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
  3. Published

    Constellations of Transdisciplinary Practices: A Map and Research Agenda for the Responsible Management Learning Field

    Laasch, O., Moosmayer, D., Antonacopoulou, E. & Schaltegger, S., 01.04.2020, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 162, 4, p. 735-757 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Impacts of Multiple Environmental Change Drivers on Growth of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica): Forest History Matters

    Mausolf, K., Härdtle, W., Hertel, D., Leuschner, C. & Fichtner, A., 01.04.2020, In: Ecosystems. 23, 3, p. 529-540 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Safeguarding the rare woodland species Gagea spathacea: Understanding habitat requirements is not sufficient

    Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., Matthies, D., Arnold, V., Erfmeier, A., Hemke, T., Jansen, D., Lütt, S., Schmidt, M., Sturm, K., von Oheimb, G. & Ohse, B., 01.04.2020, In: Plant Species Biology. 35, 2, p. 120-129 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    ¿Cómo pueden contribuir los estudios feministas y poscoloniales de la ciencia a la coproducción de conocimientos? Reflexiones sobre IPBES

    Iniesta-Arandia, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., García-Nieto, A. P., Hevia, V., Díaz-Reviriego, I., García-Llorente, M., Oteros-Rozas, E., Ravera, F., Piñeiro, C. & Mingorría, S., 04.2020, In: Ecosistemas. 29, 1, 11 p., 1936.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Die tropischen Zyklone Idai und Fani im Jahr 2019 Naturgewalten im Indischen Ozean

    Samimi, C., Ghosh, A. & Fickert, T., 04.2020, In: Geographische Rundschau. 72, 4, p. 34-37 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Rapid Rise in the Groundwater after Heavy Rain

    Wittenberg, H., 04.2020, In: Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung. 64, 2, p. 64-65 2 p.

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

  9. Published

    Special issue on Responsible Management Learning: Change and Innovation for Sustainability, Responsibility, Ethics

    Laasch, O. (Editor), Moosmayer, D. C. (Editor), Schaltegger, S. (Editor) & Antonacopoulou, E. (Editor), 04.2020, Dordrecht: Springer. (Journal of Business Ethics; vol. 162, no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueResearch

  10. Published

    The effect of organic acids and alcohols on precipitation of phosphate using calcined seashell powder

    Pleissner, D., Zaman, T. & Peinemann, J., 04.2020, In: Chemical Papers. 74, 4, p. 1211-1217 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Call for Participation: Collaborative Benchmarking of Functional-Structural Root Architecture Models. The Case of Root Water Uptake

    Schnepf, A., Black, C. K., Couvreur, V., Delory, B. M., Doussan, C., Koch, A., Koch, T., Javaux, M., Landl, M., Leitner, D., Lobet, G., Mai, T. H., Meunier, F., Petrich, L., Postma, J. A., Priesack, E., Schmidt, V., Vanderborght, J., Vereecken, H. & Weber, M., 31.03.2020, In: Frontiers in Plant Science. 11, 21 p., 316.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Storytelling for sustainability: A definition and its implications for education and communication

    Fischer, D., Selm, H., Sundermann, A. & Storksdieck, M., 25.03.2020, Storytelling for Sustainability in Higher Education: An Educator's Handbook. Moltan-Hill, P., Luna, H., Wall, T., Puntha, H. & Baden, D. (eds.). 1 ed. London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 38-51 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  13. Published

    The WTO's Crisis: Between a Rock and a Hard Place

    Bäumler, J., 20.03.2020, Berlin: Freie Universität Berlin, 34 p. (KFG Working Paper Series; no. 42).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  14. Published

    Experimental and in silico assessment of fate and effects of the UV filter 2-phenylbenzimidazole 5-sulfonic acid and its phototransformation products in aquatic solutions

    Westphal, J., Kümmerer, K. & Olsson, O., 15.03.2020, In: Water Research. 171, 10 p., 115393.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Rethinking megafauna

    Moleón, M., Sánchez-Zapata, J. A., Donázar, J. A., Revilla, E., Martín-López, B., Gutiérrez-Cánovas, C., Getz, W. M., Morales-Reyes, Z., Campos-Arceiz, A., Crowder, L. B., Galetti, M., González-Suárez, M., He, F., Jordano, P., Lewison, R., Naidoo, R., Owen-Smith, N., Selva, N., Svenning, J. C., Tella, J. L., Zarfl, C., Jähnig, S. C., Hayward, M. W., Faurby, S., García, N., Barnosky, A. D. & Tockner, K., 11.03.2020, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 287, 1922, 10 p., 20192643.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  16. Published

    A highly endangered species on the edge: distribution, habitat use and outlook for Colias myrmidone in newly established Natura 2000 areas in Romania

    Loos, J., Vizauer, T.-C., Kastal, A., Davies, M., Hedrich, H. & Dolek, M., 01.03.2020, In: Environment, Development and Sustainability. 22, 3, p. 2399-2414 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Alternative discourses around the governance of food security: A case study from Ethiopia

    Jiren, T. S., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Schultner, J., Bergsten, A., Manlosa, A., Jager, N., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2020, In: Global Food Security. 24, 11 p., 100338.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    A mobile application for panic disorder and agoraphobia: Insights from a multi-methods feasibility study

    Ebenfeld, L., Kleine Stegemann, S., Lehr, D., Ebert, D. D., Funk, B., Riper, H. & Berking, M., 01.03.2020, In: Internet Interventions. 19, 10 p., 100296 .

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published
  20. Published

    Cognitive dissonance in sustainability scientists regarding air travel for academic purposes: A qualitative study

    Schrems, I. & Upham, P., 01.03.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 5, 14 p., 1837.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Conflicting demands of chemistry and inclusive teaching—a video‐based case study

    Abels, S., Koliander, B. & Plotz, T., 01.03.2020, In: Education Sciences. 10, 3, 13 p., 50.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review