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

    Internetgestützte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung: eine empirische Untersuchung der Unternehmen des DAX30

    Blanke, M., Godemann, J. & Herzig, C., 2007, Lüneburg: Institut für Umweltkommunikation der Universität Lüneburg, 41 p. (INFU-Diskussionsbeiträge; vol. 2007, no. 36).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Internetgestützte Nachhaltigkeitsberichterstattung: Ein Update zu Trends in der Berichterstattung von Unternehmen des DAX30

    Giese, N., Godemann, J., Herzig, C. & Hetze, K., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 58 p. (INFU-Diskussionsbeiträge; no. 37/12).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Internet-Supported Sustainability Reporting: Developments in Germany

    Herzig, C. & Godemann, J., 2010, In: Management Research Review. 33, 11, p. 1064-1082 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Internet-Supported Sustainability Reporting - Expectations and Reality: Empirical Findings from the German DAX30

    Herzig, C. & Godemann, J., 2011, Handbook of Corporate Sustainability: Frameworks, Strategies and Tools. Quaddus, M. A. & Siddique, M. A. D. (eds.). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 249-281 33 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    Internet und Ethik

    Oermann, N. O., 2010, 2020 - Gedanken zur Zukunft des Internets. Burda, H., Döpfner, M., Hombach, B. & Rüttgers, J. (eds.). Essen: Klartext Verlag, p. 247-252 6 p.

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

  6. Published

    Interoperability of mineral sustainability initiatives: A case study of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC) and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM)

    Junior, R. M., Sturman, K. & Imbrogiano, J. P., 28.05.2019, Sustainability Certification Schemes in the Agricultural and Natural Resource Sectors: Outcomes for Society and the Environment. Vogt, M. (ed.). London: Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 215-229 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Interpersonal Physiological Synchrony Predicts Group Cohesion

    Tomashin, A., Gordon, I. & Wallot, S., 12.07.2022, In: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 16, 12 p., 903407.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Interplays between relational and instrumental values: insights from research experiences on human–nature relations

    Riechers, M., Pearson, J., Diaz-Cruz, N., Ortiz-Przychodzka, S. & Topp, E., 01.2025, In: Sustainability Science. 20, 1, p. 287-298 12 p., 104232.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Interregional flows of ecosystem services: Concepts, typology and four cases

    Schröter, M., Koellner, T., Alkemade, R., Arnhold, S., Bagstad, K. J., Erb, K. H., Frank, K., Kastner, T., Kissinger, M., Liu, J., López-Hoffman, L., Maes, J., Marques, A., Martín-López, B., Meyer, C., Schulp, C. J. E., Thober, J., Wolff, S. & Bonn, A., 01.06.2018, In: Ecosystem Services. 31, Part B, p. 231-241 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Interspecific and intraspecific variation in specific root length drives aboveground biodiversity effects in young experimental forest stands

    Bu, W., Schmid, B., Liu, X., Li, Y., Härdtle, W., Von Oheimb, G., Liang, Y., Sun, Z., Huang, Y., Bruelheide, H. & Ma, K., 01.02.2017, In: Journal of Plant Ecology. 10, 1, p. 158-169 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review