School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
- 2025
- Published
Assessment of genetic diversity among seed transfer zones for multiple grassland plant species across Germany
Durka, W., Michalski, S. G., Höfner, J., Bucharova, A., Kolář, F., Müller, C. M., Oberprieler, C., Šemberová, K., Bauer, M., Bernt, M., Bleeker, W., Brändel, S., Bucher, S. F., Eibes, P. M., Ewald, M., Goldberg, R., Grant, K., Haider, S., Harpke, A., Haun, F., Kaufmann, R., Korell, L., Kunzmann, D., Lauterbach, D., Leib, S., Lenzewski, N., Loritz, H., Madaj, A. M., Mainz, A. K., Meinecke, P., Mertens, H., Meyer, M. H., Musche, M., Ristow, M., Rosche, C., Roscher, C., Rutte, D., Schacherer, A., Schmidt, W., Schmoldt, J., Schneider, S., Schwarz, J. H., Skowronek, S., Socher, S. A., Stanik, N., Twerski, A., Weiß, K., Weiß, M., Wille, A., Zehm, A. & Zidorn, C., 01.05.2025, In: Basic and Applied Ecology. 84, p. 50-60 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Canopy functional trait variation across Earth’s tropical forests
Author collaboration for "Canopy functional trait variation across Earth’s tropical forests", Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J., Rifai, S. W., Deng, X., ter Steege, H., Thomson, E., Corral-Rivas, J. J. & Klipel, J., 01.05.2025, In: Nature. 641, 8061, p. 129-136 8 p., 16024.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The global distribution of authorship in economics journals
Aigner, E., Greenspon, J. & Rodrik, D., 01.05.2025, In: World Development. 189, 18 p., 106926.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biodiversity on old permanent versus restored grassland is driven by small-scale land-use intensity and habitat connectivity
Ernst, L. M., Thiele, J., Dieker, P., Temperton, V. M. & Dauber, J., 05.2025, In: Restoration Ecology. 33, 4, 15 p., e70029.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Development and Validation of the German Climate Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (GCAS-A)
Voltmer, K. & Harloff, L., 05.2025, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 74, 4, p. 350-370 21 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Germination changes can restructure communities through priority effects
Temperton, V. M., 05.2025, In: Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 40, 5, p. 426-427 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Heterogeneity of demands for nature’s contributions to people and nature’s values by farmers: insights from the Kilimanjaro social-ecological system
Sanya, J., Gross, M., Mwampamba, T. H., Pearson, J., Sesabo, J. K., Riechers, M., Kinabo, N. R., Krail, V. & Martín-López, B., 05.2025, In: Ecology and Society. 30, 2, 49 p., 25.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Intellectual humility links to metacognitive ability
Fischer, H., Kause, A. & Huff, M., 05.2025, In: Personality and Individual Differences. 238, 7 p., 113028.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Structure and dynamics of secondary and mature rainforests: insights from South Asian long-term monitoring plots
Murali, A., Kasinathan, S., Bhat, K., Ratnam, J., Sankaran, M., Mudappa, D., Raman, T. R. S. & Osuri, A. M., 30.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Plant Ecology and Diversity.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
How, when and why do negotiators use reference points? A qualitative interview study with negotiation practitioners
Mann, M., Trötschel, R., Warsitzka, M. & Hüffmeier, J., 28.04.2025, In: International Journal of Conflict Management. 36, 3, p. 481-513 33 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
The forest beyond the trees: A network perspective on governing co-production of nature’s contributions to people
Isaac, R., Cumming, G. S., Felipe-Lucia, M. R. & Martín-López, B., 26.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Feasibility of online group stress management training compared to web-based individual training for employees—a randomized pilot study
Boß, L., Hannibal, S. & Lehr, D., 24.04.2025, In: Frontiers in Psychology. 16, 12 p., 1524285.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
The Impact of Sample Size on Reliability Metrics Stability in Isokinetic Strength Assessments: Does Size Matter?
Warneke, K., Keiner, M., Wallot, S., Siegel, S. D., Günther, C., Wirth, K. & Puschkasch-Möck, S., 23.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science. 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Nonsterile Lactic Acid Production from Pulse Husks
Krenz, L. M. M. & Pleissner, D., 22.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Waste and Biomass Valorization. 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Exploring biocultural diversity: A systematic analysis and refined classification to inform decisions on conservation and sustainability
Otamendi-Urroz, I., Quintas-Soriano, C., Hanspach, J., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Lagies, A. S. & Castro, A. J., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Ambio. 17 p., e517.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
Management Responses to Climate Change: An Analysis of Scholarly Recommendations
Imbrogiano, J. P., Schaltegger, S. & Boiral, O., 16.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainable Development. 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- E-pub ahead of print
How to Assess Knowledge Cumulation in Environmental Governance Research? Conceptual and Empirical Explorations
Newig, J. & Rose, M., 11.04.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Environmental Policy and Governance. p. 1-20Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Assessing the Cultural Fit of a Digital Sleep Intervention for Refugees in Germany: Qualitative Study
Blomenkamp, M., Kiesel, A., Baumeister, H., Lehr, D., Unterrainer, J., Sander, L. B. & Spanhel, K., 03.04.2025, In: JMIR Formative Research. 9, 15 p., e65412.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Datenschutz als Werkzeug zur Antidiskriminierung
Bartmann, E. & Godau, L.-T., 02.04.2025, Junge Wissenschaft im Öffentlichen Recht e.V.Research output: other publications › Articles in scientific forums or blogs › Research › peer-review
- Published
Biosphere Reserves as catalysts for sustainability transformations: five strategies to support place-based innovation
Dabard, C. H., Mann, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 73, 6 p., 101508.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Diversity on a small scale: phylogeography of the locally endemic dwarf succulent genus Oophytum (Aizoaceae) in the Knersvlakte of South Africa
Schmidt, S. A., Schmiedel, U., Carstens, F., Rau, A.-L. & Rudolph-Bartsch, B., 01.04.2025, In: Annals of Botany. 135, 4, p. 735-756 22 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Green chemistry and sustainable chemistry related to water challenges: Solutions and prospects in a changing climate
Mahjoub, B., Fersi, C., Bouteffeha, M. & Kümmerer, K., 01.04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 52, 11 p., 101000.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
Ancestral cuisine as regenerative social technologies in Amazon: eco-humanist perspectives towards a critical sustainable chemistry
Zonta, A. L. & Zuin, V. G., 04.2025, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 52, 7 p., 101006.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Characterising landscape homogenisation: a qualitative approach based on five case studies
Cortés-Capano, G., Shumi, G., Raatikainen, K. J., Mahdavi-Nezhad, Z. & Loos, J., 04.2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 13 p., 2485282.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Exploring Management Control Systems for Biodiversity: Insights from Three Food Companies
Hübel, C. & Wenzig, J., 04.2025, In: Social and Environmental Accountability Journal. 45, 1, p. 42-72 31 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Gene flow across large distances in the cavity-nesting wasp Deuteragenia subintermedia in a central European forest
Ruppert, L. S., Staab, M., Rappa, N. J., Frey, J. & Segelbacher, G., 04.2025, In: Ecology and Evolution. 15, 4, 11 p., e71294.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Horizontal portability: A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy
Himes, A., Muraca, B., Allen, K., Chapman, M., Coelho-Junior, M. G., Cundill, G., Gould, R. K., Herrmann, T. M., Kenter, J. O., Nakachi, A. A., Nemogá, G. R., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Rono, B., Saito, T., Tadaki, M. & Bonn, A., 04.2025, In: People and Nature. 7, 4, p. 752-764 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
How to promote spider diversity of heathlands: impact of management intensity
Matevski, D., Temperton, V. M., Walmsley, D., Haerdtle, W., Daniels, J. & Boutaud, E., 04.2025, In: Biodiversity and Conservation. 34, p. 1057-1070 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Nutrition-induced changes in the microbiota can cause dysbiosis and disease development
Lachnit, T., Ulrich, L., Willmer, F. M., Hasenbein, T., Steiner, L. X., Wolters, M., Herbst, E. M. & Deines, P., 04.2025, In: mBio. 16, 4, 18 p., e03843-24.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Policy as normative influence? On the relationship between parental leave policy and social norms in gender division of childcare across 48 countries
Author Collaboration für "Policy as normative influence?", Schindler, S., Schuster, C., Olsson, M. I. T., Froehlich, L. & Hübner, A. K., 04.2025, In: British Journal of Social Psychology. 24 p., e12806.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Resilience and the Sustainable Development Goals: a scrutiny of urban strategies in the 100 Resilient Cities initiative
Kochskämper, E., Glass, L.-M., Haupt, W., Malekpour, S. & Grainger-Brown, J., 04.2025, In: Journal of Environmental Planning and Management. 68, 7, p. 1691-1717 27 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
When Testing Becomes Learning—Underscoring the Relevance of Habituation to Improve Internal Validity of Common Neurocognitive Tests
