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

    Bewertung und Minderung der Emissionen aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens in die aquatische Umwelt

    Pinnekamp, J., Adomßent, M., Bastian, D., Bäumlisberger, M., Dreyer, M., Esser-Schmittmann, W., Fiehn, R., Firk, J., Gebhardt, W., Herrel, M., Herrmann, M., Johne, S., Jonas, D., Kerber, H., Kuhn, R., Kümmerer, K., Meyer, A., Lyko, S., Montag, D., Mousel, D., Nafo, I., Olsson, O., Palmowski, L., Scheele, S., Schmitt, B., Schramm, E., Steube, T. & Winker, M., 2015, Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens – Charakterisierung, Technologien, Kommunikation und Konzepte: Abschlussbericht des durch das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Vorhabens "Innovative Konzepte und Technologien für die separate Behandlung von Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens (Sauber+)", Förderkennzeichen: 02WRS1280A-J- der Fördermaßnahme "Risikomanagement von neuen Schadstoffen und Krankheitserregern im Wasserkreislauf (RiSKWa)". Pinnekamp, J., Palmowski, L., Kümmerer, K. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V., p. 357-366 10 p. (Gewässerschutz - Wasser – Abwasser; vol. 238).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to scientific reportsResearch

  2. Published

    Bildungsmaßnahmen für Ärzte und Pflegepersonal bezüglich Arzneimittelrückstände im Wasserkreislauf

    Adomßent, M. & Kümmerer, K., 2015, Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens – Charakterisierung, Technologien, Kommunikation und Konzepte: Abschlussbericht des durch das Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung geförderten Vorhabens "Innovative Konzepte und Technologien für die separate Behandlung von Abwasser aus Einrichtungen des Gesundheitswesens (Sauber+)", Förderkennzeichen: 02WRS1280A-J- der Fördermaßnahme "Risikomanagement von neuen Schadstoffen und Krankheitserregern im Wasserkreislauf (RiSKWa)". Pinnekamp, J., Palmowski, L., Kümmerer, K. & Schramm, E. (eds.). Aachen: Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Siedlungswasserwirtschaft an der RWTH Aachen e.V., p. 285-304 20 p. (Gewässerschutz - Wasser – Abwasser; vol. 238).

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

  3. Published

    Sustainable Development: Background and Context

    Michelsen, G., Adomßent, M., Martens, P. & von Hauff, M., 2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Science+Business Media, p. 5-29 25 p.

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

  4. Published

    Leuphana University Lüneburg and the sustainability challenge: a review and a preview

    Adomßent, M. & Michelsen, G., 2016, Human Ecology Studies and Higher Education for Sustainable Development: European Experiences and Examples. Franz-Balsen, A. & Kruse, L. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 57 - 86 30 p. (Edition Humanökologie; vol. 10).

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

  5. Published

    Von Besserwissern, Moralaposteln und Tugendwächtern: Woran Kommunikation über Ethik scheitern kann

    Adomßent, M., 2016, Jenseits von Belehrung und Bekehrung: Wie kann Kommunikation über Ethik im Naturschutz gelingen? Dokumentation des gleichnamigen Workshops in Stuttgart-Hohenheim am 8. und 9. Oktober 2015. Eser, U. (ed.). Bonn Bad Godesberg: Bundesamt für Naturschutz, p. 50-57 8 p. (BfN-Skripten ; vol. 437).

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

  6. Published

    The value of time in biological conservation and supplied ecosystem services: A willingness to give up time exercise

    García-Llorente, M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C., López, I., Castro, H., Montes, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 124, p. 13-21 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Ecosystem services values in Spain: A meta-analysis

    Quintas-Soriano, C., Martín-López, B., Santos-Martín, F., Loureiro, M., Montes, C., Benayas, J. & García-Llorente, M., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 55, p. 186-195 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Sustainable Development and Material Flows

    John, B., Möller, A. & Weiser, A., 01.2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 219-230 12 p.

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

  9. Published

    100 key research questions for the post-2015 development agenda

    Oldekop, J. A., Fontana, L. B., Grugel, J., Roughton, N., Adu-Ampong, E. A., Bird, G. K., Dorgan, A., Vera Espinoza, M. A., Wallin, S., Hammett, D., Agbarakwe, E., Agrawal, A., Asylbekova, N., Azkoul, C., Bardsley, C., Bebbington, A. J., Carvalho, S., Chopra, D., Christopoulos, S., Crewe, E., Dop, M. C., Fischer, J., Gerretsen, D., Glennie, J., Gois, W., Gondwe, M., Harrison, L. A., Hujo, K., Keen, M., Laserna, R., Miggiano, L., Mistry, S., Morgan, R. J., Raftree, L. L., Rhind, D., Rodrigues, T., Roschnik, S., Senkubuge, F., Thornton, I., Trace, S., Ore, T., Valdés, R. M., Vira, B., Yeates, N. & Sutherland, W. J., 01.01.2016, In: Development Policy Review. 34, 1, p. 55-82 28 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Forschendes Lernen in der Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaft

    Vilsmaier, U. & Meyer, E. M., 05.2017, Forschendes Lernen: Wie die Lehre in Universität und Fachhochschule erneuert werden kann. Mieg, H. A. & Lehmann, J. (eds.). Frankfurt: Campus Verlag, p. 357-366 10 p.

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