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

    Marginal Calluna populations are more resistant to climate change, but not under high-nitrogen loads

    Meyer-Grünefeldt, M., Belz, K., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.01.2016, In: Plant Ecology. 217, 1, p. 111-122 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Occupational e-Mental Health: Current Approaches and Promising Perspectives for Promoting Mental Health in Workers

    Lehr, D., Geraedts, A., Persson Asplund, R., Khadjesari, Z., Heber, E., de Bloom, J., Ebert, D. D., Angerer, P. & Funk, B., 01.01.2016, Healthy at Work: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Wiencke, M., Cacace, M. & Fischer, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 257-281 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Participatory and collaborative governance for sustainable flood risk management: An emerging research agenda

    Challies, E., Newig, J., Thaler, T., Kochskämper, E. & Levin-Keitel, M., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 55, 2, p. 275-280 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Social Bots as algorithmic pirates and messengers of techno-environmental agency

    Leistert, O., 01.01.2016, Algorithmic Cultures: Essays on Meaning, Performance and New Technologies. Seyferth, R. & Roberge, J. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 158 - 172 15 p. (Routledge advances in sociology; vol. 189).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    The role of scenarios in fostering collective action for sustainable development: Lessons from central Romania

    Nieto-Romero, M., Milcu, A., Leventon, J., Mikulcak, F. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2016, In: Land Use Policy. 50, p. 156-168 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard: A Systematic Review of Architectures

    Hansen, E. G. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 133, 2, p. 193-221 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    The value of time in biological conservation and supplied ecosystem services: A willingness to give up time exercise

    García-Llorente, M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C., López, I., Castro, H., Montes, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 124, p. 13-21 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Using gender theories to analyse nature resource management

    Katz, C., 01.01.2016, Contemporary Perspectives on Ecofeminism. Phillips, M. & Rumens, N. (eds.). Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 193-209 17 p. (Routledge explorations in environmental studies).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Globalization’s limits to the environmental state? Integrating telecoupling into global environmental governance

    Lenschow, A., Newig, J. & Challies, E., 02.01.2016, In: Environmental Politics. 25, 1, p. 136-159 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Transdisciplinarity in a messy world

    Fischer, J., 02.01.2016, Lüneburg

    Research output: other publicationsArticles in scientific forums or blogsResearch