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. 2016
  2. Published

    Exploring the potential role of priority effects for ecological restoration

    Temperton, V. M., Nelson, C. & Weidlich, E. W. A., 25.08.2016, 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER Europe): The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration, abstract volume. Kollmann, J. & Hermann, J.-M. (eds.). Technische Universität München, p. 108 1 p.

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

  3. Published

    Priority effects influence plant traits and biomass in a grassland field experiment

    Weidlich, E. W. A. & Temperton, V. M., 25.08.2016, Best practice in restoration: The 10th European Conference on Ecological Restoration Abstract Volume, August 22–26, 2016, Freising, Germany. Technische Universität München, p. 259 1 p.

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

  4. Published

    Reliability and Validity of Assessing User Satisfaction With Web-Based Health Interventions

    Boss, L., Lehr, D., Reis, D., Vis, C., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Ebert, D. D., 31.08.2016, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 18, 8, 13 p., e234.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Internet- and mobile-based stress management for employees with adherence-focused guidance: Efficacy and mechanism of change

    Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Heber, E., Riper, H., Cuijpers, P. & Berking, M., 09.2016, In: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health. 42, 5, p. 382-394 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    A comparison of feasible methods for microalgal biomass determinations during tertiary wastewater treatment

    Su, Y., Mennerich, A. & Urban, B., 01.09.2016, In: Ecological Engineering. 94, p. 532-536 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    An applied methodology for stakeholder identification in transdisciplinary research

    Leventon, J., Fleskens, L., Claringbould, H., Schwilch, G. & Hessel, R., 01.09.2016, In: Sustainability Science. 11, 5, p. 763-775 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Business Models for Sustainability: A Co-Evolutionary Analysis of Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Transformation

    Schaltegger, S., Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Hansen, E. G., 01.09.2016, In: Organization & Environment. 29, 3, p. 264-289 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Effect of a Web-Based Guided Self-Help Intervention for Prevention of Major Depression in Adults with Subthreshold Depression: A Randomized Clinical Trial

    Buntrock, C., Ebert, D. D., Lehr, D., Smit, F., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Cuijpers, P., 01.09.2016, In: Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 71, 9, p. 526-527 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Endogenous environmental policy for small open economies with transboundary pollution

    Fünfgelt, J. & Schulze, G. G., 01.09.2016, In: Economic Modelling. 57, p. 294-310 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Introduction to the Assessment - Characteristics of the Region

    Quante, M., Colijn, F., Bakker, J. P., Härdtle, W., Heinrich, H., Lefebvre, C., Nöhren, I., Olesen, J. E., Pohlmann, T., Sterr, H., Sündermann, J. & Tölle, M. H., 01.09.2016, North Sea Region Climate Change Assessment. Quante, M. & Colijn, F. (eds.). 1. ed. Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 1-52 52 p. (Regional Climate Studies).

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