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

    Creating curricula for competence: Findings from a comparison of three sustainability graduate programs

    Birdman, J. & Lang, D. J., 29.03.2025, North American and European Perspectives on Sustainability in Higher Education.. Filho, W. L., Newman, J., Salvia, A. L., Trevisan, L. V. & Corazza, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature Switzerland AG, p. 1173-1188 16 p. (World Sustainability Series; vol. Part F280).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  2. Published

    Transformation gezielt kommunizieren: Kurzgutachten

    Hartmann, E., Heinrichs, H. & Herzhoff, G., 03.2023, Institut für Nachhaltigkeitssteuerung (INSUGO), 11 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 3).

    Research output: Working paperExpert opinions

  3. Published

    Methods in sustainability science

    von Wehrden, H., 29.12.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 4, p. 341-341 1 p.

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

  4. Published

    Predicting Effects of a Digital Stress Intervention for Patients With Depressive Symptoms: Development and Validation of Meta-Analytic Prognostic Models Using Individual Participant Data

    Harrer, M., Baumeister, H., Cuijpers, P., Heber, E., Lehr, D., Kessler, R. C. & Ebert, D. D., 01.04.2024, In: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 92, 4, p. 226-235 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Virtual Voting in RFMOs: A Procedural Odyssey at the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission

    Schatz, V. & Perraudeau, M., 2023, In: International Organizations Law Review. 20, 3, p. 305-329 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Gender Gap in Parental Leave Intentions: Evidence from 37 Countries

    Olsson, M. I. T., van Grootel, S., Block, K., Schuster, C., Meeussen, L., Van Laar, C., Schmader, T., Croft, A., Sun, M. S., Ainsaar, M., Aarntzen, L., Adamus, M., Anderson, J., Atkinson, C., Avicenna, M., Bąbel, P., Barth, M., Benson-Greenwald, T. M., Maloku, E., Berent, J., Bergsieker, H. B., Biernat, M., Bîrneanu, A. G., Bodinaku, B., Bosak, J., Bosson, J., Branković, M., Burkauskas, J., Čavojová, V., Cheryan, S., Choi, E., Choi, I., Contreras-Ibáñez, C. C., Coogan, A., Danyliuk, I., Dar-Nimrod, I., Dasgupta, N., de Lemus, S., Devos, T., Diab, M., Diekman, A. B., Efremova, M., Eisner, L., Eller, A., Erentaite, R., Fedáková, D., Franc, R., Gartzia, L., Gavreliuc, A., Gavreliuc, D., Gecaite-Stonciene, J., Germano, A. L., Giovannelli, I., Diaz, R. G., Gitikhmayeva, L., Gizaw, A. M., Gjoneska, B., González, O. M., González, R., Grijalva, I. D., Güngör, D., Sendén, M. G., Hall, W., Harb, C., Hassan, B., Hässler, T., Hawi, D. R., Henningsen, L., Hoppe, A., Ishii, K., Jakšić, I., Jasini, A., Jurkevičienė, J., Kelmendi, K., Kirby, T. A., Kitakaji, Y., Kosakowska-Berezecka, N., Kozytska, I., Kulich, C., Kundtová-Klocová, E., Kunuroglu, F., Aidy, C. L., Lee, A., Lindqvist, A., López-López, W., Luzvinda, L., Maricchiolo, F., Martinot, D., McNamara, R. A., Meister, A., Melka, T. L., Mickuviene, N., Miranda-Orrego, M. I., Mkamwa, T., Morandini, J., Morton, T., Mrisho, D., Nikitin, J., Otten, S., Pacilli, M. G., Page-Gould, E., Perandrés, A., Pizarro, J., Pop-Jordanova, N., Pyrkosz-Pacyna, J., Quta, S., Ramis, T. S., Rani, N., Redersdorff, S., Régner, I., Renström, E. A., Rivera-Rodriguez, A., Rocha, S. T. E., Ryabichenko, T., Saab, R., Sakata, K., Samekin, A., Sánchez-Pachecho, T., Scheifele, C., Schulmeyer, M. K., Sczesny, S., Sirlopú, D., Smith-Castro, V., Soo, K., Spaccatini, F., Steele, J. R., Steffens, M. C., Sucic, I., Vandello, J., Velásquez-Díaz, L. M., Vink, M., Vives, E., Warkineh, T. Z., Žeželj, I., Zhang, X., Zhao, X. & Martiny, S. E., 01.12.2023, In: Political Psychology. 44, 6, p. 1163-1192 30 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Biological nitrogen recirculation to food protein – A review

    Siddiqui, S. A., Pleissner, D., Pentjuss, A., Gołaszewski, J., Karwowska, A., Dace, E., Pahmeyer, M., Van Miert, S., Frooninckx, L., Broeckx, L., Heinz, V. & Smetana, S., 01.12.2023, In: Cleaner and Circular Bioeconomy. 6, 15 p., 100056.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  8. Published

    Orban vs. Europäische Union: Europäische Außenpolitik als Druckmittel

    Bartmann, E. & Jacobs, C., 12.12.2023, 4 p. Hamburg : Junge Wissenschaft im Öffentlichen Recht e.V.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Port State Control of Civilian Search and Rescue Vessels before the European Court of Justice: The Sea Watch Cases

    Schatz, V. & Wissmann, S., 2024, In: International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law. 39, 1, p. 179-190 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Kommentar zum Fachlehrplan Chemie (Mittelschule/AHS Unterstufe)

    Hofer, E., Lembens, A. & Müller, A., 2023, Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung (Österreich).

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsTransfer