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

    Building Assistance Systems using Distributed Knowledge Representations

    Bollow, E., Faasch, H., Möller, A. & Welge, R., 2009, Environmental Informatics and Industrial Environmental Protection: Concepts, Methods and Tools: 23rd International Conference on Informatics for Environmental Protection. Wohlgemuth, V., Page, B. & Voigt, K. (eds.). Shaker Verlag, Vol. 1, Sessions. p. 120-135

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Building capacity for the science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services: Activities, fellows, outcomes, and neglected capacity building needs

    Gustafsson, K. M., Díaz-Reviriego, I. & Turnhout, E., 01.06.2020, In: Earth System Governance. 4, 10 p., 100050.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Building energy institutions in a conflict zone: Interventions by international organisations in Afghanistan

    Fahimi, A., Upham, P. & Pflitsch, G., 01.10.2024, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 116, 22 p., 103711.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Building urban resilience through sustainability‑oriented small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises

    Burch, S., DiBella, J., Wiek, A., Schaltegger, S., Stubbs, W., Farrelly, M., Ness, B. & McCormick, K., 28.07.2022, In: Urban Transformations. 4, 1, 7 p., 12.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Bundes-Bodenschutzgesetz

    Sanden, J., 2012, Umwelt und Betrieb: Rechtshandbuch für die betriebliche Praxis. Schendel, F. A., Giesberts, L. & Büge, D. (eds.). Berlin: Lexxion Verlagsgesellschaft , p. 417-487 71 p.

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

  6. Published

    Bundesweite Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Qualifikation von Schutzgebietspersonal: geprüfter Natur- und Landschaftspfleger, zertifizierter Natur- und Landschaftsführer

    Schreiner, J., 2004, Benefits beyond boundaries: Ergebnisse des 5. Weltschutzgebietskongresses in Durban und ihre Bedeutung für deutsche Schutzgebiete ; Dokumentation des Workshops vom 10. - 13. Februar 2004 am Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Internationale Naturschutzakademie Insel Vilm. Stolpe, G. & Fischer, W. (eds.). Bonn: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag, p. 99-105 7 p. (BfN-Skripten; vol. 112).

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

  7. Published

    Bürgschaftsbank für Sozialwirtschaft

    Biesecker, A. & Hofmeister, S., 2000, Vorsorgendes Wirtschaften: Auf dem Weg zu einer Ökonomie des guten Lebens. Biesecker, A., Mathes, M., Schön, S. & Scurrell, B. (eds.). Bielefeld: Kleine Verlag, p. 86-93 8 p.

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

  8. Published

    Burnout und chronischer beruflicher Stress

    Koch, S., Lehr, D. & Hillert, A., 2015, 1 ed. Göttingen: Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 108 p. (Fortschritte der Psychotherapie; vol. 60)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Burnout und chronischer beruflicher Stress: Ein Ratgeber für Betroffene und Angehörige

    Hillert, A., Koch, S. & Lehr, D., 2018, 1 ed. Göttingen: Hogrefe Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. 89 p. (Ratgeber zur Reihe Fortschritte der Psychotherapie; vol. 39)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  10. Published

    Bush encroachment control and risk management in semi-arid rangelands

    Lukomska, N., Baumgärtner, S. & Quaas, M. F., 12.2010, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 33 p. (University of Lüneburg Working Papers Series in Economics; no. 191).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers