Carabidae)

    Völler, E., Boutaud, E. & Assmann, T., 01.02.2018, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 22, 1, p. 163-169 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Time- and age-related effects of experimentally simulated nitrogen deposition on the functioning of montane heathland ecosystems

    Calvo-Fernández, J., Taboada, A., Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., Calvo, L. & Marcos, E., 01.02.2018, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 613-614, p. 149-159 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Utilization of organic residues using heterotrophic microalgae and insects

    Pleißner, D. & Rumpold, B. A., 01.02.2018, In: Waste Management. 72, p. 227-239 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Widening the evaluative space for ecosystem services: A taxonomy of plural values and valuation methods

    Arias-Arévalo, P., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Martín-López, B. & Pérez-Rincón, M., 01.02.2018, In: Environmental Values. 27, 1, p. 29-53 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    A health economic outcome evaluation of an internet-based mobile-supported stress management intervention for employees

    Ebert, D. D., Kählke, F., Buntrock, C., Berking, M., Smit, F., Heber, E., Baumeister, H., Funk, B., Riper, H. & Lehr, D., 02.2018, In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. 44, 2, p. 171-182 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Anthropogenic nitrogen deposition alters growth responses of European beech (Fagus sylvativa L.) to climate change

    Hess, C., Niemeyer, T., Fichtner, A., Jansen, K., Kunz, M., Maneke, M., von Wehrden, H., Quante, M., Walmsley, D., von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 02.2018, In: Environmental Pollution. 233, p. 92-98 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Selecting methods for ecosystem service assessment: A decision tree approach

    Harrison, P. A., Dunford, R., Barton, D. N., Kelemen, E., Martín-López, B., Norton, L., Termansen, M., Saarikoski, H., Hendriks, K., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Czúcz, B., García-Llorente, M., Howard, D., Jacobs, S., Karlsen, M., Kopperoinen, L., Madsen, A., Rusch, G., van Eupen, M., Verweij, P., Smith, R., Tuomasjukka, D. & Zulian, G., 02.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 29, C, p. 481-498 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Doing Gender – Doing Space – Doing Body: Feministische Kritiken an der De/Ökonomisierung von ‚Natur/en‘ – Entwicklung einer Forschungsperspektive

    Hofmeister, S., Mölders, T. & Onnen, C., 22.01.2018, In: Open Gender Journal. 2, 20 p., 14.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Centralized and decentralized utilization of organic residues for lactic acid production

    Venus, J., Fiore, S., Demichelis, F. & Pleißner, D., 20.01.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 172, p. 778-785 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Assessing nature’s contributions to people: Recognizing culture, and diverse sources of knowledge, can improve assessments

    Díaz, S., Pascual, U., Stenseke, M., Martín-López, B., Watson, R. T., Molnár, Z., Hill, R., Chan, K. M. A., Baste, I. A., Brauman, K. A., Polasky, S., Church, A., Lonsdale, M., Larigauderie, A., Leadley, P. W., Van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Van Der Plaat, F., Schröter, M., Lavorel, S., Aumeeruddy-Thomas, Y., Bukvareva, E., Davies, K., Demissew, S., Erpul, G., Failler, P., Guerra, C. A., Hewitt, C. L., Keune, H., Lindley, S. & Shirayama, Y., 19.01.2018, In: Science. 359, 6373, p. 270-272 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  18. Published

    Turning Good Intentions Into Actions by Using the Health Action Process Approach to Predict Adherence to Internet-Based Depression Prevention: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial

    Zarski, A.-C., Berking, M., Reis, D., Lehr, D., Buntrock, C., Schwarzer, R. & Ebert, D. D., 11.01.2018, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 20, 1, 13 p., e9.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    The glocal curriculum: A model for transnational collaboration in higher education for sustainable development

    Caniglia, G., John, B., Bellina, L., Lang, D. J., Wiek, A., Cohmer, S. & Laubichler, M. D., 10.01.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 171, p. 368 - 376 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Envisioning the future for southwestern Ethiopia / Egeree kibba lixa Itoophiyaa agarsiisuu: A book by The Sustainable Landscapes Group with contributions by local experts

