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

    Slowing resource loops in the Circular Economy: an experimentation approach in fashion retail

    Bocken, N. M. P., Miller, K., Weissbrod, I., Holgado, M. & Evans, S., 2019, Sustainable Design and Manufacturing 2018: Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Sustainable Design and Manufacturing (KES-SDM-18). Dao, D., Howlett, R. J., Setchi, R. & Vlacic, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Nature AG, p. 164-173 10 p. (Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies; vol. 130).

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

  2. Published

    Slow Fashion Geschäftsmodelle: Ein morphologischer Kasten für Gründer_innen

    Kohlhase, E. & Freudenreich, B., 2018, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 16 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  3. Published

    Continental mapping of forest ecosystem functions reveals a high but unrealised potential for forest multifunctionality.

    van der Plas, F., Ratcliffe, S., Ruiz-Benito, P., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Verheyen, K., Wirth, C., de Zavala, M. A., Ampoorter, E., Baeten, L., Barbaro, L., Bastias, C. C., Bauhus, J., Benavides, R., Benneter, A., Bonal, D., Bouriaud, O., Bruelheide, H., Bussotti, F., Carnol, M., Castagneyrol, B., Charbonnier, Y., Cornelissen, J. H. C., Dahlgren, J., Checko, E., Coppi, A., Dawud, S. M., Deconchat, M., De Smedt, P., de Wandeler, H., Domisch, T., Finér, L., Fotelli, M., Gessler, A., Granier, A., Grossiord, C., Guyot, V., Haase, J., Hättenschwiler, S., Jactel, H., Jaroszewicz, B., Joly, F.-X., Jucker, T., Kambach, S., Kaendler, G., Kattge, J., Koricheva, J., Kunstler, G., Lehtonen, A., Liebergesell, M., Manning, P., Milligan, H., Müller, S., Muys, B., Nguyen, D., Nock, C., Ohse, B., Paquette, A., Penuelas, J., Pollastrini, M., Radoglou, K., Raulund-Rasmussen, K., Roger, F., Seidl, R., Selvi, F., Stenlid, J., Valladares, F., van Keer, J., Vesterdal, L., Fischer, M., Gamfeldt, L. & Allan, E., 01.2018, In: Ecology Letters. 21, 1, p. 31-42 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Using latent class analysis to produce a typology of environmental concern in the UK

    Rhead, R., Elliot, M. & Upham, P., 08.2018, In: Social Science Research. 74, p. 210-222 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Steigerung der Sensibilität für nachhaltige Mobilität durch die mobile Reiseapplikation Guyde

    Sandau, A., Dietrich, B., Akyol, A. & Vom Berg, B. W., 2018, MKWI 2018 - Multikonferenz Wirtschaftsinformatik: Data driven X - Turning Data into Value. Drews, P., Funk, B., Niemeyer, P. & Xie, L. (eds.). Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, Vol. 5. p. 1137-1148 12 p.

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

  6. Published

    Severely burdened individuals do not need to be excluded from internet-based and mobile-based stress management: Effect modifiers of treatment outcomes from three randomized controlled trials

    Weisel, K. K., Lehr, D., Heber, E., Zarski, A. C., Berking, M., Riper, H. & Ebert, D. D., 19.06.2018, In: Journal of Medical Internet Research. 20, 6, e211.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Home range size and resource use of breeding and non-breeding white storks along a land use gradient

    Zurell, D., von Wehrden, H., Rotics, S., Kaatz, M., Groß, H., Schlag, L., Schäfer, M., Sapir, N., Turjeman, S., Wikelski, M., Nathan, R. & Jeltsch, F., 12.06.2018, In: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 6, JUN, 11 p., 79.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Harnessing place attachment for local climate mitigation? Hypothesising connections between broadening representations of place and readiness for change

    Upham, P., Johansen, K., Bögel, P. M., Axon, S., Garard, J. & Carney, S., 02.09.2018, In: Local Environment. 23, 9, p. 912-919 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Do guided internet-based interventions result in clinically relevant changes for patients with depression? An individual participant data meta-analysis

    Karyotaki, E., Ebert, D. D., Donkin, L., Riper, H., Twisk, J., Burger, S., Rozental, A., Lange, A., Williams, A. D., Zarski, A. C., Geraedts, A., van Straten, A., Kleiboer, A., Meyer, B., Ünlü Ince, B. B., Buntrock, C., Lehr, D., Snoek, F. J., Andrews, G., Andersson, G., Choi, I., Ruwaard, J., Klein, J. P., Newby, J. M., Schröder, J., Laferton, J. A. C., Van Bastelaar, K., Imamura, K., Vernmark, K., Boß, L., Sheeber, L. B., Kivi, M., Berking, M., Titov, N., Carlbring, P., Johansson, R., Kenter, R., Perini, S., Moritz, S., Nobis, S., Berger, T., Kaldo, V., Forsell, Y., Lindefors, N., Kraepelien, M., Björkelund, C., Kawakami, N. & Cuijpers, P., 01.07.2018, In: Clinical Psychology Review. 63, p. 80-92 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  10. Published

    The governance of land use strategies: Institutional and social dimensions of land sparing and land sharing

    Jiren, T. S., Dorresteijn, I., Schultner, J. & Fischer, J., 01.05.2018, In: Conservation Letters. 11, 3, 8 p., e12429.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review