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. Published

    Competencies for Advancing Transformations Towards Sustainability

    Redman, A. & Wiek, A., 30.11.2021, In: Frontiers in Education. 6, 11 p., 785163.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Competencies for sustainability and gender: How to gain advantage: The problem, the theoretical background and questions

    Katz, C. & Thiem, A., 2011, Equality, Growth and Sustainability.: Do they mix? Proceedings from the international conference. Fogelberg Eriksson, A. (ed.). Linköping University Electronic Press, p. 173-180 8 p. (Forums skriftserie; no. 5)(Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings; no. 58).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  3. Published

    Competition between honey bees and wild bees and the role of nesting resources in a nature reserve

    Hudewenz, A. & Klein, A.-M., 12.2013, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 17, 6, p. 1275-1283 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Competition in the woodland? phenology, body mass and body length of coexisting Carabus species, preliminary results (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

    Aßmann, T. & Günther, J., 2000, Natural history and applied ecology of carabid beetles: Proceedings of the IX European Carabidiologists Meeting, Cosenza, Italy, 26-31 July, 1998. Casale, A. (ed.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 185-195 11 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  5. Published

    Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests

    Fichtner, A., Sturm, K., Rickert, C., Härdtle, W. & Schrautzer, J., 12.2012, In: The Journal of Applied Ecology. 49, 6, p. 1306-1315 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Competitive interactions shape plant responses to nitrogen fertilization and drought: evidence from a microcosm experiment with Lilium bulbiferum L. and Secale cereale L.

    Lütke Schwienhorst, J., Pyrlik, C., Tomberge, A., Fichtner, A., Walmsley, D., von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 01.04.2022, In: Plant Ecology. 223, 4, p. 437-451 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Competitive Markets, Corporate Firms, and New Governance: An Ordonomic Conceptualization

    Pies, I., Beckmann, M. & Hielscher, S., 08.2011, Corporate Citizenship and New Governance: The Political Role of Corporations. Pies, I. & Koslowski , P. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer, p. 171-188 18 p. (Ethical Economics : Studies in Economic Ethics and Philosophy).

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

  8. Published

    Complementarity, impatience, and the resilience of natural-resource-dependent economies

    Quaas, M. F., van Soest, D. & Baumgärtner, S., 2011, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 37 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 220).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Complementarity, impatience, and the resilience of natural-resource-dependent economies

    Quaas, M. F., van Soest, D. P. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.07.2013, In: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 66, 1, p. 15-32 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Complementary biomass strategy: applying the ecosystem services concept in sustainable landscape management

    Brüll, A., 2009, European landscapes in transformation: Challenges for landscape ecology and management. Jürgen, B., Finka, M. & Kozová, M. (eds.). Universität Salzburg, p. 404-408 4 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch