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

    Transdisziplinarität praktizieren

    Hartard, S., Heilmann, C. & Hofmeister, S., 2005, Ökologische Ökonomie: eine neue Wissenschaft? . Plöger, P. & Lang, E. (eds.). Karlsruhe: Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie, p. 52-56 5 p. (Vereinigung für Ökologische Ökonomie: Beiträge und Berichte; vol. 5).

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

  2. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Nähe oder soziologische Distanz? Responsibilisierung einer Polemik

    Herberg, J. A., 14.02.2018, Reflexive Responsibilisierung: Verantwortung für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Buschmann, N., Henkel, A., Hochmann, L. & Lüdtke, N. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 81-104 24 p.

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

  3. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Adomßent, M. & Michelsen, G., 2011, Nachhaltige Gesellschaft: Welche Rolle für Partizipation und Kooperation?. Heinrichs, H., Kuhn, K. & Newig, J. (eds.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, p. 98-116 19 p.

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

  4. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Integration in der Universität

    Godemann, J. & Michelsen, G., 2008, Transdisziplinäre Forschung: integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten. Bergmann, M. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag, p. 177-199 23 p.

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

  5. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung mit transformativem Anspruch Zehn Jahre NaWis: Rückblick und Vorausschau

    Lang, D. J., Renn, O., Rehm, A. & Ernst, A., 25.03.2021, In: GAIA. 30, 1, p. 51-53 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung: Integrative Forschungsprozesse verstehen und bewerten

    Bergmann, M. (Editor) & Schramm, E. (Editor), 2008, New York/Frankfurt am Main: Campus Verlag. 321 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Forschung

    Vilsmaier, U. & Lang, D., 2014, Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Heinrichs, H. & Michelsen, G. (eds.). Berlin: Springer Spektrum, p. 87-113 27 p.

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

  8. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Fallstudien in Lüneburg: Beschreibung eines Entwicklungskonzepts hin zur angewandten Erweiterung des Curriculums an der Universität Lüneburg

    Burandt, S., Döscher, K., Fuisz, S.-K., Helgenberger, S. & Maly, L., 2003, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 30 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  9. Published

    Transdisziplinäre Bildungsforschung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Fischer, D., Grunenberg, H., Mader, C. & Michelsen, G., 2016, Forschung für Nachhaltigkeit an deutschen Hochschulen. Leal Filho, W. (ed.). Heidelberg: Springer, p. 25-42 17 p. (Theorie und Praxis der Nachhaltigkeit; no. 1).

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

  10. Published

    Transdisciplinary sustainability research in real-world labs: success factors and methods for change

    Bergmann, M., Schäpke, N., Marg, O., Stelzer, F., Lang, D. J., Bossert, M., Gantert, M., Häußler, E., Marquardt, E., Piontek, F. M., Potthast, T., Rhodius, R., Rudolph, M., Ruddat, M., Seebacher, A. & Sußmann, N., 01.03.2021, In: Sustainability Science. 16, 2, p. 541-564 24 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review