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. 2024
  2. Published

    Ecosystem Services Justice: The Emergence of a Critical Research Field

    Langemeyer, J., Benra, F., Nahuelhual, L. & Zoderer, B. M., 01.10.2024, In: Ecosystem Services. 69, 11 p., 101655.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Governance for urban sustainability through real-world experimentation – Introducing an evaluation framework for transformative research involving public actors

    Kampfmann, T., Bernert, P., Lang, D. J. & Drautz, S., 01.10.2024, In: Cities. 153, 11 p., 105301.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Indigenous and local values of nature through a gender lens: A literature review

    Hartmann, J. Z. & Pearson, J., 01.10.2024, In: Ecosystem Services. 69, 14 p., 101654.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Terror Management Theory and the Existential Psychological Function of Heroes

    Schindler, S., 01.10.2024, Encyclopedia of Heroism Studies. Allison, S. T., Beggan, J. K. & Goethals, G. R. (eds.). Springer International Publishing, p. 2050-2055 6 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    Navigating social–ecological changes: A mixed-method analysis of extensive livestock systems in southern Patagonian forests, Argentina

    Rodríguez, P., Benra, F., Fischer, J., Romano, S. & Soler, R., 10.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 10, p. 1541-1555 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Participatory co-learning for human–wildlife coexistence: Reflections on a novel program applying systems thinking, nonviolent communication, and learning-based approaches

    Kansky, R., Maassarani, T. & Fischer, J., 10.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 10, p. 1479-1491 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Reviewing the science on 50 years of conservation: Knowledge production biases and lessons for practice

    Dawson, N. M., Coolsaet, B., Bhardwaj, A., Brown, D., Lliso, B., Loos, J., Mannocci, L., Martin, A., Oliva, M., Pascual, U., Sherpa, P. & Worsdell, T., 10.2024, In: Ambio. 53, 10, p. 1395-1413 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Summer temperatures from the Middle Pleistocene site Schöningen 13 II, northern Germany, determined from subfossil chironomid assemblages

    Rigterink, S., Krahn, K. J., Kotrys, B., Urban, B., Heiri, O., Turner, F., Pannes, A. & Schwalb, A., 10.2024, In: Boreas. 53, 4, p. 525-542 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Temperature and palaeolake evolution during a Middle Pleistocene interglacial–glacial transition at the Palaeolithic locality of Schöningen, Germany

    Krahn, K. J., Urban, B., Pinkerneil, S., Horne, D. J., Tucci, M., Koutsodendris, A. & Schwalb, A., 10.2024, In: Boreas. 53, 4, p. 504-524 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Waste-to-nutrition: Sustainable strategies for use of organic biomass in complex food systems

    Pleissner, D. & Smetana, S., 10.2024, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 49, 2 p., 100949.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research