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

    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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. Published

    Ecological quality as a coffee quality enhancer. A review

    Torrez, V., Benavides-Frias, C., Jacobi, J. & Speranza, C. I., 01.02.2023, In: Agronomy for Sustainable Development. 43, 1, 34 p., 19.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    I enjoy hurting my classmates: On the relation of boredom and sadism in schools

    Pfattheicher, S., Lazarević, L. B., Nielsen, Y. A., Westgate, E. C., Krstić, K. & Schindler, S., 01.02.2023, In: Journal of School Psychology. 96, p. 41-56 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    What is the ‘problem’ of gender inequality represented to be in the Swedish forest sector?

    Ville, A., Wong, G., Aceituno, A. J., Downing, A., Karambiri, M. & Brockhaus, M., 01.02.2023, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 140, p. 46-55 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    When is green nudging ethically permissible?

    Tyler DesRoches, C., Fischer, D., Silver, J., Arthur, P., Livernois, R., Crichlow, T., Hersch, G., Nagatsu, M. & Abbott, J. K., 01.02.2023, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 60, 9 p., 101236.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Collaborative governance or state regulation? Endless efforts but little capacity for sustainability transformation of the German textile sector

    Beyers, F., Leventon, J. & Heinrichs, H., 02.2023, In: Environmental Policy and Governance. 33, 1, p. 56-77 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review