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.
Anwendung des TOP-Runner-Ansatzes auf Konsumgüter
Schomerus, T. (Project manager, academic)
05.01.09 → 29.10.12
Project: Research
Öffentlichkeitsarbeit in Bezug auf Wasserwirtschaft und Gewässerentwicklung in Rheinland-Pfalz
Newig, J. (Project manager, academic)
08.06.10 → 31.03.12
Project: Research
Vigoni: Internet-Supported Sustainability Reporting in the Banking Sector
Schaltegger, S. (Project manager, academic), Herzig, C. (Project staff) & Giese, N. (Project staff)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
01.01.08 → 31.05.11
Project: Research
Modellhafte Umsetzung eines weitgehend autarken Energie- und Stoffkreislaufmanagements bei der Behandlung von Spülwasser und Gemüseresten in der Lebensmittelindustrie am Beispiel eines Gemüse verarbeitenden Betriebes
Mennerich, A. (Project manager, academic) & Holm, N. (Coordination)
German Federal Environmental Foundation
29.03.08 → 31.12.09
Project: Research
PoNa: Politiken der Naturgestaltung. Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik zwischen Kritik und Vision
Mölders, T. (Project manager, academic) & Gottschlich, D. (Project manager, academic)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
01.08.08 → 30.04.09
Project: Research
Naturschutzmanagement in Heidelandschaften. Entwicklung eines Managementmodells für Kulturlandschaften mit besonderer Berücksichtigung von Natura 2000 Regionen
Schaltegger, S. (Project manager, academic) & Heitepriem, N. (Project staff)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
01.05.08 → 31.05.09
Project: Research
Erstellung eines Teilkonzepts Klimaneutrale Campusentwicklung Leuphana Universität Lüneburg
Ruck, W. (Project manager, academic)
01.10.09 → 30.11.10
Project: Research
ENSU: „Teaching Sustainability in Higher Education“
Michelsen, G. (Project manager, academic), Rieckmann, M. (Project manager, academic), Burandt, S. (Project staff) & Aguirre, P. (Coordination)
30.01.09 → 15.07.13
Project: Transfer (professional training)
Development of sustainable as well as environmental-friendly, adaptive and cost-effective technical protection measures for sandy beaches
Brinkmann, B. (Project manager, academic)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
01.04.10 → 30.09.12
Project: Research