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. 2020
  2. Published

    Environmental rebound effect of energy efficiency improvements in Colombian households

    Vélez-Henao, J. A., García-Mazo, C. M., Freire-González, J. & Vivanco, D. F., 01.10.2020, In: Energy Policy. 145, 10 p., 111697.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Green and sustainable chemistry in Latin America: Which type of research is going on? And for what?

    Zuin, V. G., Stahl, A. M., Zanotti, K. & Segatto, M. L., 01.10.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 25, 100379.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  4. Published

    How does collaborative governance evolve? Insights from a medium-n case comparison

    Ulibarri, N., Emerson, K., Imperial, M. T., Jager, N. W., Newig, J. & Weber, E., 01.10.2020, In: Policy and Society. 39, 4, p. 617-637 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Impacts of alternative land-use policies on water ecosystem services in the Río Grande de Comitán-Lagos de Montebello watershed, Mexico

    Ávila-García, D., Morató, J., Pérez-Maussán, A. I., Santillán-Carvantes, P., Alvarado, J. & Comín, F. A., 01.10.2020, In: Ecosystem Services. 45, 14 p., 101179.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Participation in River Basin Planning Under the Water Framework Directive – Has it Benefitted Good Water Status?

    Rimmert, M., Baudoin, L., Cotta, B., Kochskämper, E. & Newig, J., 01.10.2020, In: Water Alternatives. 13, 3, p. 484-512 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Role of scavengers in providing non-material contributions to people

    Aguilera-Alcalá, N., Morales-Reyes, Z., Martín-López, B., Moleón, M. & Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., 01.10.2020, In: Ecological Indicators. 117, 11 p., 106643.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Towards a more sustainable metal use – Lessons learned from national strategy documents

    Weiser, A., Bickel, M., Kümmerer, K. & Lang, D. J., 01.10.2020, In: Resources Policy. 68, 12 p., 101770.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Opening the black box: How social interaction contributes to entrepreneurial intentions among deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals

    Jasniak, M., Baierl, R. & Halberstadt, J., 10.2020, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. 41, 1, p. 74-95 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Development and application of green and sustainable analytical methods for flavonoid extraction from Passiflora waste

    Da Silva Francischini, D., Lopes, A. P., Segatto, M. L., Stahl, A. M. & Zuin, V. G., 18.09.2020, In: BMC Chemistry. 14, 1, 11 p., 56.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Local perceptions of ecosystem services across multiple ecosystem types in Spain

    García-Llorente, M., J. Castro, A., Quintas-Soriano, C., Oteros-Rozas, E., Iniesta-Arandia, I., González, J. A., García del Amo, D., Hernández-Arroyo, M., Casado-Arzuaga, I., Palomo, I., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Onaindia, M., Montes, C. & Martín-López, B., 18.09.2020, In: Land. 9, 9, 20 p., 0330.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Interview mit Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Thomas Schomerus

    Schomerus, C.-T., 15.09.2020, In: Fachzeitschrift für Energierecht. 9, 5, p. 199-201 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsTransfer

  14. Published

    Predicting suitable habitats of the African cherry (Prunus africana) under climate change in Tanzania

    Giliba, R. A. & Yengoh, G. T., 15.09.2020, In: Atmosphere. 11, 9, 17 p., 988.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Researching collaborative interdisciplinary teams: practices and principles for navigating researcher positionality

    Freeth, R. C. & Vilsmaier, U., 15.09.2020, In: Science & Technology Studies. 33, 3, p. 57-72 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Probing alignment of personal and organisational values for sustainability: An assessment of barrett's organisational consciousness model

    Klapper, R., Berg, L. & Upham, P., 14.09.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 18, 20 p., 7584.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    “Hunting Otherwise”: Women’s Hunting in Two Contemporary Forager-Horticulturalist Societies

    Reyes-García, V., Díaz Reviriego, I., Duda, R., Fernández-Llamazares, Á. & Gallois, S., 11.09.2020, In: Human Nature. 31, 3, p. 203-221 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Cumulating evidence in environmental governance, policy and planning research: towards a research reform agenda

    Newig, J. & Rose, M., 02.09.2020, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 22, 5, p. 667-681 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Learning in environmental governance: opportunities for translating theory to practice

    Gerlak, A. K., Heikkila, T. & Newig, J., 02.09.2020, In: Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning. 22, 5, p. 653-666 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    A stakeholder theory perspective on business models: Value creation for sustainability

    Freudenreich, B., Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Schaltegger, S., 01.09.2020, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 166, 1, p. 3-18 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Common opossum population density in an agroforestry system in Bolivia

    Benavides, C., Arce, A. & Pacheco, L. F., 01.09.2020, In: Acta Amazonica. 50, 3, p. 246-251 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review