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

    Woody plant use and management in relation to property rights: a social-ecological case study from southwestern Ethiopia

    Shumi, G., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J., Hylander, K., Senbeta, F., Hanspach, J., Ango, T. G. & Fischer, J., 14.10.2019, In: Ecosystems and People. 15, 1, p. 303-316 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Woody vegetation of a Peruvian tropical dry forest along a climatic gradient depends more on soil than annual precipitation

    Muenchow, J., von Wehrden, H., Rodriguez, E. F., Rodríguez, R. A., Bayer, F. & Richter, M., 03.2013, In: Erdkunde. 67, 3, p. 241-248 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    WOOP: Wisch-outcome-obstacle-plan

    Oettingen, G. & Sevincer, A. T., 2019, Dorsch Psychologisches Wörterbuch. Huber Verlag

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  4. Published

    Working group on dry grasslands in the nordic and baltic region - Outline of the project and first results for the class Festuco-Brometea

    Dengler, J., Rusina, S., Boch, S., Bruun, H. H., Diekmann, M., Dierßen, K., Dolnik, C., Dupré, C., Golub, V. B., Grytnes, J. A., Helm, A., Ingerpuu, N., Löbel, S., Pärtel, M., Rašomavičius, V., Tyler, G., Znamenskiy, S. R. & Zobel, M., 2006, In: Annali di Botanica. 6, p. 1-28 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Working in regional agro-food networks – Strengthening rural development through cooperation

    Burandt, A., Lang, F. J., Schrader, R. & Thiem, A., 01.12.2013, In: Eastern European Countryside (EEC). 19, 1, p. 153-176 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Workplace mediation: Lessons from negotiation theory

    Höhne, B., Loschelder, D. D., Gutenbrunner, L., Majer, J. M. & Trötschel, R., 2016, Advancing workplace mediation through integration of theory and practice. Bollen, K., Euwema, M. & Munduate, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Verlag, p. 67-86 20 p. (Industrial Relations & Conflict Management; vol. 3).

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

  7. Published

    Workshop: Die Fleischbranche im Wandel - Wege und Ansätze einer Nachhaltigkeitstransformation: Ergebnisdokumentation

    Schaltegger, S., Hübel, C. & Zufall, J., 2019, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 30 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  8. Published

    Workshops mit lokalen Akteuren

    Zimmermann, T., Fröhlich, J., Katz, C. & Porschke, C., 2014, Stadtentwicklung und Klimaanpassung: Klimafolgen, Anpassungskonzepte und Bewusstseinsbildung beispielhaft dargestellt am Einzugsgebiet der Wandse, Hamburg. Kruse, E., Zimmermann, T., Kittel, A., Dickhaut, W., Knieling, J. & Sörensen, C. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 188-191 4 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 2).

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

  9. Published

    World in Transition: Sustainability Perspectives for Higher Education

    Adomßent, M. (Editor), Beringer, A. (Editor) & Barth, M. (Editor), 2009, Frankfurt am Main: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften. 245 p. (Higher education for sustainability; no. 4)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  10. Published

    Worldwide distribution of Persistent Organic Pollutants in air, including results of air monitoring by passive air sampling in five continents

    Bogdal, C., Scheringer, M., Abad, E., Abalos, M., van Bavel, B., Hagberg, J. & Fiedler, H., 05.2013, In: Trends in Analytical Chemistry. 46, p. 150-161 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review