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

    A mobile sense of place: exploring a novel mixed methods user-centred approach to capturing data on urban cycling infrastructure

    Wesener, A., Vallance, S., Tesch, M., Edwards, S., Frater, J. & Moreham, R., 02.10.2022, In: Applied Mobilities. 7, 4, p. 327-351 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Leveraging Governance Performance to Enhance Climate Resilience

    Rölfer, L., Abson, D. J., Costa, M. M., Rosendo, S., Smith, T. F. & Celliers, L., 01.10.2022, In: Earth's Future. 10, 10, 15 p., e2022EF003012.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Using meaningful places as an indicator for sense of place in the management of social-ecological systems

    Knaps, F., Gottwald, S., Albert, C. & Herrmann, S., 01.11.2022, In: Ecology and Society. 27, 4, 12 p., 9.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Effectuation and causation in sustainable entrepreneurship: An empirical analysis

    Johnson, M. & Hörisch, J., 01.08.2021, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2021, 1, 11346.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Introduction: Wealth, Inequality and Redistribution in Capitalist Societies

    Lierse, H., Sachweh, P. & Waitkus, N., 01.12.2022, In: Social Justice Research. 35, 4, p. 367-378 12 p.

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

  6. Published

    Dimensions of digital transformation in the context of modern agriculture

    Mendes, J. A. J., Carvalho, N. G. P., Mourarias, M. N., Careta, C. B., Vânia Gomes Zuin, G. Z. & Gerolamo, M. C., 01.11.2022, In: Sustainable Production and Consumption. 34, p. 613-637 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The Efficacy of a Web-Based Stress Management Intervention for Employees Experiencing Adverse Working Conditions and Occupational Self-efficacy as a Mediator: Randomized Controlled Trial

    Nixon, P., Ebert, D. D., Boß, L., Angerer, P., Dragano, N. & Lehr, D., 20.10.2022, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 24, 10, 16 p., e40488.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The elephant in the room is really a cow: using consumption corridors to define sustainable meat consumption in the European Union

    Cué Rio, M., Bovenkerk, B., Castella, J. C., Fischer, D., Fuchs, R., Kanerva, M., Rounsevell, M. D. A., Salliou, N., Verger, E. O. & Röös, E., 27.10.2022, In: Sustainability Science. 2022, 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    SusTelling in the Reception Lab – On How Young Adults Perceive Storytelling for Sustainability

    Fücker, S., Fischer, D., Selm, H. & Sundermann, A., 08.12.2022, Narrating Sustainability through Storytelling. Fischer, D., Fücker, S., Selm, H. & Sundermann, A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 45-60 16 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustelling: Storytelling for sustainability

    Fischer, D., Fücker, S., Selm, H., Storksdieck, M. & Sundermann, A., 08.12.2022, Narrating Sustainability through Storytelling. Fischer, D., Fücker, S., Selm, H. & Sundermann, A. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 13-25 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review