School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- Accepted/In press
Education for sustainable lifestyles: a powerful tool for what and for whom?
Grauer, C., Solbakken, I., Fischer, D. & Didham, R. J., 2026, (Accepted/In press) Handbook of Research on Sustainable Lifestyles. Cohen, M. J., McGreevy, S., Lorek, S., Lambino, R. & Bengtsson, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar PublishingResearch output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Die politisch-demokratische Dimension von Beruflichkeit im Kontext nachhaltiger Entwicklung – Einblicke in ein Fortbildungskonzept zur Professionalisierung des ausbildenden Personals
Dück, F., Hantke, H., Heitzhausen, S., Murawski, L. & Zurstrassen, B., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: berufsbildung - Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Reconceptualizing the role of socioeconomic material stocks in the leverage points framework to enable transformative change
Haas, W., Abson, D. J., Haberl, H., Spittler, N., Wiedenhofer, D. & Dorninger, C., 01.2026, In: Ecological Economics. 239, 9 p., 108759.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The EU’s competitiveness turn and the myth of simplification
Bertram, A., 2025, Simplification of EU Legislation: A Complex Matter. TEPSA – Trans- European Policy Studies Association, p. 7-9 (European Council Experts Debrief).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter
- E-pub ahead of print
Knowledge Cumulation in Environmental Governance Research
Rose, M. (Editor), Newig, J. (Editor) & Leipold, S. (Editor), 11.11.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) John Wiley & Sons Inc. (Environmental Policy and Governance)Research output: Books and anthologies › Special Journal issue › Research
- Published
Nachhaltigkeit leiten. Zukunftsorientierte Schulentwicklung mit dem Whole School Approach: Ein Toolkit für Schulleitungsteams
Fischer, D., Grauer, C., Holst, J. & Schlieszus, A. K., 2025, Greenpeace. 96 p.Research output: Books and anthologies › Compendium/lecture notes › Transfer
- Published
Critical Global Citizenship in Practice: Insights from adapting the Ethical Global Issues Pedagogy for German primary teachers
Grauer, C. & Walenziak, A., 2025Research output: other publications › Articles in scientific forums or blogs › Transfer
- Published
Aarhus-Konvention unter Druck: UK und EU stellen den Compliance-Mechanismus in Frage
Bertram, A., 04.12.2025Research output: other publications › Articles in scientific forums or blogs › Transfer
- E-pub ahead of print
Leugnung des Existenzrechts Israels: Zur Verfassungsmäßigkeit einer potenziellen Verschärfung des § 130 StGB
Schatz, V. J., Bertram, A. & Bartmann, E., 01.12.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Recht und Politik. p. 1-11Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Zeitliches Existenzminimum: Zur Rekonstruktion des verfassungsrechtlichen Existenzminimums unter Berücksichtigung von Zeit als Voraussetzung menschenwürdiger Existenz
Bertram, A., 11.2025, In: Rechtswissenschaft : Zeitschrift für rechtswissenschaftliche Forschung. 16, 1Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review