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. 2020
  2. Published

    What are the ingredients for food systems change towards sustainability? - Insights from the literature

    Weber, H., Pöggel, K., Eakin, H., Fischer, D., Lang, D. J., Wehrden, H. & Wiek, A., 01.11.2020, In: Environmental Research Letters. 15, 11, 17 p., 113001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Capability of social life cycle assessment for analyzing the artisanal small-scale gold mining sector—case study in the Amazonian rainforest in Brazil

    Springer, S. K., Peregovich, B. G. & Schmidt, M., 11.2020, In: International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. 25, 11, p. 2274-2289 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Diversitätsgerechte und digitale Lehre - Chance oder Widerspruch?

    Abels, S. & Stinken-Rösner, L., 11.2020, In: VSH AEU Bulletin. 46, 3/4, p. 39-46 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  5. Published

    Putting adaptive planning into practice: A meta-analysis of current applications

    Malekpour, S. & Newig, J., 11.2020, In: Cities. 106, 12 p., 102866.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Rethinking the meaning of “landscape shocks” in energy transitions: German social representations of the Fukushima nuclear accident

    Upham, P., Eberhardt, L. & Klapper, R. G., 11.2020, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 69, 12 p., 101710.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Thinking the Problematic: Genealogies and Explorations between Philosophy and the Sciences

    Leistert, O. (Editor) & Schrickel, I. (Editor), 26.10.2020, Bielefeld: transcript Verlag. 197 p. (Philosophy)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  8. Published

    Sustainable Chemistry - Path and Goal for a More Sustainable Textile Sector

    Kümmerer, K. & Keßler, L., 25.10.2020, Sustainable Textile and Fashion Value Chains: Drivers, Concepts, Theories and Solutions. Matthes, A., Beyer, K., Cebulla, H., Arnold, M. G. & Schumann, A. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature, p. 75-104 30 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    Set ambitious goals for biodiversity and sustainability

    Díaz, S., Zafra-Calvo, N., Purvis, A., Verburg, P. H., Obura, D., Leadley, P., Chaplin-Kramer, R., De Meester, L., Dulloo, E., Martín-López, B., Shaw, M. R., Visconti, P., Broadgate, W., Bruford, M. W., Burgess, N. D., Cavender-Bares, J., DeClerck, F., Fernández-Palacios, J. M., Garibaldi, L. A., Hill, S. L. L., Isbell, F., Khoury, C. K., Krug, C. B., Liu, J., Maron, M., McGowan, P. J. K., Pereira, H. M., Reyes-García, V., Rocha, J., Rondinini, C., Shannon, L., Shin, Y.-J., Snelgrove, P. V. R., Spehn, E. M., Strassburg, B., Subramanian, S. M., Tewksbury, J. J., Watson, J. E. M. & Zanne, A. E., 23.10.2020, In: Science. 370, 6515, p. 411-413 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Urbanization, Migration, and Adaptation to Climate Change

    Adger, W. N., Crépin, A. S., Folke, C., Ospina, D., Chapin, F. S., Segerson, K., Seto, K. C., Anderies, J. M., Barrett, S., Bennett, E. M., Daily, G., Elmqvist, T., Fischer, J., Kautsky, N., Levin, S. A., Shogren, J. F., van den Bergh, J., Walker, B. & Wilen, J., 23.10.2020, In: One Earth. 3, 4, p. 396-399 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Accounting for work conditions from modern slavery to decent work

    Christ, K. L., Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 20.10.2020, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 33, 7, p. 1481-1504 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review