School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Published
In the Eye of the Beholder: Stakeholder Perceived Value in Sustainable Business Models
Norris, S., 01.02.2024, In: Long Range Planning. 57, 1, 14 p., 102406.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Designing greener active pharmaceutical ingredients: Insights from pharmaceutical industry into drug discovery and development
Puhlmann, N., Vidaurre, R. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2024, In: European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 192, 13 p., 106614.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Atempause: Achtsamkeit in der Grundschule üben
Salisch, M. (Editor), Hondrich, F. (Editor) & Voltmer, K. (Editor), 01.06.2024, Münster: Waxmann Verlag. 208 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Collected editions and anthologies › Research
- Published
Expanding the pie or spoiling the cake? How the number of negotiation issues affects integrative bargaining
Warsitzka, M., Zhang, H., Beersma, B., Freund, P. A. & Trötschel, R., 01.08.2024, In: Journal of Applied Psychology. 109, 8, p. 1224-1249 26 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Umwelt-Governance und Partizipation
Rose, M. & Newig, J., 13.01.2024, Handbuch Umweltsoziologie. Sonnberger, M., Bleicher, A. & Groß, M. (eds.). 2 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 759-774 16 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter
- Accepted/In press
Soil carbon sequestration: Facilitated effect of extrafloral nectary trees in a diverse subtropical forest
Pan, Y., Liu, X., Staab, M. & Zhang, N., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Journal of Ecology.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Promoting diversity of thought: bridging knowledge systems for a pluriverse approach to research
Bülow, F., 25.02.2025, In: Earth Science, Systems and Society. 2025, 5Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Communicating change, transition, and transformation for adaptation in agriculture: a comparative analysis of climate change communication in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Bülow, F., Liao, A., Cradock-Henry, N. & Brower, A., 08.07.2025, In: Regional Environmental Change.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Implementation of Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development Through Cooperation Between Research and Practice
Hantsch, R. & Hantke, H., 2025, Education for Sustainable Development: The Contribution of Universities. Leal Filho, W., Trevisan, L. V., Pace, P. J. & Mifsud, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature, p. 161-175Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-demographic influences on environmental entrepreneurship: a systematic review
Hörisch, J., Fokuhl, M., Behrens, I., Hörnstein, M. C. & Lehmann, U., 24.06.2025, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 2025, Vol. 17, No. 1, p. 88-116 29 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review