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.
- 2026
- E-pub ahead of print
Tree species richness drives multiple facets of bee diversity via understorey microenvironment
Xie, T. T., Li, Y., Wang, M. Q., Staab, M., Chen, J. T., Liu, X. W., Shi, X. Y., Zhou, Q. S., Niu, Z. Q., Ma, K. P., Bruelheide, H., Luo, A., Chesters, D., Hao, J. S. & Zhu, C. D., 02.01.2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Animal Ecology. 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Arthropod species loss underpins biomass declines
Wildermuth, B., Bröcher, M., Ladouceur, E., Meyer, S. T., Schielzeth, H., Staab, M., Achury, R., Blüthgen, N., Hertzog, L., Hines, J., Roscher, C., Schweiger, O., Weisser, W. W. & Ebeling, A., 01.2026, In: Nature Ecology & Evolution. 10, 1, p. 83-94 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Flower resource availability and Tetragonisca fiebrigi flower visits in two farming communities of Bolivian Chiquitanía
Benavides-Frias, C., Saravia-Nava, A., Rodriguez, P., Sun, P., Benra, F., Morón Aguilar, D. & Hanspach, J., 01.2026, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 65, 15 p., e03990.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems
Frietsch, M., Kaplin, B. A., Mukuralinda, A., Nkurikiyimana, D., William, A., Bariyanga, J. D., Duguma, D. W., Kayitanirwa, C., Mujawamariya, M., Nsengimana, V., Nshimyumuremyi, P., Nyiramvuyekure, V., Nduwamungu, J., Serge, S., Turikunkiko, E., Tuyizere, D. & Fischer, J., 01.2026, In: Trees, Forests and People. 23, 5 p., 101134.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Participatory mapping of local people's values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda
Ndayizeye, G., Kmoch, L., Baumann, M., Nsengimana, V., Fischer, J. & Plieninger, T., 01.2026, In: Restoration Ecology. 34, 1, 13 p., e70217.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Practical implementation of artificial intelligence for climate change mitigation in cities – priorities, collaborations and challenges
Hintz, M. J., Gross, M., Creutzig, F. & Kaack, L. H., 01.2026, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 131, 104498.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Reconceptualizing the role of socioeconomic material stocks in the leverage points framework to enable transformative change
Haas, W., Abson, D. J., Haberl, H., Spittler, N., Wiedenhofer, D. & Dorninger, C., 01.2026, In: Ecological Economics. 239, 9 p., 108759.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Resilience and regeneration for a world in crisis
Fischer, J., Farny, S., Pacheco-Romero, M. & Folke, C., 01.2026, In: Ambio. 55, 1, p. 24-34 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The Role of Individual Beliefs for Corporate Sustainability Transformations
Buhr, M. & Weissbrod, I., 01.2026, In: Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility. 35, 1, p. 340-366 27 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Understanding preferences for nature's contributions to people between and within social actors sheds insights for inclusive conservation
Gross, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Sanya, J., Pearson, J., Sesabo, J. & Martín-López, B., 01.2026, In: People and Nature. 8, 1, p. 65-80 16 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
