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

    Efficacy of a Self-Help Web-Based Recovery Training in Improving Sleep in Workers: Randomized Controlled Trial in the General Working Population

    Behrendt, D., Ebert, D. D., Spiegelhalder, K. & Lehr, D., 07.01.2020, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 22, 1, 18 p., e13346.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The hidden power of language: How “value creation accounting” influences decisions on expenditures, cost reductions and staff costs

    Hummel, P. & Hörisch, J., 06.01.2020, In: Sustainability Accounting, Management and Policy Journal. 11, 1, p. 187-206 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Co-Creation of Social Entrepreneurial Opportunities with Refugees

    Harima, A. & Freudenberg, J., 02.01.2020, In: Journal of Social Entrepreneurship. 11, 1, p. 40-64 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Harmonising biodiversity conservation and food security in southwestern Ethiopia

    Manlosa, A. O., Rodrigues, P., Shumi, G., Hylander, K., Schultner, J., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Jiren, T. S., Mausbach, M., Abson, D., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 02.01.2020, 1 ed. Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 166 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  6. Published

    Contributions of place-based social-ecological research to address global sustainability challenges

    Martín-López, B., Balvanera, P., Manson, R., Mwampamba, T. H. & Norström, A., 01.01.2020, In: Global Sustainability. 3, 4 p., e21.

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

  7. Published

    Degradation and elimination of anticancer drugs by water and wastewater treatment - toxicity and biodegradability before and after the treatment

    Lutterbeck, C. A., Machado, Ê. L. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2020, Fate and Effects of Anticancer Drugs in the Environment. Heath, E., Isidori, M., Kosjek, T. & Filipic, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 139-168 30 p.

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

  8. Published

    Development perspectives for the application of autonomous, unmanned aerial systems (UASs) in wildlife conservation

    Fust, P. & Loos, J., 01.01.2020, In: Biological Conservation. 241, 4 p., 108380.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Evaluation of the OECD P OV and LRTP screening tool for estimating the long-range transport of organophosphate esters

    Sühring, R., Scheringer, M., Rodgers, T. F. M., Jantunen, L. M. & Diamond, M. L., 01.01.2020, In: Environmental Sciences: Processes & Impacts. 22, 1, p. 207-216 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Food waste and manure

    Lin, C. S. K., Ashokkumar, M., Kaur, G., Li, C., Li, X., Ong, K. L. & Pleissner, D., 01.01.2020, Handbook on Characterization of Biomass, Biowaste and Related By-products. Nzihou, A. (ed.). Cham: Springer Schweiz, p. 899-938 40 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  11. Published

    Grazing effects on intraspecific trait variability vary with changing precipitation patterns in Mongolian rangelands

    Lang, B., Ahlborn, J., Oyunbileg, M., Geiger, A., von Wehrden, H., Wesche, K., Oyuntsetseg, B. & Roemermann, C., 01.01.2020, In: Ecology and Evolution. 10, 2, p. 678-691 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Growth-trait relationships in subtropical forest are stronger at higher diversity

    Bongers, F. J., Schmid, B., Sun, Z., Li, Y., Härdtle, W., von Oheimb, G., Li, Y., Li, S., Staab, M., Ma, K. & Liu, X., 01.01.2020, In: Journal of Ecology. 108, 1, p. 256-266 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Habitat continuity matters: Ancient woodlands tend to have higher biomass and catching rate of dung beetles, mainly driven by one large species

    Hülsmann, M., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Frank, K., Schuldt, A. & Assmann, T., 01.01.2020, In: Acta Oecologica. 102, 7 p., 103501.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Inside-out sustainability: The neglect of inner worlds

    Ives, C. D., Freeth, R. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2020, In: Ambio. 49, 1, p. 208-217 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published
  16. Published

    Learning to collaborate while collaborating: advancing interdisciplinary sustainability research

    Freeth, R. & Caniglia, G., 01.01.2020, In: Sustainability Science. 15, 1, p. 247-261 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Occurrence, distribution, and ecotoxicological risk assessment of selected pharmaceutical compounds in water from Lake Victoria, Uganda

    Nantaba, F., Wasswa, J., Kylin, H., Palm, W. U., Bouwman, H. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2020, In: Chemosphere. 239, 11 p., 124642.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Organic matter priming by invasive plants depends on dominant mycorrhizal association

    Kumar, A., Phillips, R. P., Scheibe, A., Klink, S. & Pausch, J., 01.01.2020, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 140, 4 p., 107645.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Pathways of Conflict: Lessons from the Cultivation of MON810 in Germany in 2005–2008 for Emerging Conflicts over New Breeding Techniques

    Friedrich, B., 01.01.2020, In: Sustainability. 12, 1, 17 p., 144.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Pflanzengesellschaft des Jahres 2021: Hartholz-Auenwald (Ficario-Ulmetum)

    Härdtle, W., Bergmeier, E., Fichtner, A., Heinken, T., Hölzel, N., Remy, D., Schneider, S., Schwabe, A., Tischew, S. & Dierschke, H., 01.01.2020, In: Tuexenia. 40, p. 373-399 27 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published