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
43. Decoding Spontaneous Thoughts From Brain Resting-State fMRI: Toward Understanding Rumination
Dekker, R., Nakamura, A. T., Lins, A. M., Bammel, M., Huys, Q., Schuck, N. W. & Cai, M. B., 01.05.2025, In: Biological Psychiatry. 97, 9, Supplement, p. S112-S113 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Conference abstract in journal › Research
- Published
Germination changes can restructure communities through priority effects
Temperton, V. M., 05.2025, In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 40, 5, p. 426-427 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Zur völker- und verwaltungsrechtlichen Einordnung der zivilen Seenotrettung
Schatz, V. J. & Epik, A., 2025, Archiv des Völkerrechts. Vol. 62. p. 445-465Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter
- Accepted/In press
Methodological and empirical insights from gender vulnerability and adaptation responses to climate change in South Asia–a systematic review
Choudhary, A., Ajgaonkar, H., Chauhan, N., Kaechele, H. & Joshi, P. K., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Climate and Development.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Unveiling local knowledge: a case study on inner development and sustainable transformation in rural areas
Schwenck, C., Pfendtner-Heise, J. & von Wehrden, H., 12.2025, In: Discover Sustainability. 6, 1, 24 p., 225.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
A critical analysis of the policy potential for sustainable agriculture in India
Chauhan, N. & von Wehrden, H., 12.2025, In: Discover Sustainability. 6, 1, 13 p., 233.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
How to Assess Knowledge Cumulation in Environmental Governance Research? Conceptual and Empirical Explorations
Newig, J. & Rose, M., 11.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environmental Policy and Governance. p. 1-20Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Effectiveness of an integrated platform-based intervention for promoting psychosocial safety climate and mental health in nursing staff: A pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial
Boß, L., Ross, J., Reis, D., Pischel, S., Mallwitz, T., Brückner, H., Tanner, G., Nissen, H., Kalon, L., Schümann, M., Lennefer, T., Janneck, M., Felfe, J., Ducki, A. & Lehr, D., 01.07.2025, In: International Journal of Nursing Studies. 167, 14 p., 105076.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Performance of conventional multi-barrier drinking water treatment plants for the removal of four artificial sweeteners
Scheurer, M., Storck, F. R., Brauch, H. J. & Lange, F. T., 06.2010, In: Water Research. 44, 12, p. 3573-3584 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Analysis and occurrence of seven artificial sweeteners in German waste water and surface water and in soil aquifer treatment (SAT)
Scheurer, M., Brauch, H. J. & Lange, F. T., 07.2009, In: Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. 394, 6, p. 1585-1594 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review