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
From Latreille to DNA systematics: Towards a modern synthesis for carabidology
Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Drees, C., Habel, J. C., Härdtle, W., Oheimb, G., Schuldt, A., Wrase, D. W. & Matern, A., 2008, Back to the roots and back to the future: Towards a New Synthesis between Taxonomic, Ecological and Biogeographical Approaches in Carabidology. Penev, L. D., Erwin, T. L. & Aßmann , T. (eds.). Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 41-76 36 p. (Pensoft Series Faunistica ; no. 75).Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Article in conference proceedings › Research › peer-review
- Published
From Knowledge to Application: Dissemination of Sustainability Management Tools in Large German Companies
Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E. & Herzig, C., 2011, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 32 p.Research output: Working paper › Working papers
- Published
From incremental to fundamental substitution in chemical alternatives assessment
Fantke, P., Weber, R. & Scheringer, M., 01.06.2015, In: Sustainable Chemistry and Pharmacy. 1, p. 1-8 8 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From grief to hope in conservation
Fischer, J. & Riechers, M., 10.2021, In: Conservation Biology. 35, 5, p. 1698-1700 3 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
From disagreements to dialogue: unpacking the Golden Rice debate
Kettenburg, A. J., Hanspach, J., Abson, D. J. & Fischer, J., 01.09.2018, In: Sustainability Science. 13, 5, p. 1469-1482 14 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Scientific review articles › Research
- Published
From deforestation to blossom: Large-scale restoration of montane heathland vegetation
Borchard, F., Härdtle, W., Streitberger, M., Stuhldreher, G., Thiele, J. & Fartmann, T., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Engineering. 101, p. 211-219 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From CSR to Corporate Sustainability
Schaltegger, S., 2008, In: Forum CSR international. p. 40-41 2 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research
- Published
From consumers to pioneers: insights from thermal energy communities in Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands
Herreras Martínez, S., Mesman, J., Sneum, D. M., Holstenkamp, L., Harmsen, R., Menkveld, M., Akerboom, S. & Faaij, A., 12.2025, In: Energy, Sustainability and Society. 15, 1, 31 p., 5.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From competition to facilitation: how tree species respond to neighbourhood diversity
Fichtner, A., Härdtle, W., Li, Y., Bruelheide, H., Kunz, M. & von Oheimb, G., 01.07.2017, In: Ecology Letters. 20, 7, p. 892-900 9 p.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
- Published
From Claiming to Creating Value: The Psychology of Negotiations on Common Resource Dilemmas
Trötschel, R., Treek, M., Heydenbluth, C., Zhang, K. & Majer, J. M., 01.05.2022, In: Sustainability. 14, 9, 26 p., 5257.Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review