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. 2014
  2. Published

    Klimaanpassung – (k)ein Thema in umweltrelevanten Bildungsorganisationen?

    Katz, C. & Molitor, H., 2014, Anpassung an regionale Klimafolgen kommunizieren: Konzepte, Herausforderungen und Perspektiven. Beese, K., Fekkak, M., Katz, C., Körner, C. & Molitor, H. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 195-207 13 p. (Klimawandel in Regionen zukunftsfähig gestalten : Klimzug; vol. 2).

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

  3. Published

    Klimafolgen „Vor Ort“ und Anpassungsoptionen im Kontext schulischer Bildung

    Katz, C. & Porschke, C., 2014, Stadtentwicklung und Klimaanpassung: Klimafolgen, Anpassungskonzepte und Bewusstseinsbildung beispielhaft dargestellt am Einzugsgebiet der Wandse, Hamburg. Kruse, E., Zimmermann, T., Kittel, A., Dickhaut, W., Knieling, J. & Sörensen, C. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 185-187 3 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 2).

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

  4. Published

    KLIMAgespräche – Kommunikation von Klimawissen in Vereinen, Verbänden und Interessengruppen

    Schreck, C. & Katz, C., 2014, Klimafolgenanpassung im Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische ELBTALAUE– Modellregion für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Prüter, J., Keienburg, T. & Schreck, C. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 107-111 5 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 5).

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

  5. Published

    Klimaschutz: Beispiel Moorrenaturierung

    Oheimb, G., Köbbing, J. F. & Groth, M., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum, p. 455-471 17 p.

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

  6. Published

    Klimawandel und Moorvegetation

    Urban, B., Schmidt, S., Jensen, K., Hölzer, A., Hansen, S. & Tucci, M., 2014, Klimawandel in der Lüneburger Heide: - Kulturlandschaften zukunftsfähig gestalten. Urban, B., Becker, J., Mersch, I., Meyer, W., Rechid, D. & Rottgardt, E. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 59-62 4 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 6).

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

  7. Published

    KLIMZUG NORD - Klimaanpassung in der Metropolregion Hamburg: Beispiele für inter- und transdisziplinäre Forschung in Modellgebieten

    Becker, J., Keienburg, T., Kittel, A., Knieling, J., Kretschmann, N., Kruse, E., Mersch, I., Nehlsen, E., Prüter, J., Urban, B. & Zimmermann, T., 2014, Wege zur Anpassung an den Klimawandel: Regionale Netzwerke, Strategien und Maßnahmen. Biebeler, H., Bardt, H., Chrischilles, E., Mahammadzadeh, M. & Striebeck, J. (eds.). Köln: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln Medien GmbH, p. 85-104 20 p.

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

  8. Published

    Kohlenstoffdynamik und organische Substanz in Ackerböden

    Schmelmer, K. & Urban, B., 2014, Klimawandel in der Lüneburger Heide: Kulturlandschaften zukunftsfähig gestalten. Urban, B., Becker, J., Mersch, I., Meyer, W., Rechid, D. & Rottgardt, E. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 41-44 4 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 6).

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

  9. Published

    Kommunale Möglichkeiten zur Förderung regionaler Wertschöpfung bei Windenergieprojekten

    Maly, C., 2014, Recht und Finanzierung von Erneuerbaren Energien: Bürgerbeteiligungsmodelle. Degenhart, H. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). 1. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 47-58 12 p. (Lüneburger Schriften zum Wirtschaftsrecht; vol. 27).

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

  10. Published

    Kommunikation, Partizipation und digitale Medien: Nachhaltigkeitskommunikation

    Michelsen, G. & Rieckmann, M., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 369-380 12 p.

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

  11. Published

    Kommunikation, Partizipation und digitale Medien: Digitale Medien

    Bollow, E., Faasch, H. & Möller, A., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer Spektrum, p. 397-419 23 p.

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