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
Efficacy of a Self-Guided Internet Intervention With Optional On-Demand Feedback Versus Digital Psychoeducation on Sleep Hygiene for University Students With Insomnia: Randomized Controlled Trial
Zarski, A. C., Bernstein, K., Baumeister, H., Lehr, D., Wernicke, S., Küchler, A. M., Kählke, F., Spiegelhalder, K. & Ebert, D. D., 08.05.2025, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 27, e58024.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Digital Health Literacy of Children and Adolescents and Its Association With Sociodemographic Factors: Representative Study Findings From Germany
Stauch, L., Renninger, D., Rangnow, P., Hartmann, A., Fischer, L., Dadaczynski, K. & Okan, O., 05.05.2025, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 27, 15 p., e69170.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
43. Decoding Spontaneous Thoughts From Brain Resting-State fMRI: Toward Understanding Rumination
Dekker, R., Nakamura, A. T., Lins, A. M., Bammel, M., Huys, Q., Schuck, N. W. & Cai, M. B., 01.05.2025, In: Biological Psychiatry. 97, 9, Supplement, p. S112-S113 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Conference abstract in journal › Research
- 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