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

    What factors enable social-ecological transformative potential? The role of learning practices, empowerment, and networking

    Tuckey, A. J., Harmáčková, Z. V., Peterson, G. D., Norström, A. V., Moore, M.-L., Olsson, P., Lam, D. & Jimenez-Aceituno, A., 2023, In: Ecology and Society. 28, 2, 20 p., 27.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    What goes around, comes around? Access and allocation problems in Global North-South waste trade

    Cotta, B., 01.06.2020, In: International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics. 20, 2, p. 255-269 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    What has gone wrong with application development? Who is the culprit?

    Bonin, H. E. G., 1994, In: IFIP Transactions A: Computer Science and Technology. A-53, p. 442-443 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    What influences environmental entrepreneurship? A multilevel analysis of the determinants of entrepreneurs’ environmental orientation

    Hörisch, J., Kollat, J. & Brieger, S. A., 01.01.2017, In: Small Business Economics. 48, 1, p. 47-69 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    “What is a ‘very severe cyclone’ please”? Uncovering knowledge and communication gaps in climate resilience realities

    Ghosh, A., Sen, A. & Frietsch, M., 15.02.2023, In: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 86, 17 p., 103499.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    What is governance in global telecoupling?

    Newig, J., Lenschow, A., Challies, E., Cotta, B. & Schilling-Vacaflor, A., 09.2019, In: Ecology and Society. 24, 3, 5 p., 26.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    What is Social Learning? Response to Pahl-Wostl. 2006. “The Importance of Social Learning in Restoring the Multifunctionalityof Rivers and Floodplains”

    Reed, M. S., Evely, A. C., Cundill, G., Fazey, I., Glass, J., Laing, A., Newig, J., Parrish, B., Prell, C., Raymond, C. & Stringer, L., 12.2010, In: Ecology and Society. 15, 4, 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    What is Stakeholder Value? Developing a Catchphrase into a Benchmarking Tool

    Figge, F. & Schaltegger, S., 2000, Lüneburg: Universität Lüneburg, 57 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    What is sustainability economics?

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M., 15.01.2010, In: Ecological Economics. 69, 3, p. 445-450 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    What is sustainability economics?

    Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M., 2009, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 11 p. (Working paper series in economics; no. 138).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers