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. Published

    Publicly Mediated Inter-Organizational Networks: A Solution for Sustainability-Oriented Innovation in SMEs ?

    Hansen, E. G. & Klewitz, J., 2012, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability. Wagner, M. (ed.). Sheffield: Greenleaf Publishing, p. 254-278 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  2. Published

    Publicly mediated inter-organisational networks: a solution for sustainabilityoriented innovation in SMEs?

    Hansen, E. G. & Klewitz, J., 01.01.2012, Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Sustainability. Wagner, M. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 254-278 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Public and stakeholder perceptions of 2030 bioenergy scenarios for the Yorkshire and Humber region

    Upham, P., Shackley, S. & Waterman, H., 01.09.2007, In: Energy Policy. 35, 9, p. 4403-4412 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Psychophysiological Correlates of Flow-Experience

    Peifer, C., 21.03.2012, Advances in Flow-Research. Engeser, S. (ed.). New York: Springer Verlag, p. 139-164 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Psychological, sociodemographic, and infrastructural factors as determinants of ecological impact caused by mobility behavior

    Hunecke, M., Haustein, S., Grischkat, S. & Boehler, S., 01.12.2007, In: Journal of Environmental Psychology. 27, 4, p. 277-292 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Psychological interventions to prevent the onset of major depression in adults: a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis

    IPD-PrevDep Consortium, Buntrock, C., Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Sakata, M., Furukawa, T. A., Ebert, D. D., Cuijpers, P. & Lehr, D., 12.2024, In: The Lancet Psychiatry. 11, 12, p. 990-1001 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Accepted/In press

    Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators

    Author Collaboration of "Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators", Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Adriaanse, M. C., Albert, S. M., Allart, E. & Lehr, D., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Psychiatry.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Prozess Simulation: Process simulation

    Sevincer, A. T. & Oettingen, G., 2013, Dorsch Psychologisches Wörterbuch. Huber Verlag

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  9. Published

    "Prozeßschutz" als Konzept einer naturschutzgerechten Waldwirtschaft und seine Bedeutung für die ökologische Wertigkeit von Wirtschaftswäldern

    Härdtle, W., 2001, Kompetenz und Kreativität: eine Universität in Entwicklung ; Hartwig Donner zum 60. Geburtstag. Heilmann, J. (ed.). Lüneburg: UNIBUCH Verlag, p. 368-376 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Prozesse der Energiewende wissenschaftlich gestalten: Wichtige Impulse aus den NaWis-Institutionen

    Heinrichs, H., Mans, U., Alvarez, A., Schomerus, T. & Goldammer, K., 12.2012, In: GAIA. 21, 4, p. 316-318 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review