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. 2025
  2. Published

    Mostly harmless econometrics? Statistical paradigms in the ‘top five’ from 2000 to 2018

    Engler, J. O., Beeck, J. J. & von Wehrden, H., 2025, In: Journal of Economic Methodology. 32, 1, p. 14-32 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Accepted/In press

    Negotiating With Yourself and Winning: The Dual Commitment Model for Intrapersonal Sustainability Goal Conflicts

    Sevincer, A. T., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Motivation Science.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    On-farm compost and parsley residues extract use on organic fennel crop to improve agronomic performance and environmental sustainability

    Diacono, M., Fiore, A., Di Bene, C., Farina, R., Trinchera, A., Li, J., Geelen, D., Pleissner, D., Almendinger, M., Montemurro, F. & Persiani, A., 2025, In: Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. 49, 5, p. 615-640 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Accepted/In press

    Participatory mapping of local people's values in restoration landscapes in Western Rwanda

    Ndayizeye, G., Kmoch, L., Baumann, M., Nsengimana, V., Fischer, J. & Plieninger, T., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Restoration Ecology. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Pathways to synergize reductive with relational logics in environmental policy

    Pérez-Hämmerle, K. V., Moon, K., Raymond, C. M., Lucas, P., Hakkarainen, V. & Wood, P., 2025, In: Ecosystems and People. 21, 1, 20 p., 2529585.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Planting futures: School-based food forests and their contribution to holistic education for sustainable development

    Gobs, J., 2025, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 34, 2, p. 97-105 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Accepted/In press

    Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators

    Author Collaboration of "Psychological intervention in individuals with subthreshold depression: individual participant data meta-analysis of treatment effects and moderators", Harrer, M., Sprenger, A. A., Illing, S., Adriaanse, M. C., Albert, S. M., Allart, E. & Lehr, D., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Psychiatry. 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published
  10. Published
  11. Accepted/In press

    Sampling and processing of climate change information and disinformation across three diverse countries

    Rahmani Azad, Z., Spampatti, T., Gluth, S., Tam, K. P. & Hahnel, U. J. J., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: British Journal of Psychology.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Recently viewed

Publications

  1. Success among self-initiated versus assigned expatriates
  2. On the origins of Kierkegaard's climacus writings and paradox christology
  3. Charakteristika des Modellgebietes Lüneburger Heide
  4. Alltag in den Medien - Medien im Alltag
  5. Wettbewerbs- und Subventionsrecht im Handels- und Zusammenarbeitsabkommen EU/VK
  6. Arbeitgeberverhalten in der Wirtschaftskrise
  7. Begleitetes Sterben als gesellschaftliches Phänomen
  8. Mündlichkeit fördern und bewerten
  9. Das Reden der Neulinge und andere Sünden
  10. Von der Bundes-Rahmenordnung zu einer Modulkonzeption für die Soziale Arbeit
  11. Coaching-Kristallmodell – Coaching Tool Collection mit Materialien
  12. Klimaanpassung – (k)ein Thema in umweltrelevanten Bildungsorganisationen?
  13. VwGO §44a [Rechtsbehelfe gegen behördliche Verfahrenshandlungen]
  14. Innovation durch Nachhaltiges Wirt­schaften
  15. Radverkehrsförderung 3.0 – eine Zwischenbilanz
  16. Name ohne Eigenschaften
  17. "!!Fach-an-Sprache-an-Fach!!"
  18. Reallabore als Rahmen transformativer und transdisziplinärer Forschung: Ziele und Designprinzipien
  19. Partizipation von Kindern und Jugendlichen
  20. Ökologie
  21. Bestandsaufnahme und Würdigung der empirischen Rechnungslegungsforschung zum Goodwill Impairment Only Approach nach IFRS
  22. Krieg zum Mitspielen
  23. Bildungsstandards praktisch
  24. Innovation und Evolution von Geschäftsmodellen dargestellt am Beispiel BP Solar
  25. Katz-und-Maus-Spiel
  26. „Ich erkenne also Fraktionsdisziplin grundsätzlich auch an …“ – Innerfraktioneller Dissens in der SPD-Fraktion der Großen Koalition 2005 bis 2009
  27. Francesca Ferrando (2019): Philosophical Posthumanism. Theory in the New Humanities, Series Editor: Rosi Braidotti, Preface by Rosi Braidotti). Bloomsbury Academic (27 June, 2019), 296 pages, ISBN:1350059501, ISBN: 9781350059504
  28. Fashion consumption during COVID-19
  29. Bankenwettbewerb
  30. Emotionskompetenz als Kernkompetenz für (Sozial-)Pädagogen und für ihre Schüler