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

    Unprecedented long-term genetic monomorphism in an endangered relict butterfly species

    Habel, J. C., Zachos, F. E., Finger, A., Meyer, M., Louy, D., Aßmann, T. & Schmitt, T., 12.2009, In: Conservation Genetics. 10, 6, p. 1659-1665 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Unlocking knowledge-policy action gaps in disaster-recovery-risk governance cycle: A governmentality approach

    Ghosh, A. & Boyd, E., 01.10.2019, In: International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction. 39, 101236.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    University-linked programmes for sustainable entrepreneurship and regional development: how, and with what impact?

    Wagner, M., Hansen, E., Schaltegger, S. & Fichter, K., 01.02.2021, In: Small Business Economics. 56, 3, p. 1141-1158 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    University-Industry Collaboration to Stimulate Learning in the Context of Sustainability-Oriented Innovations

    Klewitz, J., 2012, Leuphana Sustainability Summit: Abstract Band. Heinrichs, H. (ed.). Centre for Sustainability Management, 2 p.

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

  5. Published

    Universities as learning organizations for sustainability? The task of climate protection

    Lüdeke-Freund, F. & Burandt, S., 01.01.2010, Universities and climate change: introducing climate change to university programmes. Leal Filho, W. (ed.). Berlin; London: Springer, p. 179-192 14 p. (Climate Change Management).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    United we stand: A principle-based negotiation training for collective bargaining

    Mann, M., Warsitzka, M., Hüffmeier, J. & Trötschel, R., 13.02.2024, In: International Journal of Conflict Management. 35, 2, p. 427-452 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    UN Global Action Programme and Education for Sustainable Development: A Critical Appraisal of the Evidence Base

    Fischer, D., Aubrecht, E. L., Brück, M., Ditges, L., Gathen, L., Jahns, M., Petersmann, M., Rau, J. & Wellmann, C., 24.11.2015, In: Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education. 6, 1, p. 5-20 16 p., 1.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Ungleiche Partizipationschancen in heterogenen Lerngruppen: Eine ethnografische Studie in Klassenräten inklusiver Grundschulklassen

    Meyn, J., 2025, Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt. 322 p. (Forschung Klinkhardt )

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Unfamiliar fuel: How the UK public views the infrastructure required to supply hydrogen for road transport

    Bellaby, P., Upham, P., Flynn, R. & Ricci, M., 27.04.2016, In: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 41, 15, p. 6534-6543 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Uneven distribution of phytodiversity in NE German dry grassland communities

    Dengler, J., 01.01.2001, In: Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft fur Okologie. 31, p. 28 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review