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

    Introduction to the challenges and chances regarding the utilization of nitrogen-rich by-products and waste streams

    Thielemann, A. K. & Pleissner, D., 01.06.2023, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 41, 100813.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  2. Published

    Introduction to the symposium on feminist perspectives on human–nature relations

    Gottschlich, D., Mölders, T. & Padmanbhan, M., 01.12.2017, In: Agriculture and Human Values. 34, 4, p. 933-940 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Introduction to Thinking the Problematic: Decentring as Method and Ethos

    Leistert, O. & Schrickel, I., 06.10.2020, Thinking the problematic: genealogies and explorations between philosophy and the sciences. Leistert, O. & Schrickel, I. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 9-34 26 p. (Philosophy).

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

  4. Published

    Introspektion und Bildung für nachhaltigen Konsum: Ein Lehr-Lern-Format zur systematischen Selbsterforschung in der Auseinandersetzung mit Argumenten zum Konsum tierischer Produkte (Leuphana Universität Lüneburg)

    Frank, P. & Fischer, D., 2018, Nachhaltigkeit in der Lehre: eine Herausforderung für Hochschulen. Leal Filho, W. (ed.). Berlin: Springer, p. 469-486 18 p. (Theorie und Praxis der Nachhaltigkeit).

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

  5. Published

    Inventing a secure future: material stewardship as chemistry's mission for sustainability

    Matlin, S. A., Cornell, S. E., Kümmerer, K., Mahaffy, P. G. & Mehta, G., 14.01.2025, In: RSC Sustainability. 3, 2, p. 804-821 18 p., d4su00576g.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Inventory of biodegradation data of ionic liquids

    Amsel, A. K., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.07.2022, In: Chemosphere. 299, 134385.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Invertebrate diversity and national responsibility for species conservation across Europe: A multi-taxon approach

    Schuldt, A. & Aßmann, T., 11.2010, In: Biological Conservation. 143, 11, p. 2747-2756 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Invertebrate herbivory rather than competition with tussocks will increasingly delay highland forest regeneration in degraded areas under active restoration

    Renison, D., Rodriguez, J. M., García Cannata, L., von Wehrden, H. & Hensen, I., 15.02.2022, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 506, 119990.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published
  10. Published

    Investigating Internal CSR Communication: Building a Theoretical Framework

    Bekmeier-Feuerhahn, S., Bögel, P. M. & Koch, C., 2017, Handbook of Integrated CSR Communication. Diehl, S., Karmasin, M., Mueller, B., Terlutter, R. & Weder, F. (eds.). 1. ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 89-107 19 p. (CSR, Sustainability, Ethecs & Governance).

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