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. 2024
  2. E-pub ahead of print

    Impact of land transformation, management and governance on subjective wellbeing across social–ecological systems

    Santillán-Carvantes, P., Tauro, A., Balvanera, P., Requena-Mullor, J. M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C. & Martín-López, B., 12.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Sustainability Science. 15 p., 119369.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. E-pub ahead of print

    Students’ Beliefs About Trigger Warnings

    Sevincer, A. T., Tenbrueggen, L. & Sokolis, M., 13.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Psychological Reports. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Kommunales Nachhaltigkeitsbarometer Niedersachsen 2024: Eine Erhebung zum Stand von Nachhaltigkeit in niedersächsischen Landkreisen, Städten und Gemeinden

    Redenius, P. & Heinrichs, H., 17.12.2024, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 36 p. (Schriftenreihe Nachhaltigkeit, Politik, Gesellschaft; no. 8).

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsResearch

  5. E-pub ahead of print

    Can we represent future generations in myopic democracies? Analyzing the design, feasibility and viability of institutional guardians of future generations

    Rose, M., 26.12.2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Policy Studies. 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Transformational ethics to bridge the void between facts and truths

    von Wehrden, H. & Wäger, P., 30.12.2024, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 33, 4, p. 333 1 p.

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

  7. 2025
  8. Accepted/In press

    A metacoupling lens on the co-production of nature’s contributions to people: Insights for sustainability

    Mayer, A., Martín-López, B., Locatelli, B., Rabeschini, G., Liu, J., Loos, J., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Riechers, M. & Isaac, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) XXXXXXXXX. Academic Press Inc., (Advances in Ecological Research).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Accepted/In press

    Horizontal portability: A proposal for representing place-based relational values in research and policy

    Himes, A., Muraca, B., Allen, K., Chapman, M., Coelho-Junior, M. G., Cundill, G., Gould, R. K., Herrmann, T. M., Kenter, J. O., Nakachi, A. A., Nemogá, G. R., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S., Pearson, J., Rono, B., Saito, T., Tadaki, M. & Bonn, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: People and Nature. 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Accepted/In press

    Inner Development Goals zur Erreichung der Sustainable Development Goals – Ein Self-Assessment als Reflexionsanlass zum Einsatz in transformativen Lernprozessen

    Hantke, H. & Lorch, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) Klimawandel und Bildung – Interdisziplinäre Grundlagen und didaktische Impulse. Pijetlovic, D. & von Au, J. (eds.). München

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

  11. Published

    Kollaboratives Forschen und Lernen im Prozess bildungsbezogener Arbeit

    Hantke, H. & Hantsch, R., 2025, In: berufsbildung - Zeitschrift für Theorie-Praxis-Dialog. 1/2025, 205

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  12. Accepted/In press

    Negotiating With Yourself and Winning: The Dual Commitment Model for Intrapersonal Sustainability Goal Conflicts

    Sevincer, A. T., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Motivation Science.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review