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. 2016
  2. Published

    What determines PCB concentrations in soils in rural and urban areas? Insights from a multi-media fate model for Switzerland as a case study

    Glüge, J., Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M. & Hungerbühler, K., 15.04.2016, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 550, p. 1152-1162 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Incremental contribution of pollination and other ecosystem services to agricultural productivity: Effects of service quantity and quality

    Garibaldi, L. A., Aizen, M. A., Cunningham, S. A., Harder, L. D. & Klein, A. M., 14.04.2016, Pollination Services to Agriculture : Sustaining and Enhancing a Key Ecosystem Service. Gemmill-Herren, B. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 33-42 10 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Water quantity and quality in the Zerafshan River basin: Only an upstream riparian problem?

    Olsson, O., Wegerich, K. & Kabilov, F., 08.04.2016, Water and Security in Central Asia: Solving a Rubik's Cube. Stucki, V., Wegerich, K., Rahaman, M. M. & Varis, O. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 99-111 13 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Business model experimentation for sustainability

    Bocken, N. M. P., Weissbrod, I. & Tennant, M., 06.04.2016, Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2016. Setchi, R., Howlett, R., Liu, Y. & Theobald, P. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing, p. 297-306 10 p. (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; vol. 52).

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

  6. Published

    Aquatic Exposure Predictions of Insecticide Field Concentrations Using a Multimedia Mass-Balance Model

    Knäbel, A., Scheringer, M., Stehle, S. & Schulz, R., 05.04.2016, In: Environmental Science & Technology. 50, 7, p. 3721-3728 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Does excess nitrogen supply increase the drought sensitivity of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings?

    Dziedek, C., von Oheimb, G., Calvo, L., Fichtner, A., Kriebitzsch, W.-U., Marcos, E., Härdtle, W. & Pitz, W., 01.04.2016, In: Plant Ecology. 217, 4, p. 393-405 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Energizing marginal soils - The establishment of the energy crop Sida hermaphrodita as dependent on digestate fertilization, NPK, and legume intercropping

    Nabel, M., Temperton, V. M., Poorter, H., Lücke, A. & Jablonowski, N. D., 01.04.2016, In: Biomass and Bioenergy. 87, p. 9-16 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Impact of prescribed burning on a heathland inhabiting spider community

    Krause, R. H. & Assmann, T., 01.04.2016, In: Arachnologische Mitteilungen. 2016, 51, p. 57-63 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published
  11. Published

    Plant diversity increases spatio-temporal niche complementarity in plant-pollinator interactions

    Venjakob, C., Klein, A.-M., Ebeling, A., Tscharntke, T. & Scherber, C., 01.04.2016, In: Ecology and Evolution. 6, 8, p. 2249-2261 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Two Decades of Sustainability Management Tools for SMEs: How Far Have We Come?

    Johnson, M. & Schaltegger, S., 01.04.2016, In: Journal of Small Business Management. 54, 2, p. 481-505 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Willkommen im Anthropozän

    Niebert, K., 01.04.2016, In: Biologie in Unserer Zeit. 46, 2, p. 75 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  14. Published

    Besser, weniger, anders – auf guten Wegen zur Nachhaltigkeit?

    Biesecker, A., Hofmeister, S. & von Winterfeld , U., 04.2016, In: Das Argument. 315, p. 82-90 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Langzeiteffekte eines Online-Trainings zur Reduktion von depressiven Beschwerden für Personen mit Diabetes Mellitus Typ 1 und Typ 2: Ergebnisse einer randomisiert-klinischen Studie nach 12 Monaten

    Nobis, S., Lehr, D., Berking, M., Baumeister, H., Riper, H., Snoek, F. J. & Ebert, D. D., 04.2016, In: Diabetologie und Stoffwechsel. 11, S1, P89.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Martin Hack, Energie-Contracting - Energiedienstleistungen und dezentrale Energieversorgung

    Schomerus, C.-T., 04.2016, In: Zeitschrift für das gesamte Recht der Energiewirtschaft EnWZ. 4/2016, p. Aktuell 10-11 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsCritical reviewsTransfer

  17. Published

    Medienökologien fürs Anthropozän

    Schrickel, I. & Stürmer, M., 04.2016, In: Zeitschrift für Medienwissenschaft. 14, 1, p. 180-185 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    The delay vector variance method and the recurrence quantification analysis of energy markets

    Fianu, E. S., 31.03.2016, In: International Journal of Energy and Statistics. 4, 1, 31 p., 1650001.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  19. Published
  20. Published

    Comparing the research-practice gap in management accounting: A view from professional accounting bodies in Australia and Germany

    Tucker, B. & Schaltegger, S., 21.03.2016, In: Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal. 29, 3, p. 362-400 39 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    A synthesis for everyone: 5 years of work in Romania

    Fischer, J., 16.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  22. Published

    Benign by design: Benign by Design

    Kümmerer, K., 14.03.2016, Green and Sustainable Medicinal Chemistry: Methods, Tools and Strategies for the 21st Century Pharmaceutical Industry. Summerton, L., Sneddon, H. F., Jones, L. C. & Clark, J. H. (eds.). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 73-81 9 p. (RSC Green Chemistry; vol. 2016-January, no. 46).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  23. Published

    Presence, fate and risks of pharmaceuticals in the environment

    Kümmerer, K., 14.03.2016, Green and Sustainable Medicinal Chemistry: Methods, Tools and Strategies for the 21st Century Pharmaceutical Industry. Summerton, L., Sneddon, H. F., Jones, L. C. & Clark, J. H. (eds.). Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, p. 63-72 10 p. (RSC Green Chemistry; vol. 2016-January, no. 46).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  24. Published

    Impressions from a conference: sustainable land management

    Fischer, J., 08.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  25. Published

    Hierarchy and respect

    Fischer, J., 03.03.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  26. Published

    Business Models for Sustainability: Origins, Present Research, and Future Avenues

    Schaltegger, S., Hansen, E. G. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 01.03.2016, In: Organization & Environment. 29, 1, p. 3-10 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  27. Published

    New Sediment Cores Reveal Environmental Changes Driven by Tectonic Processes at Ancient Helike, Greece

    Engel, M., Jacobson, K., Boldt, K., Frenzel, P., Katsonopoulou, D., Soter, S., Alvarez Zarikian, C. A. & Brückner, H., 01.03.2016, In: Geoarchaeology. 31, 2, p. 140-155 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  28. Published

    Organic farming affects the biological control of hemipteran pests and yields in spring barley independent of landscape complexity

    Birkhofer, K., Arvidsson, F., Ehlers, D., Mader, V. L., Bengtsson, J. & Smith, H. G., 01.03.2016, In: Landscape Ecology. 31, 3, p. 567-579 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  29. Published

    Reviving wood-pastures for biodiversity and people: A case study from western Estonia

    Roellig, M., Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Sammul, M., von Wehrden, H., Newig, J. & Fischer, J., 01.03.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 2, p. 185-195 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  30. Published

    The farmer as a landscape steward: Comparing local understandings of landscape stewardship, landscape values, and land management actions

    Raymond, C. M., Bieling, C., Fagerholm, N., Martin-Lopez, B. & Plieninger, T., 01.03.2016, In: Ambio. 45, 2, p. 173-184 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  31. Published

    Urban gardens promote bee foraging over natural habitats and plantations

    Kaluza, B. F., Wallace, H., Heard, T. A., Klein, A. M. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2016, In: Ecology and Evolution. 6, 5, p. 1304-1316 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  32. Published

    Utilization of protein-rich residues in biotechnological processes

    Pleissner, D. & Venus, J., 01.03.2016, In: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. 100, 5, p. 2133-2140 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  33. Published

    Die Verwendung von "Nachhaltigkeit" in deutschen Zeitungen: Ergebnisse einer empirischen Medienanalyse

    Fischer, D. & Haucke, F., 03.2016, Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus : Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 55-67 13 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen ‐ Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12).

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

  34. Published

    Fallstudie eines modellhaften Weiterbildungsprogramms für Journalist_innen: Zertifikatstudium Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus

    Fischer, D., Marwege, R. & Michelsen, G., 03.2016, Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus : Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 81-94 14 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen ‐ Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12).

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

  35. Published

    Globales Denken? Zum Wirkungszusammenhang von Forschungspraxis, Erkenntnisfeld und der Art zu denken

    Vilsmaier, U., 03.2016, Wissenschaft und Globales Denken. Gmainer-Pranzl, F. & Schottenhammer, A. (eds.). Frankfurt a.M. u.a.: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 109-127 19 p. (Salzburger interdisziplinäre Diskurse; vol. 7).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  36. Published

    Mentoring in Massive Open Online Courses - Eine Nutzenanalyse auf Basis des IS-Success-Modells

    Drawert, K., Mager, M., Funk, B., Trötschel, R. & Pfeifer, C., 03.2016, Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik (MKWI) 2016: Technische Universität Ilmenau 09. - 11. März 2016 . Nissen, V., Stelzer, D., Straßburger, S. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Universitätsverlag Ilmenau - ilmedia, Vol. 3. p. 1511-1522 12 p. (Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik, MKWI 2016; vol. 3).

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

  37. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus: Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis

    Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Fischer, D. (Editor), 03.2016, Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 153 p. (Innovationen in den Hochschulen: Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  38. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus? Ergebnisse einer Delphi-Studie mit Expertinnen und Experten

    Humburg, A., Fischer, D., Marwege, R. & Michelsen, G., 03.2016, Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus: Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 23-38 16 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen ‐ Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12).

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

  39. Published

    Vom Umwelt- zum Nachhaltigkeitsjournalismus? Die Initiative "Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus"

    Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D., 03.2016, Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus: Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 9-19 11 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen ‐ Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12).

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

  40. Published

    Wie kommt Nachhaltigkeit in die Medien? Nachrichtenfaktoren und Frames im Nachhaltigkeitsjournalismus

    Fischer, D., Haucke, F. & Humburg, A., 03.2016, Nachhaltigkeit und Journalismus : Erkenntnisse und Impulse aus Wissenschaft und Praxis. Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 39-54 16 p. (Innovation in den Hochschulen ‐ Nachhaltige Entwicklung; vol. 12).

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

  41. Published

    The tyranny of coarse scales in sustainability science and policy

    Fischer, J., 15.02.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  42. Published

    “Re-connecting people and nature”: wrong term, wrong goal?

    Fischer, J., 09.02.2016

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  43. Published

    Why protect nature? Rethinking values and the environment

    Chan, K. M. A., Balvanera, P., Benessaiah, K., Chapman, M., Díaz, S., Gómez-Baggethun, E., Gould, R., Hannahs, N., Jax, K., Klain, S., Luck, G. W., Martín-López, B., Muraca, B., Norton, B., Ott, K., Pascual, U., Satterfield, T., Tadaki, M., Taggart, J. & Turner, N., 09.02.2016, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA). 113, 6, p. 1462-1465 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  44. Published

    Turning hurt into impact (?)

    Fischer, J., 02.02.2016, 1 p.

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch

  45. Published

    Novel flame retardants: Estimating the physical-chemical properties and environmental fate of 94 halogenated and organophosphate PBDE replacements

    Zhang, X., Sühring, R., Serodio, D., Bonnell, M., Sundin, N. & Diamond, M. L., 01.02.2016, In: Chemosphere. 144, p. 2401-2407 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  46. Published

    Participatory energy scenario development as dramatic scripting: A structural narrative analysis

    Upham, P., Klapper, R. & Carney, S., 01.02.2016, In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 103, p. 47-56 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  47. Published

    Perceptions of cultural ecosystem services from urban green

    Riechers, M., Barkmann, J. & Tscharntke, T., 01.02.2016, In: Ecosystem Services. 17, p. 33-39 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  48. Published

    Spatial patterns of cultural ecosystem services provision in Southern Patagonia

    Martínez Pastur, G., Peri, P. L., Lencinas, M. V., García-Llorente, M. & Martín-López, B., 01.02.2016, In: Landscape Ecology. 31, 2, p. 383-399 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  49. Published

    A coastal and an interior Douglas fir provenance exhibit different metabolic strategies to deal with drought stress

    Du, B., Jansen, K., Kleiber, A., Eiblmeier, M., Kammerer, B., Ensminger, I., Gessler, A., Rennenberg, H. & Kreuzwieser, J., 02.2016, In: Tree Physiology. 36, 2, p. 148–163 16 p., tpv105.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  50. Published

    A Synthesis is Emerging between Biodiversity-Ecosystem Function and Ecological Resilience Research: Reply to Mori

    Oliver, T. H., Heard, M. S., Isaac, N. J. B., Roy, D. B., Procter, D., Eigenbrod, F., Freckleton, R., Hector, A., Orme, C. D. L., Petchey, O. L., Proença, V., Raffaelli, D., Blake Suttle, K., Mace, G. M., Martín-López, B., Woodcock, B. A. & Bullock, J. M., 02.2016, In: Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 31, 2, p. 89-92 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Research

  51. Published

    Tree species and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests

    Seitz, S., Goebes, P., Song, Z., Bruehlheide, H., Härdtle, W., Kühn, P., Li, Y. & Scholten, T., 21.01.2016, In: SOIL. 2, 1, p. 49-61 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review