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.
- Published
Participation: Empowerment for Sustainable Development
Heinrichs, H., 2011, Sustainability Communication: Interdisciplinary Perspectives and Theoretical Foundations. Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Verlag, p. 187-198 12 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Soziologie globaler Umwelt- und Nachhaltigkeitspolitik
Heinrichs, H., 2011, Handbuch Umweltsoziologie. Groß, M. (ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 628-650 23 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Parallelgesellschaften? Politische Eliten und Bürger.
Heinrichs, H., 2011, Demokratie und Umweltkrise: Brauchen wir mehr Mitbestimmung?. München: Oekom Verlag, Vol. 14. p. 180-184 5 p. (Wissenschaft & Umwelt Interdisziplinär; no. 14/2011).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
- Published
Competition response of European beech Fagus sylvatica L. varies with tree size and abiotic stress: Minimizing anthropogenic disturbances in forests
Fichtner, A., Sturm, K., Rickert, C., Härdtle, W. & Schrautzer, J., 12.2012, In: The Journal of Applied Ecology. 49, 6, p. 1306-1315 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
Functional trait similarity of native and invasive herb species in subtropical China-Environment-specific differences are the key
Bachmann, D., Both, S., Bruelheide, H., Erfmeier, A., Ding, B.-Y., Gao, M., Härdtle, W. & Scherer-Lorenzen, M., 01.11.2012, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 83, p. 82-92 11 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
Ressourcenschutzrecht – Ziele, Herausforderungen, Regelungsvorschläge
Herrmann, F., Sanden, J., Schomerus, T. & Schulze, F., 2012, In: ZUR - Zeitschrift für Umweltrecht. 10, p. 523-532 10 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
German climate and energy legislation: an ambitious but fragmented framework
Schomerus, T., 30.11.2012, Climate Law in EU Member States: Towards National Legislation for Climate Protection. Peeters, M., Stallworthy, M. & de Cendra de Larragan, J. (eds.). Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 178-202 25 p.Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Chapter › peer-review
- Published
Educating Change Agents for Sustainability: Learnings from CSM’s MBA in Sustainability Management
Hesselbarth, C. & Schaltegger, S., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 37 p.Research output: Working paper › Working papers
- Published
Eco-Innovation in SMEs: An In-Depth Case Analysis of Transforming SMEs through Effective Partnerships
Klewitz, J. & Hansen, E. G., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 47 p.Research output: Working paper › Working papers
- Published
Fukushima disaster indirectly threatens lake ecosystems
Matsuzaki, S.-I., Von Wehrden, H., Møller, A. P. & Takamura, N., 01.11.2012, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 10, 9, p. 464-464 1 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Comments / Debate / Reports › Research