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. 2022
  2. Published

    Social actors’ perceptions of wildlife: Insights for the conservation of species in Mediterranean protected areas

    Cortés-Avizanda, A., Pereira, H. M., McKee, E., Ceballos, O. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2022, In: Ambio. 51, 4, p. 990-1000 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Thinking, doing, organising: Prefiguring just and sustainable energy systems via collective prosumer ecosystems in Europe

    Wittmayer, J. M., Campos, I., Avelino, F., Brown, D., Doračić, B., Fraaije, M., Gährs, S., Hinsch, A., Assalini, S., Becker, T., Marín-González, E., Holstenkamp, L., Bedoić, R., Duić, N., Oxenaar, S. & Pukšec, T., 01.04.2022, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 86, 13 p., 102425.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Lehre und Forschung im Projekt „Naturwissenschaftlichen Unterricht inklusiv gestalten“ (Nawi-In)

    Abels, S., Barth, M., Brauns, S., Egger, D., Richter, S. & Sellin, K., 04.04.2022, Qualifizierung für Inklusion: Sekundarstufe. Lutz, D., Becker, J., Buchhaupt, F., Katzenbach, D., Strecker, A. & Urban, M. (eds.). Münster: Waxmann Verlag, p. 25-38 14 p. (Qualifizierung der pädagogischen Fachkräfte für inklusive Bildung; vol. 3).

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

  5. Published

    Emotions and social development in childhood

    Salisch, M., Voltmer, K., Miller-Slough , R., Chin, J.-C. & Denham, S. A., 05.04.2022, The Wiley‐Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development. Smith, P. & Hart, C. (eds.). 3. ed. Cambridge: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd., p. 631-650 20 p. (The Wiley‐Blackwell Handbook of Childhood Social Development).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    When control does not pay off: The dilemma between trade-off opportunities and budget restrictions in B2B negotiations

    Mann, M., Warsitzka, M., Zhang, H., Hüffmeier, J. & Trötschel, R., 06.04.2022, In: Negotiation and Conflict Management Research. 15, 4, p. 240-263 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Changes in the Complexity of Limb Movements during the First Year of Life across Different Tasks

    Laudanska, Z., Perez, D. L., Radkowska, A., Babis, K., Malinowska-Korczak, A., Wallot, S. & Tomalski, P., 15.04.2022, In: Entropy. 24, 4, 13 p., 552.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Better performance of organic than conventional tomato varieties in single and mixed cropping

    Ficiciyan, A. M., Loos, J. & Tscharntke, T., 21.04.2022, In: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 46, 4, p. 491-509 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Can Pulsed Electric Fields Treated Algal Cells Be Used as Stationary Phase in Chromatography?

    Pleissner, D. & Smetana, S., 29.04.2022, In: Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems. 6, 7 p., 860647.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    The German Environmental Information Act under the microscope

    Schomerus, T. & Zschiesche, M., 29.04.2022, In: Renewable Energy Law & Policy Review. 10, 3-4, p. 32-38 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  11. Published

    Decision-making for nature’s contributions to people in the Cape Floristic Region: the role of values, rules and knowledge

    Topp, E., Loos, J. & Martín-López, B., 05.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 17, 3, p. 739-760 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review