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. 2026
  2. Published

    Decentralized fermentative production of succinic acid from food industry residues: Life-cycle- and economic assessments

    Lüttger, A., Kleps, C., Sula, K., Schneider, R., Venus, J. & Pleissner, D., 03.2026, In: Sustainable Chemistry One World. 9, 9 p., 100165.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Do consumers prefer multidimensional or multiple single-issue sustainability labels? Evidence from rice markets in Germany and Singapore

    Checco, J., Demont, M., Coote, L. V., Schulze, M., Permani, R., Muflikh, Y. N., Mitchell, J. & Aziz, A. A., 03.2026, In: Food Quality and Preference. 137, 15 p., 105812.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Enhanced forest structural heterogeneity increases functional β-diversity but reduces α- and γ-diversity in soil nematodes

    Schwarz, R., Bradler, P. M., Chao, A., Chuang, P.-Y., Ciobanu, M., Decker, O., Delory, B. M., Dietrich, P., Dittrich, S., Fichtner, A., Lettenmaier, L., Junginger, M., Mitesser, O., Mori, A., Müller, J., von Oheimb, G., Pierick, K., Eisenhauer, N. & Cesarz, S., 03.2026, In: Soil Biology and Biochemistry. 214, 14 p., 110078.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Perceived plasticity of climate-relevant behaviors and policy support among high- and lower-income individuals

    Nielsen, K. S., Dablander, F., Debnath, R., Emogor, C. A., Ghai, S., Gwozdz, W., Hahnel, U. J. J., Hofmann, W. & Bauer, J. M., 03.2026, In: Global Environmental Change. 96, 13 p., 103107.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Structuring success: How issue-packaging agendas foster better joint outcomes in multi-issue negotiations

    Zhang, H., Geiger, I., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 03.2026, In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 123, 9 p., 104856.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Pluralism and integration? A systematic review of ecological economics methodological foundations

    Kretschmer, M. F., Engler, J. O., von Wehrden, H., Rathgens, J. & Ament, J. A., 02.2026, In: Ecological Economics. 240, 10 p., 108832.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Do sex differences influence test habituation and internal data validity in neurocognitive testing? A blinded measurement error analysis

    Warneke, K., Oraze, M., Herbsleb, M., Afonso, J. & Wallot, S., 26.01.2026, In: Neuroscience. 593, p. 106-121 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Flower resource availability and Tetragonisca fiebrigi flower visits in two farming communities of Bolivian Chiquitanía

    Benavides-Frias, C., Saravia-Nava, A., Rodriguez, P., Sun, P., Benra, F., Morón Aguilar, D. & Hanspach, J., 01.2026, In: Global Ecology and Conservation. 65, 15 p., e03990.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Leveraging change in ecosystem restoration: from planting trees to regenerating people-nature systems

    Frietsch, M., Kaplin, B. A., Mukuralinda, A., Nkurikiyimana, D., William, A., Bariyanga, J. D., Duguma, D. W., Kayitanirwa, C., Mujawamariya, M., Nsengimana, V., Nshimyumuremyi, P., Nyiramvuyekure, V., Nduwamungu, J., Serge, S., Turikunkiko, E., Tuyizere, D. & Fischer, J., 01.2026, In: Trees, Forests and People. 23, 5 p., 101134.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

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