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. Published
  2. Published

    Promising practices for dealing with complexity in research for development

    Abad, C. R., Bieri, S., Eschen, R., Fuerst, S., Jacobi, J., Jiménez, E., Zonta, A. L., Naughton, M., Schaffner, U., Winkler, M. S. & Flury, M., 20.05.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 1, p. 115-124 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Promoting and prolonging the beneficial effects of a vacation with the help of a smartphone-based intervention

    Virtanen, A., de Bloom, J., Reins, J. A., Syrek, C., Lehr, D. & Kinnunen, U., 12.11.2019, In: Gedrag en Organisatie. 32, 4, p. 250-278 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Promoting landscape heterogeneity to improve the biodiversity benefits of certified palm oil production: Evidence from Peninsular Malaysia

    Azhar, B., Saadun, N., Puan, C. L., Kamarudin, N., Aziz, N., Nurhidayu, S. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2015, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 3, p. 553-561 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Promoting neighbourhood sharing: infrastructures of convenience and community

    Huber, A., Heinrichs, H. & Jäger-Erben, M., 22.08.2024, In: Buildings and Cities. 5, 1, p. 349-367 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  6. Published

    Promoting pro-environmental behavior through citizen science? A case study with Chilean schoolchildren on marine plastic pollution.

    Wichmann , C. S., Fischer, D., Geiger, S. M., Honorato-Zimmer , D., Kruse, K., Knickmeier, K., Sundermann, A. & Thiel , M., 01.07.2022, In: Marine Policy. 141, 105035.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Promoting recovery in daily life: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

    Reis, D., Hart, A., Lehr, D. & Friese, M., 02.06.2021, In: BMC psychology. 9, 1, 15 p., 91.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Promoting Subjective Well-Being and a Sustainable Lifestyle in Children and Youth by Strengthening Their Personal Psychological Resources

    Voltmer, K. & von Salisch, M., 01.2024, In: Sustainability. 16, 1, 16 p., 134.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Promoting Sustainable Consumption in Educational Settings

    Fischer, D., 2013, Enabling Responsible Living. Schrader, U., Fricke, V., Doyle, D. & Thoresen, V. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Verlag, p. 147–160 14 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Promoting sustainable urban environments by continuing education for local authorities

    Adomßent, M., 01.01.1998, Urban Ecology. Breuste, J., Feldmann, H. & Uhlmann, O. (eds.). Berlin [u.a.]: Springer Verlag, p. 297-301 5 p.

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