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

    Changes in phenology and abundance of suction-trapped Diptera from a farmland site in the UK over four decades

    Grabener, S., Oldeland, J., Shortall, C. & Harrington, R., 01.10.2020, In: Ecological Entomology. 45, 5, p. 1215-1219 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Changes in butterfly movements along a gradient of land use in farmlands of Transylvania (Romania)

    Loos, J., Kuussaari, M., Ekroos, J., Hanspach, J., Fust, P., Jackson, L. & Fischer, J., 04.2015, In: Landscape Ecology. 30, 4, p. 625-635 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Change in sustainability conceptions: A mixed-methods study of undergraduates' learning processes and outcomes

    Sundermann, A., 07.03.2024, Lüneburg: Medien- und Informationszentrum, Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. 215 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesDissertations

  4. Published

    Change from Below: Student Initiatives for Universities in Sustainable Development

    Drupp, M., Esguerra, A., Keul, L., Löw Beer, D., Meisch, S. & Roosen-Runge, F., 2012, Sustainable Development at Universities: New Horizons. Leal Filho, W. (ed.). 1. ed. Frankfurt: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 733-742 10 p. 61. (Umweltbildung, Umweltkommunikation und Nachhaltigkeit / Environmental Education, Communication and Sustainability; vol. 34).

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

  5. Published

    Change Agents für unternehmerische Nachhaltigkeit

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2015, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management. 23 p. (CSM-Impulse; vol. 01/2015)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  6. Published

    Chances and challenges of the biologization of the economy of rural areas

    Pleissner, D., 01.06.2020, In: Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry. 23, p. 46-49 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  7. Published

    Chancen und Probleme des betriebsinternen CO2-Zertifikatehandels am Beispiel des Otto Versand, Hamburg

    Trautwein, S., 2002, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 157 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    Chancen für erneuerbare Energien in Wärmenetzen

    Bickel, M. W., Soetebeer, I., Neidig, P. & Schneidewind, U., 01.01.2018, In: GAIA. 27, 1, p. 190-192 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  9. Published

    Chancen för erneuerbare Energien in Wärmenetzen: Bericht vom Leuphana Energieforum 2017

    Bickel, M. W., Soetebeer, I. & Neidig, P., 2018, In: GAIA. 27, 1, p. 190-192 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Chancen erkennen und nutzen: Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung im Alltag von Kindertagesstätten

    Benoist, B. & Heuser, H.-H., 08.2010, Hier spielt die Zukunft: Kindergärten als Bildungsorte für nachhaltige Entwicklung ; Dokumentation zur Fachtagung vom 30.11. – 01.12.2009/Bonn. Kruppa, E. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: Leuchtpol, p. 49-52 4 p. (Schriftenreihe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Natur- und Umweltbildung Bundesverband e.V.)(Leuchtpol Bibliothek Sonderedition; no. 1).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch