School of Sustainability
Organisational unit: Research School
- Centre for Sustainability Management (CSM)
- Institute of Ecology
- Institute of Ethics and Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research
- Institute of Sustainability Governance
- Institute of Sustainability Material Flows and Circularity
- Institute of Sustainability Psychology
- Institute of Sustainable Chemistry
- Social-Ecological Systems Institute (SESI)
- Sustainability Education and Transdisciplinary Research Institute
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.
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Was wir noch zu sagen hätten - Briefe an unsere Leserinnen und Leser
Defila, R., Di Giulio, A., Fischer, D., Gölz, S., Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. & Schäfer, M., 2015, Transdisziplinär forschen - zwischen Ideal und gelebter Praxis: Hotspots, Geschichten, Wirkungen. Defila, R. & Di Giulio, A. (eds.). Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, p. 331–341 11 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research
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Was wollen Kinder und Jugendliche in Bezug auf Nachhaltigkeit und Konsum wissen, wie kommunizieren sie und wie informieren sie sich? Eine Literaturanalyse
Fischer, D., Grunenberg, H. & Ruckelshauß, T., 2017, Lüneburg: Universität Lüneburg, Institut für Umweltkommunikation (INFU), 45 p. (INFU-Diskussionsbeiträge; no. 40).Research output: Working paper › Working papers
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Water and soil towards sustainable land use
Urban, B., 01.01.2002, Sustainable water and soil management. Kunst, S. (ed.). Berlin [u.a.]: Springer, p. 261-293 33 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Watermills in the historic irrigation system 'Palmeral de Elche', Spain: An example of early hydropower exploitation
Melendez-Pastor, I., Pedreño, J. N. & Wittenberg, H., 08.06.2015, In: Water Supply. 15, 5, p. 1140-1151 12 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Water Policy and Governance in Transition: The EU Water Framework Directive
Kochskämper, E. & Newig, J., 2021, Water Resilience: Management and Governance in Times of Change. Baird, J. & Plummer, R. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature AG, p. 23-40 18 p. (Water Resilience).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Water quality indices across Europe - a comparison of the good ecological status of five river basins
von der Ohe, P. C., Prüß, A., Schäfer, R. B., Liess, M., de Deckere, E. & Brack, W., 01.01.2007, In: Journal of Environmental Monitoring. 9, 9, p. 970-978 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Water quantity and quality dynamics of the THC - Tuyamuyun hydroengineering complex - and implications for reservoir operation
Froebrich, J., Bauer, M., Ikramova, M. & Olsson, O., 09.2007, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 14, 6, p. 435-442 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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Water quantity and quality in the Zerafshan River basin: Only an upstream riparian problem?
Olsson, O., Wegerich, K. & Kabilov, F., 08.04.2016, Water and Security in Central Asia: Solving a Rubik's Cube. Stucki, V., Wegerich, K., Rahaman, M. M. & Varis, O. (eds.). Taylor and Francis Inc., p. 99-111 13 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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Water quantity and quality in the Zerafshan river basin - only an upstream riparian problem?
Olsson, O., Wegerich, K. & Kabilov, F., 01.09.2012, In: International Journal of Water Resources Development. 28, 3, p. 493-505 13 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
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Water-related problématiques: five archetypical contexts of water governance
Bilalova, S., Villamayor-Tomas, S. & Newig, J., 01.2025, In: Ecology and Society. 30, 1, 40 p., 10.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review