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

    Biographische Lernprozesse von Sustainability Entrepreneuren verstehen

    Timm, J.-M., 2015, In: Zeitschrift für Wirtschafts- und Unternehmensethik. 16, 1, p. 103-113 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Online-Trainings zur Stressbewältigung - eine neue Chance zur Gesundheitsförderung im Lehrerberuf?

    Lehr, D., Eckert, M., Baum, K., Thiart, H., Heber, E., Berking, M., Sieland, B. & Ebert, D. D., 01.2014, In: Lehrerbildung auf dem Prüfstand. 7, 2, p. 190-212 23 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Nachhaltigkeit lernen an Hochschulen

    Michelsen, G., 2014, Nachhaltigkeit gestalten: Trends und Entwicklungen in der Umweltkommunikation ; Ergebnisse der 19. Internationalen Sommerakademie der Deutschen Bundesstifung Umwelt unter dem Titel "Aktuelle Trends und Entwicklungen in der Umweltkommunikation" vom 09. - 14. Juni 2013 im Internationalen Begegnungszentrum St. Marienthal. Bellendorf, P., Bittner, A., Exner, V., Gruber, F., Peters, U., Pyhel, T. & Witte, U. (eds.). 1 ed. München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 275-288 14 p. (DBU-Umweltkommunikation; vol. 6).

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

  4. Published

    Tree species richness strengthens relationships between ants and the functional composition of spider assemblages in a highly diverse forest

    Schuldt, A. & Staab, M., 01.05.2015, In: Biotropica. 47, 3, p. 339-346 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Rollenspiel im Seminar: Wie man theoretische Inhalte anhand einer simulierten Konferenz lebendig vermitteln kann

    Fischer, M., 2015, 14 p. Berlin : DUZ Verlags- und Medienhaus.

    Research output: other publicationsContributions to online encyclopediaTransfer

  6. Published

    Fit for the Future? A New Approach in the Debate about What Makes Healthcare Systems Really Sustainable

    Fischer, M., 01.2015, In: Sustainability. 7, 1, p. 294-312 19 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The Education, Research, Society, and Policy Nexus of Sustainable Water Use in Semiarid Regions - A Case Study from Tunisia

    Mader, C., Mahjoub, B., Bressler, K., Jebari, S., Kümmerer, K., Bahadir, M. & Leitenberger, A.-T., 2015, Sustainable Water Use and Management: examples of new approaches and perspectives. Leal Filho, W. & Sümer, V. (eds.). Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 277-291 15 p. (Green Energy and Technology).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  8. Published

    Plant diversity in a changing agricultural landscape mosaic in Southern Transylvania (Romania)

    Loos, J., Turtureanu, P. D., Wehrden, H. V., Hanspach, J., Dorresteijn, I., Frink, J. P. & Fischer, J., 01.2015, In: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. 199, p. 350-357 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Bodenökologische Untersuchungen in Elbauen - Entstehung und Entwicklung der Böden in der Mäanderschleife Wehningen

    Krüger, F., Tucci, M. & Urban, B., 2014, Klimafolgenanpassung im Biosphärenreservat Niedersächsische Elbtalaue - Modellregion für nachhaltige Entwicklung. Prüter, J., Schreck, C. & Keienburg, T. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, Vol. 5. p. 53-62 10 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 5).

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

  10. Published

    Klimawandel und Moorvegetation

    Urban, B., Schmidt, S., Jensen, K., Hölzer, A., Hansen, S. & Tucci, M., 2014, Klimawandel in der Lüneburger Heide: - Kulturlandschaften zukunftsfähig gestalten. Urban, B., Becker, J., Mersch, I., Meyer, W., Rechid, D. & Rottgardt, E. (eds.). Hamburg: TuTech Verlag, p. 59-62 4 p. (Berichte aus den KLIMZUG-NORD Modellgebieten; vol. 6).

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