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. 2017
  2. Published

    Kontroverse Praktiken einer öffentlichen Kontroverse: Schließungen von Aushandlungsräumen in der Agro-Gentechnik-Debatte in Polen

    Sulmowski, J. A., 05.2017, 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 364 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  3. Published

    Learning from Co-Founders of Grassroots Initiatives: Personal Resilience, Transition, and Behavioral Change – a Salutogenic Approach

    Maschkowski, G., Schäpke, N., Grabs, J. & Langen, N., 05.2017, Resilience, Community Action and Social Transformation: People, Place, Practice, Power, Politics & Possibility in Transition. Henfrey, T. & Maschkowski, G. (eds.). 1 ed. Lisbon: Permanent Publications, p. 65-84 20 p. (The Community-Led Transformations Book Series; vol. 2).

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

  4. Published

    Reframing the Food–Biodiversity Challenge

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 05.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 5, p. 335-345 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Regional differences in soil pH niche among dry grassland plants in Eurasia

    Wagner, V., Chytrý, M., Zelený, D., von Wehrden, H., Brinkert, A., Danihelka, J., Hölzel, N., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Palpurina, S., Preislerová, Z. & Wesche, K., 05.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 5, p. 660-670 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Teaching entrepreneurship as lived experience through ‘wonderment exercises’

    Klapper, R. & Neergaard, H., 05.2017, In: Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research. 7, p. 145-170 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Activity- vs. structural-oriented treatment approach for frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled trial

    Horst, R., Maicki, T., TrAbka, R., Albrecht, S., Schmidt, K., Mtel, S. & Von Piekartz, H., 01.05.2017, In: Clinical Rehabilitation. 31, 5, p. 686-695 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A review of ecosystem service benefits from wild bees across social contexts

    Matias, D. M. S., Leventon, J., Rau, A. L., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.05.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 4, p. 456-467 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Collaboration or fragmentation? Biodiversity management through the common agricultural policy

    Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Schaal, T., Velten, S., Dänhardt, J., Fischer, J., Abson, D. & Newig, J., 01.05.2017, In: Land Use Policy. 64, p. 1-12 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    How and Why Precise Anchors Distinctly Affect Anchor Recipients and Senders

    Loschelder, D. D., Friese, M. & Trötschel, R., 01.05.2017, In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 70, p. 164-176 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Many pathways toward sustainability: not conflict but co-learning between transition narratives

    Lüderitz, C., Abson, D. J., Audet, R. & Lang, D. J., 01.05.2017, In: Sustainability Science. 12, 3, p. 393-407 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review