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

    Theorising individual agency within sociotechnical sustainability transitions frames: A social psychological review

    Upham, P., Bögel, P., Klapper, R. G. & Kašperová, E., 16.07.2021, Research Handbook of Sustainability Agency . Teerikangas, S., Onlika, T., Koistinen, K. & Mäkelä, M. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 29-45 17 p.

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

  2. Published

    Resilience, Entrepreneurship and ICT: Latest Research from Germany, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia

    Halberstadt, J. (Editor), Faasch, H. (Editor), Marx Gómez, J. (Editor), Greyling, J. (Editor) & Mufeti, T. K. (Editor), 2021, Cham: Springer Verlag. 420 p. (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  3. Published

    Introduction: Perspectives on Resilience Research

    Halberstadt, J. & Faasch, H., 2021, Resilience, Entrepreneurship and ICT: Latest Research from Germany, South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia. Halberstadt, J., Gomez, J. M., Greyling, J., Kaunapawa Mufeti, T. & Faasch, H. (eds.). Cham: Springer Verlag, p. xiii-xxix 17 p. (CSR, Sustainability, Ethics and Governance).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  4. Published

    Recht und Nachhaltigkeit

    Schomerus, T., Bäumler, J., Appel, I. & Halfmeier, A., 2022, Rechtsgespräche: Recht im Kontext von Innovation | Entrepreneurship Nachhaltigkeit | Kultur | Europa. Terhechte, J. (ed.). Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, p. 63-88 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    Solid Sorption Refrigeration With Calcium Chloride Methanolates on Technical Scale

    Neumann, K., Wiegand, M., Opel, O. & Korhammer, K., 04.02.2021, Proceedings of the 14th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference 2020 (IRES 2020). Stadler, I., Droege, P. & Trimborn, C. (eds.). Atlantis Press, p. 142-149 8 p. (Atlantis Highlights in Engineering; vol. 6).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  6. Published

    Microwave-assisted extraction and matrix solid-phase dispersion as green analytical chemistry sample preparation techniques for the valorisation of mango processing waste

    Segatto, M. L., Zanotti, K. & Zuin, V. G., 01.01.2021, In: Current Research in Chemical Biology. 1, 8 p., 100007.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Forestry contributed to warming of forest ecosystems in northern Germany during the extreme summers of 2018 and 2019

    Blumröder, J. S., May, F., Härdtle, W. & Ibisch, P. L., 09.2021, In: Ecological Solutions and Evidence. 2, 3, 14 p., e12087.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Implementing sustainable food forests: Extracting success factors through a cross-case comparison

    Albrecht, S. & Wiek, A., 21.12.2021, In: Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development . 11, 1, p. 183-200 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    12 Fragen an Gerd Michelsen

    Michelsen, G., 16.12.2021, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 30, 4, p. 220-221 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Implementing education for sustainable development in the German school system: Implications for teacher education

    Barth, M. & Kater-Wettstädt, L., 28.09.2021, Quality in Teacher Education and Professional Development: Chinese and German Perspectives. Chi-Kin Lee, J. & Ehmke, T. (eds.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 157-175 19 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review