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

    Utilization of Brewer’s Spent Grains and Agricultural Residues in Pig Feed Formation

    Stahn, T., Storandt, R., Grebenteuch, S., Rohn, S., May, D., Dolsdorf, C. & Pleissner, D., 15.09.2023, In: Sustainability. 15, 18, 11 p., 13774.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Resilience principles and a leverage points perspective for sustainable woody vegetation management in a social-ecological system of southwestern Ethiopia

    Shumi, G., Wahler, H., Riechers, M., Senbeta, F., Abson, D. J., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 01.06.2023, In: Ecology and Society. 28, 2, 31 p., 34.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Tree diversity increases productivity through enhancing structural complexity across mycorrhizal types

    Ray, T., Delory, B., Beugnon, R., Bruelheide, H., Cesarz, S., Eisenhauer, N., Ferlian, O., Quosh, J., von Oheimb, G. & Fichtner, A., 06.10.2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 40, 11 p., eadi2362.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Status quo on identified transformation products of organic ultraviolet filters and their persistence

    Jentzsch, F., Kümmerer, K. & Olsson, O., 01.10.2023, In: International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 45, S1, p. 101-126 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Tree neighbourhood diversity increases community productivity and growth stability under contrasting climatic regimes

    Schnabel, F., Schwarz, J. A., Danescu, A., Fichtner, A., Nock, C., Bauhus, J. & Potvin, C., 30.08.2019, In: Brazilian Journal of Forestry Research. 39, Special Issue, p. 149-149 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  6. Published

    Spatial trends and ecotoxic risk assessment of selected pharmaceuticals in sediments from Lake Victoria, Uganda, East Africa

    Nantaba, F., Wasswa, J., Kylin, H., Bouwman, H., Palm, W.-U. & Kümmerer, K., 01.01.2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 906, 10 p., 167348.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    „Ben, möchtest du auch abstimmen?“: Partizipationsprozesse in Klassenräten heterogener Lerngruppen aus interaktionistischer Perspektive

    Meyn, J., 2023, Partizipation, Wissen und Kommunikation im sonderpädagogischen Diskurs. Marek, G., Wolfram, K., Christian, L., Vera, O. & Stephan, S. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 118-127 10 p. (Perspektiven sonderpädagogischer Forschung).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Tree species identity, canopy structure and prey availability differentially affect canopy spider diversity and trophic composition

    Wildermuth, B., Dönges, C., Matevski, D., Penanhoat, A., Seifert, C. L., Seidel, D., Scheu, S. & Schuldt, A., 10.2023, In: Oecologia. 203, 1-2, p. 37-51 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Nile Red as a Fluorescence Marker and Antioxidant for Regenerative Fuels

    Lichtinger, A., Poller, M. J., Türck, J., Schröder, O., Garbe, T., Krahl, J., Singer, A., Jakob, M. & Albert, J., 11.2023, In: Energy Technology. 11, 11, 9 p., 2300260.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Case study

    Meyer, S., Brundiers, K., Mader, M. & Weiser, A., 04.08.2023, Handbook Transdisciplinary Learning. Philip, T. & Schmohl, T. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 31-40 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review