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

    Assessing Collaborative Conservation: A Case Survey of Output, Outcome, and Impact Measures Used in the Empirical Literature

    Koontz, T. M., Jager, N. W. & Newig, J., 02.04.2020, In: Society and Natural Resources. 33, 4, p. 442-461 20 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Assessing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and stakeholder agency in coastal governance to enhance climate resilience

    Rölfer, L., Celliers, L., Fernandes, M., Rivers, N., Snow, B. & Abson, D. J., 01.03.2024, In: Regional Environmental Change. 24, 1, 15 p., 6.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Assembly Theory for Restoring Ecosystem Structure and Functioning: Timing is Everything?

    Temperton, V. M., Baasch, A., Von Gillhaussen, P. & Kirmer, A., 11.2016, Foundations of Restoration Ecology. Palmer, M. A., Zedler, J. B. & Falk, D. A. (eds.). 2 ed. Washington: Island Press, p. 245-270 26 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Assembly history modulates vertical root distribution in a grassland experiment

    Alonso-Crespo, I. M., Weidlich, E. W. A., Temperton, V. M. & Delory, B. M., 01.2023, In: Oikos. 2023, 1, 13 p., e08886.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Aspekte der Nachhaltigkeit in der ambulanten Versorgung von Menschen mit Demenz

    Baumgardt, J., Radisch, J., Touil, E., Moock, J., Plewig, H.-J., Kawohl, W. & Rössler, W., 11.2014, In: Psychiatrische Praxis. 41, 8, p. 424- 431 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Aspect-oriented software development: a little guidance to better Java applications

    Bonin, H. E. G., 2002, Lüneburg: Universität Lüneburg. 89 p. (Final)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCompendium/lecture notesEducation

  7. Published

    A social-ecological typology of rangelands based on rainfall variability and farming type

    Engler, J.-O., Abson, D. J., Feller, R., Hanspach, J. & von Wehrden, H., 01.01.2018, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 148, p. 65 - 73 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    A Social–Ecological Systems Framework as a Tool for Understanding the Effectiveness of Biosphere Reserve Management

    Ferreira, A. F., Zimmermann, H., Santos, R. & Wehrden, H., 10.10.2018, In: Sustainability. 10, 10, 26 p., 3608.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    A social–ecological perspective on harmonizing food security and biodiversity conservation

    Wittman, H., Chappell, M. J., Abson, D. J., Kerr, R. B., Blesh, J., Hanspach, J., Perfecto, I. & Fischer, J., 26.09.2016, In: Regional Environmental Change. 17, 5, p. 1291-1301 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    A social-ecological assessment of food security and biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia

    Fischer, J., Bergsten, A., Dorresteijn, I., Hanspach, J., Hylander, K., Jiren, T. S., Manlosa, A. O., Rodrigues, P., Schultner, J., Senbeta, F. & Shumi, G., 28.07.2021, In: Ecosystems and People. 17, 1, p. 400-410 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review