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

    Feedstocks and analysis: General discussion

    Aldous, L., Argyropoulos, D., Budarin, V., Cabrera-Rodríguez, C. I., Clark, J., Coma, M., Constable, D., Fan, J., Gschwend, F., Hayes, D., Hu, C., Huber, G., Hughes, T., Hunt, A., Lapkin, A., Lye, G., Mascal, M., Matharu, A., Mu, X., Pant, D., Papaioannou, E., Rinaldi, R., Rothenberg, G., Samec, J., Sarkanen, S., Stankiewicz, A., Stevens, C., Titirici, M., Waldron, K., Wilson, K., Zhenova, A., Zhou, L. & Zuin, V., 01.09.2017, In: Faraday Discussions. 202, p. 497-519 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  2. Published

    Feeding ecology of the Andean fox in southern Ecuador: Wild ungulates being the main prey

    Guntiñas, M., Lozano, J., Cisneros, R., Narváez, C. & Armijos, J., 19.07.2017, In: Contributions to Zoology. 86, 2, p. 169-180 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Feasibility of online group stress management training compared to web-based individual training for employees—a randomized pilot study

    Boß, L., Hannibal, S. & Lehr, D., 24.04.2025, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 16, 12 p., 1524285.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Feasibility and efficacy of a digital resilience training: A pilot study of the strengths-based training RESIST

    Behrendt, D., Boß, L., Hannibal, S., Kunzler, A. M., Wessa, M. & Lehr, D., 01.09.2023, In: Internet Interventions. 33, 14 p., 100649.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Fazit zum Politikfeld Ländliche Entwicklung: der Wandel ländlicher Räume als Wandel gesellschaftlicher Naturverhältnisse

    Mölders, T., Burandt, A. & Szumelda, A. U., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 139-144 6 p.

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

  6. Published

    Fazit zum Politikfeld Agro-Gentechnik: Umkämpfte Naturgestaltung, umkämpfte Politikgestaltung

    Gottschlich, D., Sulmowski, J. A. & Friedrich, B., 02.2017, Politiken der Naturgestaltung : Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision. Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 217-224 8 p.

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

  7. Published

    Fazit: Wie hacken?

    Hochmann, L. & Möller, S., 01.02.2024, Organisationen hacken: Einfallstore in eine nachhaltige Arbeitswelt. Hochmann, L. & Möller, S. (eds.). München: Oekom Verlag, p. 403-411 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  8. Published

    Fazit und Empfehlungen zur Weiterentwicklung des Ökosystemdienstleistungsansatzes für Wälder

    Bürger-Arndt, R., Ohse, B. & Meyer, K., 2012, Ökosystemdienstleistungen von Wäldern : Workshopbericht. Bürger-Arndt, R., Ohse, B., Meyer, K. & Höltermann, A. (eds.). Bonn-Bad Godesberg: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 126-138 13 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 320).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Fazit und Ausblick: StadtLandschaften zwischen Verlusterfahrung und Erneuerung

    Hofmeister, S. & Kühne, O., 16.06.2016, StadtLandschaften: Die neue Hybridität von Stadt und Land. Hofmeister, S. & Kühne, O. (eds.). 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 283-286 4 p. (Hybride Metropolen).

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

  10. Published

    Fazit und Ausblick: Perspektiven und Veränderungspotenziale für die Nachhaltigkeitsforschung

    Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Moths, K., Koch, L. & Hofmeister, S., 2015, Nachhaltigkeit anders denken: Veränderungspotenziale durch Geschlechterperspektiven. Katz, C., Heilmann, S., Thiem, A., Koch, L., Moths, K. & Hofmeister, S. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer VS, p. 281-298 18 p.

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

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