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

    An analysis of local institutions governing common pasture use for biodiversity and society in Transylvania, Romania

    Sutcliffe, L. M. E., Röllig, M. & Hartel, T., 2013, Biodiversität und Gesellschaft: Gesellschaftliche Dimensionen von Schutz und Nutzung biologischer Vielfalt; Beiträge zur Fachtagung, Göttingen, 14.-16.11.2012. Friedrich, J., Halsband, A. & Minkmar, L. (eds.). Universitätsverlag Göttingen, p. 297-302 6 p.

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

  2. Published

    Analyzing the political impact of Real-world laboratories for urban transformation in eight German ‘Cities of the Future’

    Kampfmann, T., Lang, D. J. & Weiser, A., 12.2024, In: Environmental Science and Policy. 162, 12 p., 103923.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Analyzing management preferences for sustainability: Toward a new framework

    Brieger, S. A., Seidel, J., Strathoff, P. & Sundermann, A., 2015, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 9 p. (Working Paper Series in Management; no. 3).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  4. Published

    Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-induced modification of protein expression in primary hepatocytes from harbour seals

    Behr, A., Wargel, A., Siebert, U. & Hellwig, V., 2008, In: Organohalogen Compounds. 70, p. 1079-1082 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearch

  5. Published

    Analysis of life cycle datasets for the material gold

    Fritz, B. & Schmidt, M., 2021, Progress in Life Cycle Assessment 2019 . Albrecht, S., Fischer, M., Leistner, P. & Schebek, L. (eds.). Cham: Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, p. 99-112 14 p. (Sustainable Production, Life Cycle Engineering and Management).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksContributions to collected editions/anthologiesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Analysis of estrogenic activity in coastal surface waters of the Baltic Sea using the yeast estrogen screen

    Beck, I. C., Bruhn, R. & Gandrass, J., 01.06.2006, In: Chemosphere. 63, 11, p. 1870-1878 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Analysis of environmental biodegradability of cellulose-based pharmaceutical excipients in aqueous media

    Bading, M., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 01.03.2024, In: Chemosphere. 352, 8 p., 141298.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Analysis, distribution and fate of PAH, polar PAHand NSO-heterocyclics in the aquifer of tar-contaminated sites

    Schlanges, I., Mänz, J. S., Meyer, D., Palm, W.-U. & Ruck, W., 2008, Gasworks Europe: Redevelopment, Site Management and Contaminant Issues of former MGPs and other Tar Oil Polluted Sites: Proceedings of MGP 2008 Conference. Werner, P., Bilitewski, B. & Hüsers, N. (eds.). Pirna: Forum für Abfallwirtschaft und Altlasten, p. 277 1 p. (Beiträge zur Abfallwirtschaft, Altlasten; vol. 56).

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

  9. Published

    Analyses of Drugs and Pharmaceuticals in the Environment

    Ali, I., Aboul-Enein, H. Y. & Kümmerer, K., 05.07.2011, Biophysico-Chemical Processes of Anthropogenic Organic Compounds in Environmental Systems. Xing, B., Senesi, N. & Ming, P. (eds.). 1 ed. John Wiley & Sons Inc., p. 439-462 24 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  10. Published

    Analyse non linéaire des récessions de l'écoulement de base dans des bassins versants à écoulements intermittents

    Aksoy, H. & Wittenberg, H., 01.03.2011, In: Hydrological Sciences Journal. 56, 2, p. 226-237 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch