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. 2007
  2. Published

    Die Idee: die "Schnittstelle Kunst - Vermittlung" in der Kunstschule KunstWerk, Hannover

    Hallmann, K., 27.09.2007, Schnittstelle Kunst - Vermittlung. Mörsch, C. (ed.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 82-85 4 p.

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

  3. Published

    Developing key competencies for sustainable development in higher education

    Barth, M., Godemann, J., Rieckmann, M. & Stoltenberg, U., 25.09.2007, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 8, 4, p. 416-430 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Do sustainability projects stimulate organizational learning in universities?

    Albrecht, P., Burandt, S. & Schaltegger, S., 25.09.2007, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 8, 4, p. 403-415 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Managing sustainability communication on campus: experiences from Lüneburg

    Franz-Balsen, A. & Heinrichs, H., 25.09.2007, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 8, 4, p. 431 - 445 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published
  7. Published
  8. Published

    Development and application of a simplified sampling method for volatile polyfluorinated alkyl substances in indoor and environmental air

    Jahnke, A., Huber, S., Temme, C., Kylin, H. & Berger, U., 14.09.2007, In: Journal of Chromatography A. 1164, 1-2, p. 1-9 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Cradle-to-cradle design: creating healthy emissions - a strategy for eco-effective product and system design

    Braungart, M., McDonough, W. & Bollinger, A., 01.09.2007, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 15, 13-14, p. 1337-1348 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Effects of pesticides on community structure and ecosystem functions in agricultural streams of three biogeographical regions in Europe

    Schäfer, R. B., Caquet, T., Siimes, K., Mueller, R., Lagadic, L. & Liess, M., 01.09.2007, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 382, 2-3, p. 272-285 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Hochschulen und Nachhaltigkeit: ein internationaler Dialog

    Franz-Balsen, A. & Adomssent, M., 01.09.2007, In: GAIA. 16, 3, p. 232-234 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch