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. 2019
  2. Published

    Nahtstellen nachhaltigen globalen Lernens - Philosophieren als (neue) Aufgabe von Unterricht

    Kater-Wettstädt, L., 24.06.2019, Bildung und Erziehung im Kontext globaler Transformationen. Clemens, I., Hornberg, S. & Rieckmann, M. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 125-140 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  3. Published

    Take the money and run? Implementation and disclosure of environmentally-oriented crowdfunding projects

    Hörisch, J., 20.06.2019, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 223, p. 127-135 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Land-use legacy and tree age in continuous woodlands: weak effects on overall ground beetle assemblages, but strong effects on two threatened species

    Huelsmann, M., Boutaud, E., Buse, J., Schuldt, A. & Assmann, T., 15.06.2019, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 23, 3, p. 623-633 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Navigating cognition biases in the search of sustainability

    Engler, J. O., Abson, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 15.06.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 6, p. 605-618 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Plant density modifies root system architecture in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) through a change in nodal root number

    Hecht, V. L., Temperton, V. M., Nagel, K. A., Rascher, U., Pude, R. & Postma, J. A., 15.06.2019, In: Plant and Soil. 439, 1-2, p. 179-200 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Towards productive functions? A systematic review of institutional failure, its causes and consequences

    Derwort, P., Jager, N. & Newig, J., 15.06.2019, In: Policy Sciences. 52, 2, p. 281-298 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Nature’s contributions to people in mountains: A review

    Martín-López, B., Leister, I., Lorenzo Cruz, P., Palomo, I., Grêt-Regamey, A., Harrison, P. A., Lavorel, S., Locatelli, B., Luque, S. & Walz, A., 11.06.2019, In: PLoS ONE. 14, 6, 24 p., e0217847.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Ecological-economic trade-offs of Diversified Farming Systems - A review

    Rosa-Schleich, J., Loos, J., Mußhoff, O. & Tscharntke, T., 01.06.2019, In: Ecological Economics. 160, p. 251-263 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Fragmented Landscape, Fragmented Knowledge: A Synthesis of Renosterveld Ecology and Conservation

    Topp, E. N. & Loos, J., 01.06.2019, In: Environmental Conservation. 46, 2, p. 171-179 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Land-sharing/-sparing connectivity landscapes for ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation

    Grass, I., Loos, J., Baensch, S., Batáry, P., Librán-Embid, F., Ficiciyan, A., Klaus, F., Riechers, M., Rosa, J., Tiede, J., Udy, K., Westphal, C., Wurz, A. & Tscharntke, T., 01.06.2019, In: People and Nature. 1, 2, p. 262-272 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Strategy for phytomanagement in an area affected by iron ore dam rupture: A study case in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

    Zago, V. C. P., das Dores, N. C. & Watts, B. A., 01.06.2019, In: Environmental Pollution. 249, p. 1029-1037 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    From a problem to a business opportunity-design of pharmaceuticals for environmental biodegradability

    Kümmerer, K., 06.2019, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 12, 4 p., 100136.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  14. Published

    Living on the edge: Rapid assessment of the mammal community in a coffee forest in south-western Ethiopia

    Rodrigues, P., Dorresteijn, I., Senbeta, F. & Fischer, J., 06.2019, In: African Journal of Ecology. 57, 2, p. 279-285 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  15. Published

    Interoperability of mineral sustainability initiatives: A case study of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)

    Junior, R. M., Sturman, K. & Imbrogiano, J. P., 28.05.2019, Sustainability Certification Schemes in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sectors: Outcomes for Society and the Environment. Vogt, M. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 215-229 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  16. Published

    Employees’ perceived benefits from participating in CSR activities and implications for increasing employees engagement in CSR

    Koch, C., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., Bögel, P. M. & Adam, U., 23.05.2019, In: Corporate Communications. 24, 2, p. 303-317 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Online stakeholder dialogue: quo vadis? – An empirical analysis in German-speaking countries

    Hetze, K., Bögel, P. M., Emde, A., Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S. & Glock, Y., 23.05.2019, In: Corporate Communications. 24, 2, p. 248-268 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    IWRM through WFD implementation? Drivers for integration in polycentric water governance systems

    Schröder, N., 22.05.2019, In: Water (Switzerland). 11, 5, 27 p., 1063.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Engaging creatively with tension in collaborative research

    Clarke, E., Freeth, R. & Fam, D., 21.05.2019, Independent Thinking in an Uncertain World: A Mind of One’s Own. Brown, V. A., Harris, J. A. & Waltner-Toews, D. (eds.). 1 ed. Oxon: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 262-283 22 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  20. Published

    Internet- and App-Based Stress Intervention for Distance-Learning Students With Depressive Symptoms: Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

    Harrer, M., Apolinario-Hagen, J., Fritsche, L., Druege, M., Krings, L., Beck, K., Salewski, C., Zarski, A.-C., Lehr, D., Baumeister, H. & Ebert, D. D., 21.05.2019, In: Frontiers in Psychiatry. 10, MAY, 13 p., 361.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Building actor-centric transformative capacity through city-university partnerships

    Keeler, L. W., Beaudoin, F., Wiek, A., John, B., Lerner, A. M., Beecroft, R., Tamm, K., Seebacher, A., Lang, D. J., Kay, B. & Forrest, N., 15.05.2019, In: Ambio. 48, 5, p. 529-538 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review