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

    Alpha and beta diversity across coastal marine social-ecological systems: Implications for conservation

    Lazzari, N., Martín-López, B., Sanabria-Fernandez, J. A. & Becerro, M. A., 02.2020, In: Ecological Indicators. 109, 8 p., 105786.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Business model patterns of sustainability pioneers - Analyzing cases across the smartphone life cycle

    Zufall, J., Norris, S., Schaltegger, S., Revellio, F. & Hansen, E. G., 20.01.2020, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 244, 15 p., 118651.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Occurrence, distribution, and ecotoxicological risk assessment of selected pharmaceutical compounds in water from Lake Victoria, Uganda

    Nantaba, F., Wasswa, J., Kylin, H., Palm, W. U., Bouwman, H. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2020, In: Chemosphere. 239, 11 p., 124642.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Open to Offers, but Resisting Requests: How the Framing of Anchors Affects Motivation and Negotiated Outcomes

    Majer, J. M., Trötschel, R., Galinsky, A. & Loschelder, D. D., 09.2020, In: Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 119, 3, p. 582-599 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. In preparation

    Driesch und Uexküll

    Schmieg, G., 03.2026, Plessner Handbuch: Leben – Werk – Wirkung. Fischer, J. (ed.). J.B. Metzler, 6 p. Kap.II.8

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  6. Published

    Arbitrating the Oceans: The Future of Inter-State Arbitration in the International Law of the Sea

    Schatz, V. J., 2019, A Brand New World: The Evolution and Future of Arbitration . Planterose , R. & Tackaberry, J. (eds.). London, p. 269-278

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Social Synergies, Tradeoffs, and Equity in Marine Conservation Impacts

    Gill, D. A., Cheng, S. H., Glew, L., Aigner, E., Bennett, N. J. & Mascia, M. B., 17.10.2019, In: Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 44, p. 347-372 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Catalyzing Transformations to Sustainability in the World's Mountains

    the Mountain Sentinels Network, Klein, J. A., Tucker, C. M., Nolin, A. W., Hopping, K. A., Reid, R. S., Steger, C., Grêt-Regamey, A., Lavorel, S., Müller, B., Yeh, E. T., Boone, R. B., Bourgeron, P., Butsic, V., Castellanos, E., Chen, X., Dong, S., Greenwood, G., Keiler, M., Marchant, R., Seidl, R., Spies, T., Thorn, J., Yager, K. & Martín‐López, B., 01.05.2019, In: Earth's Future. 7, 5, p. 547-557 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Make EU trade with Brazil sustainable

    604 signatories, Kehoe, L., Reis, T., Virah-Sawmy, M., Balmford, A., Kuemmerle, T., Knohl, A., Antonelli, A., Hochkirch, A., Vira, B., Massa, B., Peres, C. A., Ammer, C., Görg, C., Schneider, C., Curtis, D., de la Peña, E., Tello, E., Sperfeld, E., Corbera, E., Morelli, F., Valladares, F., Peterson, G., Hide, G., Mace, G., Kallis, G., Olsson, G. A., Brumelis, G., Alexanderson, H., Haberl, H., Nuissl, H., Kreft, H., Ghazoul, J., Piotrowski, J. A., Macdiarmid, J., Newig, J., Fischer, J., Altringham, J., Gledhill, J., Nielsen, J., Müller, J., Palmeirim, J., Barlow, J., Alonso, J. C., Asencio, J. J. P., Steinberger, J. K., Jones, J. P. G., Cotta, B., Leonhardt, S. D., Wanger, T. C. & Coenen, J., 26.04.2019, In: Science. 364, 6438, p. 341 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Was tun gegen das Insektensterben? Empfehlungen für naturschutzfachlich wertvolle Flächen

    Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Drees, C., Homburg, K. & Nolte, D., 2019, In: Natur und Landschaft. 94, 6-7, p. 289-293 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review