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. 2017
  2. Published

    Technical, economic and environmental analysis of lactic acid and biogas production from kitchen waste

    Demichelis, F., Fiore, S., Pleißner, D. & Venus, J., 01.09.2017, 9th International Conference on Environmental Engineering and Management (ICEEM09): Conference Abstracts Book. Buburuzan, A. M., Fava, F., Gavrilescu, D., Teodosiu, C., Corvini, P. & Bertin, L. (eds.). Iasi, Romania: ECOZONE Publishing House, p. 257-258 2 p. (ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT; vol. 9).

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

  3. Published

    Herbivore and pathogen effects on tree growth are additive, but mediated by tree diversity and plant traits

    Schuldt, A., Hönig, L., Li, Y., Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Welk, E. & Bruehlheide, H., 09.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 18, p. 7462-7474 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Measuring Young Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption Behavior: Development and Validation of the YCSCB Scale

    Fischer, D., Böhme, T. & Geiger, S. M., 09.2017, In: Young Consumers. 18, 3, p. 312-326 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Unsichtbare Gewalt: Geschlechter- und Machtverhältnisse im politischen Diskurs

    Amri-Henkel, A., 09.2017, In: Forum Wissenschaft. 34, 3, p. 8-11 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  6. Published

    We Need Qualitative Progress to Address the Food-Biodiversity Nexus: A Reply to Seppelt et al.

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N. F., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 09.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 9, p. 632-633 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  7. Published
  8. Published

    Ecosystem services in global sustainability policies

    Geijzendorffer, I. R., Cohen-Shacham, E., Cord, A. F., Cramer, W., Guerra, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.08.2017, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 74, p. 40-48 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Growth and phycocyanin synthesis in the heterotrophic microalga Galdieria sulphuraria on substrates made of food waste from restaurants and bakeries

    Sloth, J., Jensen, H. C., Pleißner, D. & Eriksen, N. T., 01.08.2017, In: Bioresource Technology. 238, p. 296-305 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published

    New chronometric age estimates for the context of the Neanderthal from Wannen-Ochtendung (Germany) by TL and argon dating

    Richter, D., Klinger, P., Schmidt, C., van den Bogaard, P. & Zöller, L., 01.08.2017, In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 14, p. 127-136 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Testing socio-cultural valuation methods of ecosystem services to explain land use preferences

    Schmidt, K., Walz, A., Martín-López, B. & Sachse, R., 01.08.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 26, Part A, p. 270-288 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Lehreinheiten zu inklusiver Fachdidaktik evidenzbasiert entwickeln

    Süßenbach, J., Greve, S., Troll, B., Besser, M. & Abels, S., 08.2017, Innovation und Technologie im Sport : 23. dvs-Hochschultag, München, 13.-15. September 2017, Abstracts. Schwirtz, A., Mess, F., Demetriou, Y. & Senner, V. (eds.). 1. ed. Hamburg: Feldhaus, Ed. Czwalina, p. 53 1 p. (Schriften der Deutschen Vereinigung für Sportwissenschaft; vol. 265).

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

  14. Published

    Ökonomistische Diskurse der Nachhaltigkeit: Bestimmende Momente und die Frage nach Alternativen

    Meyer, E. M. & Vilsmaier, U., 08.2017, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften und die Suche nach neuen Wissensordnungen. Pfister, T. (ed.). 1 ed. Weimar: Metropolis Verlag, p. 147-168 22 p.

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

  15. Published

    Resource availability determines the importance of niche-based versus stochastic community assembly in grasslands

    Conradi, T., Temperton, V. M. & Kollmann, J., 08.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 8, p. 1134-1141 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Feeding ecology of the Andean fox in southern Ecuador: Wild ungulates being the main prey

    Guntiñas, M., Lozano, J., Cisneros, R., Narváez, C. & Armijos, J., 19.07.2017, In: Contributions to Zoology. 86, 2, p. 169-180 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Sources of nitrogen heterocyclic PAHs (N-HETs) along a riverine course

    Siemers, A.-K., Palm, W.-U., Faubel, C., Mänz, J. S., Steffen, D. & Ruck, W., 15.07.2017, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 590-591, p. 69-79 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Eindeutig uneindeutig: Popkulturelle Akteur_innen und Narrationen als Anknüpfungspunkte für die politische Bildung

    Offen, S., 11.07.2017, Queertheoretische Perspektiven auf Bildung: Pädagogische Kritik der Heteronormativität. Hartmann, J., Messerschmidt, A. & Thon, C. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 121-138 18 p. (Jahrbuch Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung in der Erziehungswissenschaft; vol. 13).

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

  19. Published

    The impact of mindfulness on well-being and performance in the workplace: an inclusive systematic review of the empirical literature

    Lomas, T., Medina, J. C., Ivtzan, I., Rupprecht, S., Hart, R. & Eiroa-Orosa, F. J., 04.07.2017, In: European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. 26, 4, p. 492-513 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Delineating boundaries of social-ecological systems for landscape planning: A comprehensive spatial approach

    Martín-López, B., Palomo, I., García-Llorente, M., Iniesta-Arandia, I., Castro, A. J., García Del Amo, D., Gómez-Baggethun, E. & Montes, C., 01.07.2017, In: Land Use Policy. 66, p. 90-104 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Does problem complexity matter for environmental policy delivery? How public authorities address problems of water governance

    Kirschke, S., Newig, J., Völker, J. & Borchardt, D., 01.07.2017, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 196, p. 1-7 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    From competition to facilitation: how tree species respond to neighbourhood diversity

    Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., Li, Y., Bruelheide, H., Kunz, M. & von Oheimb, G., 01.07.2017, In: Ecology Letters. 20, 7, p. 892-900 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Linking the multi-level perspective with social representations theory: Gasifiers as a niche innovation reinforcing the energy-from-waste (EfW) regime

    Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.07.2017, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 120, p. 1-13 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Mismatches between supply and demand in wildlife tourism: Insights for assessing cultural ecosystem services

    Arbieu, U., Grünewald, C., Martín-López, B., Schleuning, M. & Böhning-Gaese, K., 01.07.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 78, p. 282-291 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    Bildung und Kommunikation als integraler Bestandteil der Deutschen Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie?

    Stoltenberg, U. & Fischer, D., 07.2017, Die Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie: Wegweiser für eine Politik der Nachhaltigkeit. Michelsen, G. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung, p. 123–139 17 p. (forum hlz).

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

  26. Published

    Case Study: the social context of arsenic regulation and exposure in South East Hungary

    Mildorfová-Leventon, J., 07.2017, Best Practice Guide on the control of Arsenic in Drinking Water. Bhattacharya, P., Polya, D. A. & Jovanovic, D. (eds.). IWA Publishing, p. 239-246 8 p.

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

  27. Published

    Community awareness and engagement for arsenic management

    Mildorfová-Leventon, J., 07.2017, Best Practice Guide on the Control of Arsenic in Drinking Water. Bhattacharya, P., Polya, D. A. & Jovanovic, D. (eds.). IWA Publishing, p. 117-124 8 p.

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

  28. Published

    Functional flower traits and their diversity drive pollinator visitation

    Fornoff, F., Klein, A.-M., Hartig, F., Benadi, G., Venjakob, C., Schaefer, H. M. & Ebeling, A., 07.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 7, p. 1020-1030 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Luminescence dating of Late Pleistocene eruptions in the Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany

    Schmidt, C., Schaarschmidt, M., Kolb, T., Büchel, G., Richter, D. & Zöller, L., 07.2017, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 32, 5, p. 628-638 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien und die Herausforderung der politischen Umsetzung

    Laws, N. & Heinrichs, H., 07.2017, Die Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie: Wegweiser für eine Politik der Nachhaltigkeit. Michelsen, G. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung, p. 141-156 16 p. (forum hlz).

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

  31. Published
  32. Published

    Off-stage ecosystem service burdens: A blind spot for global sustainability

    Pascual, U., Palomo, I., Adams, W. M., Chan, K. M. A., Daw, T. M., Garmendia, E., Gómez-Baggethun, E., de Groot, R., Mace, G. M., Martín-López, B. & Phelp, J., 07.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 7, 10 p., 075001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Revisiting Carbon Disclosure and Performance: Legitimacy and Management Views

    Qian, W. & Schaltegger, S., 07.2017, In: The British Accounting Review. 49, 4, p. 365–379 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Dryudella paulinae spec. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Morocco

    Jacobs, H.-J. & Grabener, S., 30.06.2017, In: Contributions To Entomology. 67, 1, p. 111 - 115 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    The Sphodrina of the southern Levant (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Sphodrini)

    Casale, A. & Assmann, T., 30.06.2017, In: Fragmenta Entomologica. 49, 1, p. 13-24 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness Training: Development of a Consumption-Specific Intervention

    Stanszus, L., Fischer, D., Böhme, T., Frank, P., Fritzsche, J., Geiger, S., Harfensteller, J., Grossman, P. & Schrader, U., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 5-21 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    Sustainability Reporting at Schools: Challenges and Benefits

    Carbach, E. & Fischer, D., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 69-81 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Erfassung von Belastungs- und Burnout-Erleben parallel zu einem Screening psychischer Störungen im Internet: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, am Beispiel des „Stress-Monitors"

    Hillert, A., Bäcker, K., Weiß, S. & Lehr, D., 14.06.2017, In: ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR PSYCHOSOMATISCHE MEDIZIN UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE. 63, 1, p. 65-66 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  39. Published

    Das Wirken von Nachhaltigkeitsräten in Politik und Gesellschaft

    Sieveking, A., 12.06.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 2, p. 158-160 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  40. Published

    Dealing with Climate Change: A Conversation with Paul N. Edwards and Oliver Geden

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 175-185 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  41. Published

    Trading Zones of Climate Change: Introduction

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 111-119 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  42. Published

    Addressing Complexity in Environmental Management and Governance

    Kirschke, S. & Newig, J., 07.06.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 6, 18 p., 983.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  43. Published

    The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age

    Richter, D., Grün, R., Joannes-Boyau, R., Steele, T. E., Amani, F., Rué, M., Fernandes, P., Raynal, J. P., Geraads, D., Ben-Ncer, A., Hublin, J. J. & McPherron, S. P., 07.06.2017, In: Nature. 546, 7657, p. 293-296 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  44. Published

    An economic perspective on land use decisions in agricultural landscapes: Insights from the TEEB Germany Study

    Albert, C., Schröter-Schlaack, C., Hansjürgens, B., Dehnhardt, A., Döring, R., Job, H., Köppel, J., Krätzig, S., Matzdorf, B., Reutter, M., Schaltegger, S., Scholz, M., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Wiggering, H., Woltering, M. & von Haaren, C., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 69-78 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  45. Published

    Biodiversity and food security: from trade-offs to synergies

    Cramer, W., Egea, E., Fischer, J., Lux, A., Salles, J. M., Settele, J. & Tichit, M., 01.06.2017, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1257-1259 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Driving factors for the regional implementation of renewable energy: - a multiple case study on the German energy transition

    Lutz, L. M., Fischer, L.-B., Newig, J. & Lang, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Energy Policy. 105, p. 136-147 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Intra- and interspecific hybridization in invasive Siberian elm

    Hirsch, H., Brunet, J., Zalapa, J. E., von Wehrden, H., Hartmann, M., Kleindienst, C., Schlautman, B., Kosman, E., Wesche, K., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 01.06.2017, In: Biological Invasions. 19, 6, p. 1889-1904 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Land use affects dung beetle communities and their ecosystem service in forests and grasslands

    Frank, K., Hülsmann, M., Aßmann, T., Schmitt, T. & Blüthgen, N., 01.06.2017, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 243, p. 114-122 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    Performance of process-based models for simulation of grain N in crop rotations across Europe

    Yin, X., Kersebaum, K. C., Kollas, C., Manevski, K., Baby, S., Beaudoin, N., Öztürk, I., Gaiser, T., Wu, L., Hoffmann, M., Charfeddine, M., Conradt, T., Constantin, J., Ewert, F., de Cortazar-Atauri, I. G., Giglio, L., Hlavinka, P., Hoffmann, H., Launay, M., Louarn, G., Manderscheid, R., Mary, B., Mirschel, W., Nendel, C., Pacholski, A., Palosuo, T., Ripoche-Wachter, D., P. Rötter, R., Ruget, F., Sharif, B., Trnka, M., Ventrella, D., Weigel, H. J. & E. Olesen, J., 01.06.2017, In: Agricultural Systems. 154, p. 63-77 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    Putting sustainable chemistry and resource use into context: The role of temporal diversity

    Weiser, A., Lang, D. J. & Kümmerer, K., 01.06.2017, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 5, p. 105-114 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  51. Published

    Refocusing ecosystem services towards sustainability

    Schröter, M., Stumpf, K. H., Loos, J., van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Böhnke-Henrichs, A. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 35-43 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review