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

    Organisationsberatung hacken: Mit Neugier und Zutrauen Zukünfte gestalten

    Kısaoğlu, D. & Möller, S., 01.02.2024, Organisationen hacken: Einfallstore in eine nachhaltige Arbeitswelt. Hochmann, L. & Möller, S. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 27-39 13 p.

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

  2. Published

    Organizational Ethical Cultures and Social Embeddedness – A Research Framework for Investigating Externally Anchored Organizational Worldviews

    Beckmann, M. & Hörisch, J., 2024, In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik. 25, 2, p. 307-331 25 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Organizational Transformation and Higher Sustainability Management Education. The case of the MBA Sustainability Management

    Lee, K.-H. & Schaltegger, S., 26.08.2014, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 15, 4, p. 450-472 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Organophosphorus flame retardants and plasticizers in the aquatic environment: A case study of the Elbe River, Germany

    Wolschke, H., Sühring, R., Xie, Z. & Ebinghaus, R., 11.2015, In: Environmental Pollution. 206, p. 488-493 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Orientation-driven photosynthesized carbon belowground mediates intercropped peanut microbiota changes for pathogen resistance

    Lu, J., Shen, Y., He, G., Li, S., Kumar, A., Sun, B. & Chen, Y., 01.2025, In: Plant and Soil. 506, 1, p. 209-226 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Orientierende Untersuchungen von NSO-Heterocyclen in niedersächsischen Oberflächengewässern – Betrachtung von Sediment und Wasserphase

    Mänz, J. S., Siemers, A.-K., Palm, W.-U., Ruck, W. & Steffen, D., 2010, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 19 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  7. Published

    Orientierungen im Themenfeld Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Einführung

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 77-78

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

  8. Published

    Orientierungen im Themenfeld Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Zusammenführung und Ausblick

    Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 141-150

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

  9. Published

    Orte zum Wohlfühlen: Ein Reiseführer zur kreativen Gestaltung zukunftsfähiger Städte und Gemeinden

    Heinrichs, H., Redenius, P. & Hoernemann, D., 05.12.2024, München: oekom verlag GmbH. 94 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  10. Published

    Other spaces: Parks as societal mirrors

    Vilsmaier, U., 14.01.2016, Parks of the Future: Protected Areas in Europe Challenging Regional and Global Change. Hammer, T., Mose, I., Siegrist, D. & Weixlbaumer, N. (eds.). 1 ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 113-121 9 p.

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