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

    Öffentliche Beschaffung nachhaltig gestalten

    Heinrichs, H. & Sühlsen, K., 2015, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, p. 1-30, 30 p.

    Research output: Working paperResearch communication reportsTransfer

  2. Published

    Politikbarometer Biologische Vielfalt in Deutschland

    Heinrichs, H., Laws, N. & Mitlacher, G., 2015, Verantwortung für die Zukunft: Naturschutz im Spannungsfeld gesellschaftlicher Interessen. Bonn: Bundesverband Beruflicher Naturschutz, p. 124-131 8 p. (Jahrbuch für Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege; vol. 60).

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

  3. Published

    Thermal conductivity measurement of thermochemical storage materials

    Fopah Lele, A., N'Tsoukpoe, K. E., Osterland, T., Kuznik, F. & Ruck, W., 05.10.2015, In: Applied Thermal Engineering. 89, p. 916-926 11 p., 6771.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Combining charcoal sediment and molecular markers to infer a Holocene fire history in the Maya Lowlands of Petén, Guatemala

    Schüpbach, S., Kirchgeorg, T., Colombaroli, D., Beffa, G., Radaelli, M., Kehrwald, N. & Barbante, C., 01.05.2015, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 115, p. 123-131 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Untersuchungen zur Entwicklung von Anpassungsstrategien an den Klimawandel für die Überflutungsflächen an der unteren Mittelelbe.

    Krüger, F., Scharnke, M., Schneider, W. & Urban, B., 2014, Land- und Ernährungswirtschaft im Klimawandel: Auswirkungen, Anpassungsstrategien und Entscheidungshilfen. Bloch, R., Bachinger, J., Fohrmann, R. & Pfriem, R. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 313-332 20 p. (Klimawandel in Regionen zukunftsfähig gestalten; vol. 8).

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

  6. Published

    Hydrologische Auswirkungen des Klimawandels: Fallbeispiel Wasserbauliche Maßnahmen zur Sicherung des ökologisch notwendigen Mindestabflusses kleiner Fließgewässer.

    Reusch, H., Heuer-Jungemann, H. & Urban, B., 2015, Klimaanpassung in der Stadt- und Regionalentwicklung: Ansätze, Instrumente, Maßnahmen und Beispiele. Knieling, J. & Müller, B. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, Vol. 7. p. 355-376 22 p. (Klimawandel in Regionen zukunftsfähig gestalten; vol. 7).

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

  7. Published

    On the evidence for human use and control of fire at Schöningen

    Stahlschmidt, M., Miller, C., Ligouis, B., Hambach, U., Goldberg, P., Berna, F., Richter, D., Urban, B., Serangeli, J. & Conrad, N. J., 01.12.2015, In: Journal of Human Evolution. 89, p. 181-201 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Awareness and Application of Sustainability Management Tools in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

    Johnson, M., 2013, Academy of Management Proceedings: Organizations & The Natural Environment. Academy of Management (Briarcliff Manor, NY) , 1 p. (Academy of Management Proceedings; vol. 2013).

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

  9. Published

    Tree species and functional traits but not species richness affect interrill erosion processes in young subtropical forests

    Seitz, S., Goebes, P., Song, Z., Bruehlheide, H., Härdtle, W., Kühn, P., Li, Y. & Scholten, T., 21.01.2016, In: SOIL. 2, 1, p. 49-61 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Habitat suitability models in conservation planning – a short introduction

    Dieker, P., Taboada Palomares, A. & von Wehrden, H., 05.2014, Jewels in the Mist: A synopsis on the highly endangered butterfly species the Violet Copper, Lycaena helle. Habel, J. C., Meyer, M. & Schmitt, T. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 57-65 9 p.

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