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

    Global malnutrition overlaps with pollinator-dependent micronutrient production

    Chaplin-Kramer, R., Dombeck, E., Gerber, J., Knuth, K. A., Mueller, N. D., Mueller, M., Ziv, G. & Klein, A.-M., 07.11.2014, In: Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 281, 1794, p. 1-7 7 p., 20141799.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    A holistic approach to studying social-ecological systems and its application to Southern Transylvania

    Hanspach, J., Hartel, T., Milcu, A. I., Mikulcak, F., Dorresteijn, I., Loos, J., von Wehrden, H., Kuemmerle, T., Abson, D., Kovács-Hostyánszki, A., Báldi, A. & Fischer, J., 18.11.2014, In: Ecology and Society. 19, 4, 27 p., 32.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Diversity matters: how bees benefit from different resin sources

    Drescher, N., Wallace, H. M., Katouli, M., Massaro, C. F. & Leonhardt, S., 12.2014, In: Oecologia. 176, 4, p. 943-953 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Entwicklung von Instrumenten zur Vermeidung von Lebensmittelabfällen: Kurzfassung

    Jepsen, D., Vollmer, A., Eberle, U., Fels, J. & Schomerus, T., 12.2014, Dessau-Roßlau: Umweltbundesamt, 23 p. (Umweltforschungsplan des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz, Bau und Reaktorsicherheit).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  6. Published

    Exemplarisch lernen an der "Lüneburger Heide": Mit Komplexität und Vielperspektivität umgehen lernen

    Stoltenberg, U. (Editor), Preisigke, J. (Editor), Drexhage, J. (Editor) & Lienau, R. (Editor), 12.2014, 1. ed. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 201 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule: Lüneburger Beiträge; vol. 3)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesEducation

  7. Published

    Integrating regional perceptions into climate change adaptation: a transdisciplinary case study from Germany's North Sea Coast

    Schmidt, A., Striegnitz, M. & Kuhn, K., 12.2014, In: Regional Environmental Change. 14, 6, p. 2105-2114 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Accounting for Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains: Editorial

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2014, In: The British Accounting Review. 46, 4, p. 323-326 4 p.

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

  9. Published

    Accounting towards Sustainability in Production and Supply Chains

    Burritt, R. & Schaltegger, S., 01.12.2014, In: The British Accounting Review. 46, 4, p. 327-343 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Ammonia volatilization after application of urea to winter wheat over 3 years affected by novel urease and nitrification inhibitors

    Ni, K., Pacholski, A. S. & Kage, H., 01.12.2014, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 197, p. 184-194 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Brominated flame retardants and Dechloranes in European and American eels from glass to silver life stages

    Sühring, R., Byer, J. D., Freese, M., Pohlmann, J. D., Wolschke, H., Möller, A., Hodson, P. V., Alaee, M., Hanel, R. & Ebinghaus, R., 01.12.2014, In: Chemosphere. 116, p. 104-111 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review