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

    The German Environmental Information Act under the microscope

    Schomerus, T. & Zschiesche, M., 29.04.2022, In: Renewable Energy Law & Policy Review. 10, 3-4, p. 32-38 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review

  2. Published

    The genetic status of the violet copper Lycaena helle - a relict of the cold past in times of global warming

    Finger, A., Schmitt, T., Zachos, F. E., Meyer, M., Aßmann, T. & Habel, J. C., 01.06.2009, In: Ecography. 32, 3, p. 382-390 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    The Future We Want: A Global Expert Discussion on the Future of Rio+20 Efforts on Higher Education

    Rowland, P., Carteron, J., Denby, L., Klepper, A., Mader, C., Sjerps-Jones, H., Smith, K. & Tilbury, D., 01.02.2013, In: Sustainability: The Journal of Record. 6, 1, p. 42-47 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  4. Published

    The future of people and nature in Southern Transylvania

    Fischer, J., Horcea-Milcu, A. I., Hartel, T., Hanspach, J. & Mikulcak, F., 2015, Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd. 60 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsTransfer

  5. Published

    The future of health debates? A design thinking sketch of the VR Health Arena

    Fischer, M., 01.09.2018, In: Health and Technology. 8, 4, p. 281-290 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The framing of power in climate change adaptation research

    Woroniecki, S., Krüger, R., Rau, A. L., Preuss, M. S., Baumgartner, N., Raggers, S., Niessen, L., Holländer, L., Beyers, F., Rathgens, J., Wagner, K. C., Habigt, L., Krause, T., Wamsler, C., von Wehrden, H. & Abson, D., 01.11.2019, In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change. 10, 6, 21 p., e617.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    The Framework for Inclusive Science Education

    Brauns, S. & Abels, S., 10.10.2020, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 126 p. (Inclusive Science Education; no. 1/2020).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    The Forgotten Link between "Green" and Economic Success: Environmental Management as the Crucial Trigger between Environmental and Economic Performance

    Schaltegger, S. & Synnestvedt, T., 2001, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 16 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    The footprint of pesticide stress in communities-Species traits reveal community effects of toxicants

    Liess, M., Schäfer, R. B. & Schriever, C. A., 01.12.2008, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 406, 3, p. 484-490 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    The Food Waste Lab: Improving food waste reduction behavior through education

    Mariam, N., Nina, L., Fabian, B., Florence, Z., Abels, S., Ulf, S. & Daniel, F., 10.10.2022, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 370, 133447.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review