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. 2017
  2. Published

    Luminescence dating of Late Pleistocene eruptions in the Eifel Volcanic Field, Germany

    Schmidt, C., Schaarschmidt, M., Kolb, T., Büchel, G., Richter, D. & Zöller, L., 07.2017, In: Journal of Quaternary Science. 32, 5, p. 628-638 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien und die Herausforderung der politischen Umsetzung

    Laws, N. & Heinrichs, H., 07.2017, Die Deutsche Nachhaltigkeitsstrategie: Wegweiser für eine Politik der Nachhaltigkeit. Michelsen, G. (ed.). Wiesbaden: Hessische Landeszentrale für politische Bildung, p. 141-156 16 p. (forum hlz).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  4. Published
  5. Published

    Off-stage ecosystem service burdens: A blind spot for global sustainability

    Pascual, U., Palomo, I., Adams, W. M., Chan, K. M. A., Daw, T. M., Garmendia, E., Gómez-Baggethun, E., de Groot, R., Mace, G. M., Martín-López, B. & Phelp, J., 07.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 7, 10 p., 075001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Revisiting Carbon Disclosure and Performance: Legitimacy and Management Views

    Qian, W. & Schaltegger, S., 07.2017, In: The British Accounting Review. 49, 4, p. 365–379 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Dryudella paulinae spec. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae) from Morocco

    Jacobs, H.-J. & Grabener, S., 30.06.2017, In: Contributions To Entomology. 67, 1, p. 111 - 115 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The Sphodrina of the southern Levant (Coleoptera: Carabidae, Sphodrini)

    Casale, A. & Assmann, T., 30.06.2017, In: Fragmenta Entomologica. 49, 1, p. 13-24 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Education for Sustainable Consumption through Mindfulness Training: Development of a Consumption-Specific Intervention

    Stanszus, L., Fischer, D., Böhme, T., Frank, P., Fritzsche, J., Geiger, S., Harfensteller, J., Grossman, P. & Schrader, U., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 5-21 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability Reporting at Schools: Challenges and Benefits

    Carbach, E. & Fischer, D., 27.06.2017, In: Journal of Teacher Education for Sustainability. 19, 1, p. 69-81 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Erfassung von Belastungs- und Burnout-Erleben parallel zu einem Screening psychischer Störungen im Internet: Möglichkeiten und Grenzen, am Beispiel des „Stress-Monitors"

    Hillert, A., Bäcker, K., Weiß, S. & Lehr, D., 14.06.2017, In: ZEITSCHRIFT FÜR PSYCHOSOMATISCHE MEDIZIN UND PSYCHOTHERAPIE. 63, 1, p. 65-66 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearch

  12. Published

    Das Wirken von Nachhaltigkeitsräten in Politik und Gesellschaft

    Sieveking, A., 12.06.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 2, p. 158-160 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransfer

  13. Published

    Dealing with Climate Change: A Conversation with Paul N. Edwards and Oliver Geden

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 175-185 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  14. Published

    Trading Zones of Climate Change: Introduction

    Schrickel, I. & Engemann, C., 12.06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 111-119 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  15. Published

    Addressing Complexity in Environmental Management and Governance

    Kirschke, S. & Newig, J., 07.06.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 6, 18 p., 983.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    The age of the hominin fossils from Jebel Irhoud, Morocco, and the origins of the Middle Stone Age

    Richter, D., Grün, R., Joannes-Boyau, R., Steele, T. E., Amani, F., Rué, M., Fernandes, P., Raynal, J. P., Geraads, D., Ben-Ncer, A., Hublin, J. J. & McPherron, S. P., 07.06.2017, In: Nature. 546, 7657, p. 293-296 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    An economic perspective on land use decisions in agricultural landscapes: Insights from the TEEB Germany Study

    Albert, C., Schröter-Schlaack, C., Hansjürgens, B., Dehnhardt, A., Döring, R., Job, H., Köppel, J., Krätzig, S., Matzdorf, B., Reutter, M., Schaltegger, S., Scholz, M., Siegmund-Schultze, M., Wiggering, H., Woltering, M. & von Haaren, C., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 69-78 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    Biodiversity and food security: from trade-offs to synergies

    Cramer, W., Egea, E., Fischer, J., Lux, A., Salles, J. M., Settele, J. & Tichit, M., 01.06.2017, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1257-1259 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published

    Driving factors for the regional implementation of renewable energy: - a multiple case study on the German energy transition

    Lutz, L. M., Fischer, L.-B., Newig, J. & Lang, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Energy Policy. 105, p. 136-147 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Intra- and interspecific hybridization in invasive Siberian elm

    Hirsch, H., Brunet, J., Zalapa, J. E., von Wehrden, H., Hartmann, M., Kleindienst, C., Schlautman, B., Kosman, E., Wesche, K., Renison, D. & Hensen, I., 01.06.2017, In: Biological Invasions. 19, 6, p. 1889-1904 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Land use affects dung beetle communities and their ecosystem service in forests and grasslands

    Frank, K., Hülsmann, M., Aßmann, T., Schmitt, T. & Blüthgen, N., 01.06.2017, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 243, p. 114-122 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  22. Published

    Performance of process-based models for simulation of grain N in crop rotations across Europe

    Yin, X., Kersebaum, K. C., Kollas, C., Manevski, K., Baby, S., Beaudoin, N., Öztürk, I., Gaiser, T., Wu, L., Hoffmann, M., Charfeddine, M., Conradt, T., Constantin, J., Ewert, F., de Cortazar-Atauri, I. G., Giglio, L., Hlavinka, P., Hoffmann, H., Launay, M., Louarn, G., Manderscheid, R., Mary, B., Mirschel, W., Nendel, C., Pacholski, A., Palosuo, T., Ripoche-Wachter, D., P. Rötter, R., Ruget, F., Sharif, B., Trnka, M., Ventrella, D., Weigel, H. J. & E. Olesen, J., 01.06.2017, In: Agricultural Systems. 154, p. 63-77 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  23. Published

    Putting sustainable chemistry and resource use into context: The role of temporal diversity

    Weiser, A., Lang, D. J. & Kümmerer, K., 01.06.2017, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 5, p. 105-114 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  24. Published

    Refocusing ecosystem services towards sustainability

    Schröter, M., Stumpf, K. H., Loos, J., van Oudenhoven, A. P. E., Böhnke-Henrichs, A. & Abson, D. J., 01.06.2017, In: Ecosystem Services. 25, p. 35-43 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  25. Published

    The intersection of food security and biodiversity conservation: a review

    Glamann, J., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. J., Collier, N. & Fischer, J., 01.06.2017, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1303–1313 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  26. Published

    Control versus Complexity: Approaches to the Carbon Dioxide Problem at IIASA

    Schrickel, I., 06.2017, In: Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte. 40, 2, p. 140-159 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  27. Published

    Human–nature connection: a multidisciplinary review

    Ives, C. D., Giusti, M., Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Klaniecki, K., Dorninger, C., Laudan, J., Barthel, S., Abernethy, P., Martín-López, B., Raymond, C. M., Kendal, D. & von Wehrden, H., 06.2017, In: Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 26–27, June 2017, p. 106-113 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  28. Published

    Predicting the Individual Mood Level based on Diary Data

    Bremer, V., Becker, D., Funk, B. & Lehr, D., 06.2017, Proceedings of the 25th European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2017. AIS eLibrary, p. 1161-1177 17 p. (Proceedings of the 25th European Conference on Information Systems, ECIS 2017).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Scarification in sub-Saharan Africa: Social skin, remedy and medical import

    Garve, R., Garve, M., Türp, J. C., Fobil, J. N. & Meyer, C. G., 06.2017, In: Tropical Medicine and International Health. 22, 6, p. 708-715 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    Theorising the dynamics of collaborative consumption practices: A comparison of peer-to-peer accommodation and cohousing

    Huber, A., 06.2017, In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. 23, June, p. 53–69 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Mitigating the Impact of Climate Change by Reducing Evaporation Losses: Sediment Removal from the High Aswan Dam Reservoir

    Elba, E., Urban, B., Ettmer, B. & Farghaly, D., 04.05.2017, In: American Journal of Climate Change. 6, 2, p. 230-246 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    Still some way to go: institutionalisation of sustainability in German local governments

    Heinrichs, H. & Schuster, F., 04.05.2017, In: Local Environment. 22, 5, p. 536-552 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  33. Published

    Linking transitions to sustainability: A study of the societal effects of transition management

    Schäpke, N., Omann, I., Wittmayer, J. M., van Steenbergen, F. & Mock, M., 03.05.2017, In: Sustainability. 9, 5, 36 p., 737.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  34. Published

    Activity- vs. structural-oriented treatment approach for frozen shoulder: A randomized controlled trial

    Horst, R., Maicki, T., TrAbka, R., Albrecht, S., Schmidt, K., Mtel, S. & Von Piekartz, H., 01.05.2017, In: Clinical Rehabilitation. 31, 5, p. 686-695 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  35. Published

    A review of ecosystem service benefits from wild bees across social contexts

    Matias, D. M. S., Leventon, J., Rau, A. L., Borgemeister, C. & von Wehrden, H., 01.05.2017, In: Ambio. 46, 4, p. 456-467 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  36. Published

    Collaboration or fragmentation? Biodiversity management through the common agricultural policy

    Mildorfová-Leventon, J., Schaal, T., Velten, S., Dänhardt, J., Fischer, J., Abson, D. & Newig, J., 01.05.2017, In: Land Use Policy. 64, p. 1-12 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  37. Published

    How and Why Precise Anchors Distinctly Affect Anchor Recipients and Senders

    Loschelder, D. D., Friese, M. & Trötschel, R., 01.05.2017, In: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. 70, p. 164-176 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  38. Published

    Many pathways toward sustainability: not conflict but co-learning between transition narratives

    Lüderitz, C., Abson, D. J., Audet, R. & Lang, D. J., 01.05.2017, In: Sustainability Science. 12, 3, p. 393-407 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  39. Published

    Micro-scale Thermodynamic and Kinetic Analysis of a Calcium Chloride Methanol System for Process Cooling

    Korhammer, K., Neumann, K., Opel, O. & Ruck, W. K. L., 01.05.2017, In: Energy Procedia. 105, p. 4363-4369 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  40. Published

    Subsistence, Substitutability and Sustainability in Consumption

    Baumgärtner, S., Drupp, M. A. & Quaas, M. F., 01.05.2017, In: Environmental and Resource Economics. 67, 1, p. 47-66 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  41. Published

    Forschendes Lernen in der Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaft

    Vilsmaier, U. & Meyer, E. M., 05.2017, Forschendes Lernen: Wie die Lehre in Universität und Fachhochschule erneuert werden kann. Mieg, H. A. & Lehmann, J. (eds.). Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, p. 357-366 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  42. Published

    Kontroverse Praktiken einer öffentlichen Kontroverse: Schließungen von Aushandlungsräumen in der Agro-Gentechnik-Debatte in Polen

    Sulmowski, J. A., 05.2017, 1 ed. Wiesbaden: Springer VS. 364 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  43. Published

    Learning from Co-Founders of Grassroots Initiatives: Personal Resilience, Transition, and Behavioral Change – a Salutogenic Approach

    Maschkowski, G., Schäpke, N., Grabs, J. & Langen, N., 05.2017, Resilience, Community Action and Social Transformation: People, Place, Practice, Power, Politics & Possibility in Transition. Henfrey, T. & Maschkowski, G. (eds.). 1 ed. Lisbon: Permanent Publications, p. 65-84 20 p. (The Community-Led Transformations Book Series; vol. 2).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearch

  44. Published

    Reframing the Food–Biodiversity Challenge

    Fischer, J., Abson, D. J., Bergsten, A., Collier, N., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Schultner, J. & Senbeta, F., 05.2017, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 32, 5, p. 335-345 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  45. Published

    Regional differences in soil pH niche among dry grassland plants in Eurasia

    Wagner, V., Chytrý, M., Zelený, D., von Wehrden, H., Brinkert, A., Danihelka, J., Hölzel, N., Jansen, F., Kamp, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Palpurina, S., Preislerová, Z. & Wesche, K., 05.2017, In: Oikos. 126, 5, p. 660-670 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Teaching entrepreneurship as lived experience through ‘wonderment exercises’

    Klapper, R. & Neergaard, H., 05.2017, In: Contemporary Issues in Entrepreneurship Research. 7, p. 145-170 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Comparison of wood volume estimates of young trees from terrestrial laser scan data

    Kunz, M., Hess, C., Raumonen, P., Bienert, A., Hackenberg, J., Maas, H.-G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & von Oheimb, G., 30.04.2017, In: iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry. 10, 2, p. 451-458 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Assessing sustainable biophysical human-nature connectedness at regional scales

    Dorninger, C., Abson, D. J., Fischer, J. & von Wehrden, H., 24.04.2017, In: Environmental Research Letters. 12, 5, p. 1-11 11 p., 055001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published
  50. Published

    Achtsamkeit – woher und warum

    Frank, P., 03.04.2017

    Research output: other publicationsContributions to online encyclopediaEducation

  51. Published

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