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

    Innovative Instrumente für ein integriertes Flussgebietsmanagement

    Evers, M. & Hegner, J., 2009, Hydrologische Systeme im Wandel: Beiträge zum Tag der Hydrologie am 26./27. März 2009 an der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel . Fohrer, N. (ed.). Hennef: Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall, p. 77-78 2 p. (Forum für Hydrologie und Wasserbewirtschaftung ; vol. 26).

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

  2. Published

    Innovative Lehrangebote der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

    Schomerus, T., 02.2015, Hamburger Handbuch: Personalmanagement Erneuerbare Energien. Edelkraut, F., Findeisen, A., Streveld, T. & Warszta, T. (eds.). Hamburg: Erneuerbare Energien Hamburg Clusteragentur GmbH, p. 53-54 2 p.

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

  3. Published

    Innovative Measurement for Corporate Sustainability: Editorial

    Álvarez-Etxeberria, I., Ortas, E. & Schaltegger, S., 01.03.2017, In: Sustainable Development. 25 , 2, p. 111-112 2 p.

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

  4. Published

    Innovative Ressourcenpolitikansätze auf Mikroebene: Unternehmensnahe Instrumente und Ansatzpunkte - Abschlussbericht zu AP4

    Liedtke, C., Kristof, K., Bienge, K., von Geibler, J., Lemken, T., Meinel, U., Onischka, M., Schmidt, M., Görlach, S., Zvezdov, D. & Knappe, F., 2010, Wuppertal: Wuppertal Institut für Klima, Umwelt, Energie, 621 p. (Materialeffizienz & Ressourcenschonung; no. 4.11).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  5. Published

    Innovatives Management staatlicher Umweltpolitik: Das Konzept des New Public Environmental Management

    Schaltegger, S., Kubat, R., Hilber, C. & Vaterlaus, S., 1996, Basel: Birkhäuser Verlag GmbH. 285 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  6. Published

    Innovative Supplier Management Processes for Sustainability: Explorative Findings from German Stock Corporations

    Harms, D., Hansen, E. G. & Schaltegger, S., 2011, EURAM 2011 Management Culture in the 21st Century: European Academy of Management (EURAM): European Academy of Management (EURAM). Alas, R. & Bessant, J. (eds.). Tallinn, Estonia: Estonian Business School, 37 p. (EURAM Conference).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Innovative teaching for sustainable development - approaches and trends

    Mader, C. & Mader, M., 2012, Higher Education in the World 4: Higher Education's Commitment to Sustainability: from Understanding to Action. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 228-229 2 p. (GUNI Series on the social commitment of universities; vol. 4).

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

  8. Published

    Innovative Wärmenetze, nachhaltige Wasserinfrastruktur und gemeinschaftliche Wohnprojekte: Politikempfehlungen

    Laws, N. & Heinrichs, H., 01.04.2018, Karlsruhe: Fraunhofer-Institut für System- und Innovationsforschung ISI, 54 p. (TransNIK Werkstattbericht; no. 8).

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  9. Published

    Inquiry-based learning and secondary chemistry education – a contradiction?

    Hofer, E., Abels, S. & Lembens, A., 05.01.2018, In: RISTAL. 1/2018, p. 51-65 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Inquiry-based learning in sustainability science

    Vilsmaier, U. & Meyer, E. M., 12.04.2019, Inquiry-Based Learning – Undergraduate Research: The German Multidisciplinary Experience. Mieg, H. A. (ed.). Cham: Springer, p. 331-339 9 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review