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

    Light availability and land-use history drive biodiversity and functional changes in forest herb layer communities

    Depauw, L., Perring, M. P., Landuyt, D., Maes, S. L., Blondeel, H., De Lombaerde, E., Brūmelis, G., Brunet, J., Closset-Kopp, D., Czerepko, J., Decocq, G., den Ouden, J., Gawryś, R., Härdtle, W., Hédl, R., Heinken, T., Heinrichs, S., Jaroszewicz, B., Kopecký, M., Liepiņa, I., Macek, M., Máliš, F., Schmidt, W., Smart, S. M., Ujházy, K., Wulf, M. & Verheyen, K., 01.07.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 4, p. 1411-1425 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Plural valuation of nature for equity and sustainability: Insights from the Global South

    Zafra-Calvo, N., Balvanera, P., Pascual, U., Merçon, J., Martín-López, B., van Noordwijk, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Lele, S., Ifejika Speranza, C., Arias-Arévalo, P., Cabrol, D., Cáceres, D. M., O'Farrell, P., Subramanian, S. M., Devy, S., Krishnan, S., Carmenta, R., Guibrunet, L., Kraus-Elsin, Y., Moersberger, H., Cariño, J. & Díaz, S., 01.07.2020, In: Global Environmental Change. 63, 12 p., 102115.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Simulations in Science Education - Status Quo

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 01.07.2020, In: Progress in science education (PriSE). 3, 1, p. 26-34 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Validierung des Adaptiven Tests des Emotionswissens für drei- bis neunjährige Kinder (ATEM 3 - 9)

    Voltmer, K., 01.07.2020, In: Diagnostica. 66, 3, p. 158-171 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Achtsamkeit bei kindern und jugendlichen

    von Salisch, M. & Klein, A. M., 07.2020, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 69, 4, p. 285-288 4 p.

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

  7. Published

    A typology of actors and their strategies in multi-scale governance of wind turbine conflict within forests

    Jürges, N., Leahy, J. & Newig, J., 07.2020, In: Land Use Policy. 96, p. 1-9 9 p., 104691.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Ethik

    Oermann, N. O., 07.2020, In: Theologische Literaturzeitung. 2020, 7, p. 716-717 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  9. Published

    Fehler beim schätzen: (Un)realistische Ergebnisse anhand von Größenvorstellungen ­erkennen

    Stinken-Rösner, L., 07.2020, In: Unterricht Physik. 31, 177/178, p. 64-67 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  10. Published

    Schulbasierte Achtsamkeitsprogramme mit Kindern und Jugendlichen

    Engel, N., Schiemann, S. & von Salisch, M., 07.2020, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 69, 4, p. 289-304 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving – The ‘First Fuel’

    Schomerus, T., 26.06.2020, Research Handbook on EU Environmental Law. Peeters, M. & Eliantonio, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 458-473 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  12. Published
  13. Published

    Abiotic and biotic degradation of five aromatic organosilicon compounds in aqueous media: Structure degradability relationships

    Grabitz, E., Olsson, O., Amsel, A.-K., Rummel, B., Mitzel, N. W. & Kümmerer, K., 15.06.2020, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 392, 15 p., 122429.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Studentische Perspektiven auf die digitale Transformation der Hochschulen: Strukturen, Vernetzung und Partizipation

    Böckel, A., 08.06.2020, Zukunft Lernwelt Hochschule: Perspektiven und Optionen für eine Neuausrichtung. Stang, R. & Becker, A. (eds.). Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Saur, p. 140-146 7 p. (Lernwelten ).

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

  15. Published

    Thinking Inclusive Science Education from two Perspectives: Inclusive Pedagogy and Science Education

    Stinken-Rösner, L., Rott, L., Hundertmark, S., Baumann, T., Menthe, J., Hoffmann, T., Nehring, A. & Abels, S., 05.06.2020, In: RISTAL. 3, p. 30-45 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Advancing understanding of natural resource governance: a post-Ostrom research agenda

    Cumming, G. S., Epstein, G., Anderies, J. M., Apetrei, C.-I., Baggio, J. A., Bodin, Ö., Chawla, S., Clements, H. S., Cox, M. E., Egli, L., Gurney, G. G., Lubell, M. N., Magliocca, N. R., Morrison, T. H., Müller, B., Seppelt, R., Schlüter, M., Unnikrishnan, H., Villamayor-Tomas, S. & Weible, C. M., 01.06.2020, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 44, p. 26-34 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  17. Published

    Between Ostrom and Nordhaus: The research landscape of sustainability economics

    Drupp, M. A., Baumgärtner, S., Meyer, M., Quaas, M. F. & von Wehrden, H., 01.06.2020, In: Ecological Economics. 172, 17 p., 106620.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Building capacity for the science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services: Activities, fellows, outcomes, and neglected capacity building needs

    Gustafsson, K. M., Díaz-Reviriego, I. & Turnhout, E., 01.06.2020, In: Earth System Governance. 4, 10 p., 100050.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Chances and challenges of the biologization of the economy of rural areas

    Pleissner, D., 01.06.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 23, p. 46-49 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  20. Published

    Digitale Behandlungsangebote für Insomnie – eine Übersichtsarbeit

    Spiegelhalder, K., Acker, J., Baumeister, H., Büttner-Teleaga, A., Danker-Hopfe, H., Ebert, D. D., Fietze, I., Frase, L., Klein, S., Lehr, D., Maun, A., Mertel, I., Richter, K., Riemann, D., Sauter, C., Schilling, C., Schlarb, A. A., Specht, M., Steinmetz, L., Weeß, H. G. & Crönlein, T., 01.06.2020, In: Somnologie. 24, 2, p. 106-114 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  21. Published

    Erratum zu: Digitale Behandlungsangebote für Insomnie – eine Übersichtsarbeit (Somnologie, (2020), 24, 2, (106-114), 10.1007/s11818-020-00238-9)

    Spiegelhalder, K., Acker, J., Baumeister, H., Büttner-Teleaga, A., Danker-Hopfe, H., Ebert, D. D., Fietze, I., Frase, L., Klein, S., Lehr, D., Maun, A., Mertel, I., Richter, K., Riemann, D., Sauter, C., Schilling, C., Schlarb, A. A., Specht, M., Steinmetz, L., Weeß, H. G. & Crönlein, T., 01.06.2020, In: Somnologie. 24, 2, p. 115-115 1 p.

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