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. Accepted/In press
  2. 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 contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    How the phrasing of climate change terminology impacts people’s understanding and their intention to behave sustainably

    Reinsberg, F., Wallot, S., Loschelder, D. & Genschow, O., 12.2025, In: Climatic Change. 178, 12, 237.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Accepted/In press

    Barriers and Enablers of Interdisciplinary Climate Education: Insights From Secondary Teachers

    Castellazzi, E., Hakkarainen, V., Saari, M. & Raymond, C. M., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Australian Journal of Environmental Education.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Managing Organizations in the Natural Environment: Envisaging New Research Journeys

    Halme, M. & Schaltegger, S., 12.2025, In: Organization and Environment. 38, 4, p. 475-480 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  6. Accepted/In press

    The Pluralistic Illusion of Gender Inequality

    Sevincer, A. T. & Stoet, G., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Psychological Reports.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Intraspecific and intraindividual trait variability decrease with tree richness in a subtropical tree biodiversity experiment

    Castro Sánchez-Bermejo, P., Carmona, C. P., Schuman, M. C., Benavides, R., Sachsenmaier, L., Li, S., Liu, X. & Haider, S., 12.2025, In: Nature Communications. 16, 1, 15 p., 11009.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Accepted/In press

    Playing the part: Children's willingness and embarrassment to play gender stereotype-violating roles

    Parks-Stamm, E. J., Leuthold, C., Schuster, C., Day-Murray, K. & Martiny, S. E., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Developmental Psychology.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Beyond Propensity: Thresholds, Costs, and Interventions in Negotiation Avoidance

    Hunsaker, D. A., Zhang, H. & Lee, A. J., 2025, In: Negotiation and Conflict Management Research. 18, 4, p. 37-56 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Generationengerechtigkeit in der Klimapolitik

    Kemfert, C., 01.11.2025, In: Wirtschaftsdienst. 105, 11, p. 803-807 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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