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.
- Published
Implementation of Vocational Education and Training for Sustainable Development Through Cooperation Between Research and Practice
Hantsch, R. & Hantke, H., 2025, Education for Sustainable Development: The Contribution of Universities. Leal Filho, W., Trevisan, L. V., Pace, P. J. & Mifsud, M. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature, p. 161-175Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Socio-demographic influences on environmental entrepreneurship: a systematic review
Hörisch, J., Fokuhl, M., Behrens, I., Hörnstein, M. C. & Lehmann, U., 24.06.2025, In: International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing. 2025, Vol. 17, No. 1, p. 88-116 29 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Using causal loop diagrams to see the “big picture” and embrace complexity in human-wildlife coexistence governance
Kansky, R., Riechers, M. & Fischer, J., 08.2025, In: Biological Conservation. 308, 13 p., 111198.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Multilayer Material System Analysis of wind turbines: correlation of stocks and flows in the EU of six metals and two drivetrain technologies
Godoy León, M. F., Balsells Llort, C., Demuytere, C., Bobba, S., Tazi, N. & Dewulf, J., 01.08.2025, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 518, 15 p., 145794.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Digitale Gesundheitskompetenz an Schulen. Entwicklung eines Selbstbewertungsinstruments zur Erfassung organisationaler Bedingungen
Hartmann, A., Fischer, L., Rangnow, P., Stauch, L., Renninger, D., Okan, O. & Dadaczynski, K., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Pravention und Gesundheitsforderung.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Efficacy of a Web-Based Stress Management Intervention for Beginning Teachers on Reducing Stress and Mechanisms of Change: Randomized Controlled Trial
Heckendorf, H. & Lehr, D., 16.06.2025, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 27, 28 p., e58475.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Accepted/In press
Dynamics of the polycrisis: Temporal trends, spatial distribution and co-occurrences of national shocks (1970-2019)
Verzier, A., Bastien-Olvera, B. A., Benra, F., Nyström, M., Delannoy, L. & Jørgensen, P. S., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Global Sustainability. 32 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Effectiveness of a gratitude app at reducing repetitive negative thinking as a transdiagnostic risk factor in the general population: Results from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Kalon, L. S., Freund, H., Rinn, A., Watkins, P. C., Zarski, A. C. & Lehr, D., 15.11.2025, In: Journal of Affective Disorders. 389, 11 p., 119664.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Whole-school sustainability at the core of quality education: Wished for by principals but requiring collective and structural action
Holst, J., Brock, A., Grund, J., Schlieszus, A. K. & Singer-Brodowski, M., 10.08.2025, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 519, 11 p., 145897.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Beyond the Trail—Understanding Non-Native Plant Invasions in Mountain Ecosystems
Barros, A., Fuentes Lillo, E., Aschero, V., Pauchard, A., Alvarez, M. A., Wedegärtner, R., Clavel, J., Müllerová, J., Pergl, J., Zong, S., Vítková, M., Klinerová, T., Cavieres, L. A., Larson, C., Rew, L. J., Seipel, T., Meffre, C., Arellano, T., Essl, F., Dullinger, S., Gwate, O., Clark, V. R., Achermann, M., Haider, S. & Lembrechts, J. J., 06.2025, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 34, 6, 14 p., e70060.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review