Warneke, K., Oraže, M., Plöschberger, G., Herbsleb, M., Afonso, J. & Wallot, S., 04.2025, In: European Journal of Neuroscience. 61, 8, 14 p., e70117.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Advancing green chemistry performance assessment: the Estée Lauder Companies’ continuing journey towards meaningful transparency
Thompson, E. C., Anastas, P., Bialk, H., D'Alessandro, D., Hoven, V. P., Kedwards, T. J., Liu, Z., Mudring, A. V., Saito, K., Zuin Zeidler, V. & Daher, G., 31.03.2025, In: Green Chemistry . 27, 18, p. 5015-5026 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- 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/works › Chapter › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Sustainability Strategies: What's in a Name? A Conceptual Restatement of Fundamental Mechanisms Toward Sustainability
Hartmann, E., 27.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainable Development. 15 p., sd.3443.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Einstieg in die chemische Reaktion – inklusiv und kontextorientiert
Hüfner, S., Sander, H., Frey, F., List, F., Brodhun, F., Hartmann, A., Schneide, O., Stanze, C. & Abels, S., 11.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: ChemKon. 2025, 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Transfer › peer-review
- Published
Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change
Author Collaboration "Tropical forests in the Americas are changing too slowly to track climate change", Aguirre-Gutiérrez, J., Díaz, S., Rifai, S. W., Corral-Rivas, J. J. & Klipel, J., 07.03.2025, In: Science (New York, N.Y.). 387, 6738, p. eadl5414 eadl5414.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From the environmental state to the sustainability state? Conceptualization, indicators, and examples
Rose, M., 03.03.2025, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy. 21, 1, 16 p., 2463188.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- E-pub ahead of print
Mostly harmless econometrics? Statistical paradigms in the ‘top five’ from 2000 to 2018
Engler, J. O., Beeck, J. J. & von Wehrden, H., 03.03.2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Economic Methodology.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Does it occur or not? - A structured approach to support students in determining the spontaneity of chemical reactions
Hofer, E. & Steininger, R., 01.03.2025, In: Chemistry Teacher International. 7, 1, p. 45-61 17 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Individual Differences in Infants' Speech Segmentation Performance: The Role of Mother-Infant Cardiac Synchrony
Vanoncini, M., Kayhan, E., Elsner, B., Wunderwald, M., Wallot, S., Hoehl, S. & Boll-Avetisyan, N., 01.03.2025, In: Infancy. 30, 2, 13 p., e70020.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Is Russian gas still needed in the European Union? Model-based analysis of long-term scenarios
Barner, L., Holz, F., von Hirschhausen, C. & Kemfert, C., 01.03.2025, In: Energy Strategy Reviews. 58, 10 p., 101646.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Successful Alien Plant Species Exhibit Functional Dissimilarity From Natives Under Varied Climatic Conditions but Not Under Increased Nutrient Availability
Milanović, M., Bakker, J. D., Biederman, L., Borer, E. T., Catford, J. A., Cleland, E., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Harpole, W. S., Komatsu, K., MacDougall, A. S., Römermann, C., Seabloom, E. W., Knapp, S. & Kühn, I., 01.03.2025, In: Journal of Vegetation Science. 36, 2, 12 p., e70032.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Sustainable Development: Prioritizing Attributes and Validating Factors for the Success of Green Startups in Brazilian and German Entrepreneurial Ecosystems
Oliveira, A. Y., Mendes, J. A. J., Zanon, L. G., Gerolamo, M. C. & Zuin Zeidler, V. G., 01.03.2025, In: Business Strategy and Development. 8, 1, 49 p., e70083.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Temporal variability in native plant composition clouds impact of increasing non-native richness along elevational gradients in Tenerife
Buhaly, M., Ratier Backes, A., Arévalo, J. R. & Haider, S., 01.03.2025, In: Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics. 66, 10 p., 125845.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
The complex spatio-temporal dynamics of organic micropollutants in tidal rivers
Schneider, J. R. L., Kümmerer, K., Logemann, J. & Radke, M., 01.03.2025, In: Chemosphere. 373, 10 p., 144180.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Trade-offs for healthy and sustainable diets in Europe: Social-ecological dynamics in an intensive agricultural system
Jiménez-Aceituno, A., López-Rodríguez, M. D., Castro, A. J., Cortés-Calderón, S., Collste, D., Aparicio, G., Rölfer, L., Bote, M. A., Marín, L. M. R., Gómez-Tenorio, M. Á. & González-Martín, B., 01.03.2025, In: Global Food Security. 44, 21 p., 100829.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Tree diversity increases forest temperature buffering via enhancing canopy density and structural diversity
Schnabel, F., Beugnon, R., Yang, B., Richter, R., Eisenhauer, N., Huang, Y., Liu, X., Wirth, C., Cesarz, S., Fichtner, A., Perles-García, M. D., Hähn, G., Härdtle, W., Kunz, M., Castro-Izaguirre, N., Niklaus, P. A., von Oheimb, G., Schmid, B., Trogisch, S., Wendisch, M., Ma, K. & Bruelheide, H., 01.03.2025, In: Ecology Letters. 28, 3, p. 1-11 11 p., e70096.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research
- Published
Alcohol use and drinking motives across five countries: a post-COVID-19 pandemic update
Rupprecht, J., Spitzweck, B., Oettingen, G. & Sevincer, A. T., 03.2025, In: American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 51, 1, p. 85-95 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Attitudes toward social and environmental scoring system: analysis of normative framing and individual influencing factors
Ahrari, D. & Süßmair, A., 03.2025, In: International Journal of Economics and Business Research. 29, 2, p. 159-183 25 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review