    Fischer, J., Senbeta, F., Hanspach, J., Dorresteijn, I., Jiren, T. S. & Schultner, J., 09.01.2018, Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 86 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  21. Published

    ‚Places of Remembrance’: spaces for historical and political literacy: A lesson report

    Offen, S., 09.01.2018, In: Journal of Social Science Education. 16, 4, p. 110-121 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    archiDART v3.0: A new data analysis pipeline allowing the topological analysis of plant root systems

    Delory, B., Li, M., Topp, C. & Lobet, G., 08.01.2018, In: Faculty of 1000 Research. 7, 22, 14 p., 22.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Inquiry-based learning and secondary chemistry education – a contradiction?

    Hofer, E., Abels, S. & Lembens, A., 05.01.2018, In: RISTAL. 1/2018, p. 51-65 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Classification of playing position in elite junior Australian football using technical skill indicators

    Woods, C. T., Veale, J., Fransen, J., Robertson, S. & Collier, N., 02.01.2018, In: Journal of Sports Sciences. 36, 1, p. 97 - 103 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Linking Environmental Management Accounting: A Reflection on (Missing) Links to Sustainability and Planetary Boundaries

    Schaltegger, S., 02.01.2018, In: Social and Environmental Accountability Journal. 38, 1, p. 19-29 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  26. Published
  27. Published

    Advancing science on the multiple connections between biodiversity, ecosystems and people

    van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Martín-López, B., Schröter, M. & de Groot, R., 01.01.2018, In: International Journal of Biodiversity Science, Ecosystem Services and Management. 14, 1, p. 127-131 5 p.

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

  28. Published

    A social-ecological typology of rangelands based on rainfall variability and farming type

    Engler, J.-O., Abson, D. J., Feller, R., Hanspach, J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.01.2018, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 148, p. 65 - 73 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    A Sustainability Agenda for Tropical Marine Science

    Partelow, S., Schlüter, A., von Wehrden, H., Jänig, M. & Senff, P., 01.01.2018, In: Conservation Letters. 11, 1, 15 p., e12351.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  30. Published

    Biodiversity-multifunctionality relationships depend on identity and number of measured functions

    Meyer, S. T., Ptacnik, R., Hillebrand, H., Bessler, H., Buchmann, N., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Engels, C., Fischer, M., Halle, S., Klein, A. M., Oelmann, Y., Roscher, C., Rottstock, T., Scherber, C., Scheu, S., Schmid, B., Schulze, E. D., Temperton, V. M., Tscharntke, T., Voigt, W., Weigelt, A., Wilcke, W. & Weisser, W. W., 01.01.2018, In: Nature Ecology and Evolution. 2, 1, p. 44-49 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Chancen für erneuerbare Energien in Wärmenetzen

    Bickel, M. W., Soetebeer, I., Neidig, P. & Schneidewind, U., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 1, p. 190-192 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  32. Published

    Climate Change May Trigger Broad Shifts in North America's Pacific Coastal Rainforests

    DellaSala, D. A., Brandt, P., Koopman, M., Leonard, J., Meisch, C., Herzog, P., Alaback, P., Goldstein, M. I., Jovan, S., MacKinnon, A. & von Wehrden, H., 01.01.2018, Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene: Volume 2: Climate Change. Dellasala, D. A. & Goldstein, M. I. (eds.). Oxford: Elsevier B.V., Vol. 1-5. p. 233-244 12 p. (Encyclopedia of the Anthropocene; vol. 2).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  33. Published

    Coffee management and the conservation of forest bird diversity in southwestern Ethiopia

    Rodrigues, P., Shumi, G., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2018, In: Biological Conservation. 217, 1, p. 131-139 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published
  35. Published

    Effectiveness of Web- and Mobile-Based Treatment of Subthreshold Depression With Adherence-Focused Guidance: A Single-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

    Ebert, D. D., Buntrock, C., Lehr, D., Smit, F., Riper, H., Baumeister, H., Cuijpers, P. & Berking, M., 01.01.2018, In: Behavior Therapy. 49, 1, p. 71-83 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Evidence for climatic changes around the Matuyama-Brunhes Boundary (MBB) inferred from a multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental study of the GBY#2 core, Jordan River Valley, Israel

    Proborukmi, M. S., Urban, B., Mischke, S., Mienis, H. K., Melamed, Y., Dupont-Nivet, G., Jourdan, F. & Goren-Inbar, N., 01.01.2018, In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 489, p. 166-185 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Global assessment of the non-equilibrium theory of rangelands: Revisited and refined

    Engler, J. O. & von Wehrden, H., 01.01.2018, In: Land Use Policy. 70, p. 479 - 484 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Ingenieurökologische Sanierungsansätze für den Bederkesaer See

    Schneider, P., Reincke, H., Ochmann, S., Majrada, H., Jakob, M. & Seewald, M., 01.01.2018, In: Wasserwirtschaft. 108, 1, p. 23-29 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Jointly experimenting for transformation? Shaping real-world laboratories by comparing them

    Schäpke, N., Stelzer, F., Caniglia, G., Bergmann, M., Wanner, M., Singer-Brodowski, M., Loorbach, D., Olsson, P., Baedeker, C. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, p. 85-96 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Klimawandel, Nachhaltigkeit und Transformationsgestaltung

    Heinrichs, H., 01.01.2018, Hamburger Klimabericht: Wissen über Klima, Klimawandel und Auswirkungen in Hamburg und Norddeutschland. von Storch, H., Meinke, I. & Claußen, M. (eds.). Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 293-302 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  41. Published

    Konfliktfeld „neue Gentechnik“: Regulierung landwirtschaftlicher Biotechnologien zwischen Innovation und Vorsorge

    Friedrich, B. & Hackfort, S. K., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 2, p. 211-215 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  42. Published

    Labs in the real world: Advancing transdisciplinary research and sustainability transformation: Mapping the field and emerging lines of inquiry

    Schäpke, N., Bergmann, M., Stelzer, F. & Lang, D. J., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, Supplement 1, p. 8-11 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    Making Collective Learning Coherent: An Adaptive Approach to the Practice of Transdisciplinary Pedagogy

    Clarke, E. & Ashhurst, C., 01.01.2018, Transdisciplinary Theory, Practice and Education: The Art of Collaborative Research and Collective Learning. Fam, D., Neuhauser, L. & Gibbs, P. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Springer Verlag, Vol. 1. p. 151-165 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  44. Published

    Measuring what matters in sustainable consumption: an integrative framework for the selection of relevant behaviors

    Geiger, S., Fischer, D. & Schrader, U., 01.01.2018, In: Sustainable Development. 26, 1, p. 18–33 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Narrations of Sustainability How to Tell the Story of the Socio-Ecological Transformation

    Fischer, D., Schaefer, T. & Borner, J., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 3, p. 334-336 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Scalable capacity-building for geographically dispersed learners: Designing the MOOC "Sustainable Energy in Small Island Developing States (SIDS)"

    Wolf, F., Seyfarth, F. C. & Pflaum, E., 01.01.2018, Open and Distance Learning Initiatives for Sustainable Development. Pandey, U. C. & Indrakanti, V. (eds.). IGI Global Publishing, p. 58-83 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  47. Published

    Scenario modeling of ammonia emissions from surface applied urea under temperate conditions: application effects and model comparison

    Pacholski, A., Doehler, J., Schmidhalter, U. & Kreuter, T., 01.01.2018, In: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 110, 1, p. 177-193 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Stakeholder Engagement for Corporate Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of B2C and B2B Companies

    Johnson, M., Redlbacher, F. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2018, In: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 25, 4, p. 659-673 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Strengthening the transformative impulse while mainstreaming real-world labs: Lessons learned from three years of BaWü-Labs: Lessons learned from three years of BaWü-Labs

    Schäpke, N., Wagner, F., Parodi, O. & Meier-Soylu, S., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 2, p. 262-264 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Sufficiency as policy: necessity, possibilities and limitations

    Spengler, L., 01.01.2018, Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft. 327 p. (Umweltsoziologie; vol. 5)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  51. Published

    Sustainability Science with Ozzy Osbourne, Julia Roberts and Ai Weiwei: The Potential of Arts-Based Research for Sustainable Development

    Heinrichs, H., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 1, p. 132-137 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch