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. 2018
  2. Published

    Die Formatfrage stellen. Das alternative Medienzentrum FC⚡MC zum G20-Gipfel

    Leistert, O., Bergermann, U., Grimm, M. & Keil, S., 12.04.2018, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 10, 18-1, p. 111-129 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  3. Published

    Storytelling: Ein Ansatz zum Umgang mit Komplexität in der Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation?

    Fischer, D. & Storksdieck, M., 05.04.2018, Zwischen Ohnmacht und Zuversicht?: Vom Umgang mit Komplexität in der Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation. München: Oekom Verlag, p. 161-176 16 p. (DBU-Umweltkommunikation; vol. 10).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Towards a Cyclical Concept of Real-World Laboratories: A Transdisciplinary Research Practice for Sustainability Transitions

    Wanner, M., Hilger, A., Westerkowski, J., Rose, M., Stelzer, F. & Schäpke, N., 03.04.2018, In: DISP. 54, 2, p. 94-114 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Transformation in a changing climate: a research agenda

    Fazey, I., Moug, P., Allen, S., Beckmann, K., Blackwood, D., Bonaventura, M., Burnett, K., Danson, M., Falconer, R., Gagnon, A. S., Harkness, R., Hodgson, A., Holm, L., Irvine, K. N., Low, R., Lyon, C., Moss, A., Moran, C., Naylor, L., O'Brien, K., Russell, S., Skerratt, S., Rao-Williams, J. & Wolstenholme, R., 03.04.2018, In: Climate and Development. 10, 3, p. 197-217 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    A theory of participation: what makes stakeholder and public engagement in environmental management work?

    Reed, M. S., Vella, S., Challies, E., de Vente, J., Frewer, L., Hohenwallner-Ries, D., Huber, T., Neumann, R. K., Oughton, E. A., Sidoli del Ceno, J. & van Delden, H., 01.04.2018, In: Restoration Ecology. 26, S1, p. S7-S17 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Fluorescent tracers to evaluate pesticide dissipation and transformation in agricultural soils

    Lange, J., Olsson, O., Sweeny, B., Herbstritt, B., Reich, M., Alvarez-Zaldivar, P., Payraudeau, S. & Imfeld, G., 01.04.2018, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 619 - 620, p. 1682-1689 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Innovative Wärmenetze, nachhaltige Wasserinfrastruktur und gemeinschaftliche Wohnprojekte: Politikempfehlungen

    Laws, N. & Heinrichs, H., 01.04.2018, Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, 54 p. (TransNIK Werkstattbericht; no. 8).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Networking for the environment: The impact of environmental orientation on start-ups’ networking frequency and network size

    Dickel, P., Hörisch, J. & Ritter, T., 01.04.2018, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 179, April 2018, p. 308-316 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Community resilience for a 1.5 degrees C world

    Fazey, I., Carmen, E., Chapin III, F. S., Ross, H., Rao-Williams, J., Lyon, C., Connon, I., Searle, B. & Knox, K., 04.2018, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 31, p. 30-40 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Efficacy of a web-based intervention with and without guidance for employees with risky drinking: Results of a three-arm randomized controlled trial

    Boß, L., Lehr, D., Schaub, M. P., Paz Castro, R., Riper, H., Berking, M. & Ebert, D. D., 04.2018, In: Addiction: The British journal of addiction to alcohol and other drugs. 113, 4, p. 635-646 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review