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

    Normative Innovation for Sustainable Business Models in Value Networks

    Breuer, H. & Lüdeke-Freund, F., 2014, The Proceedings of XXV ISPIM Conference : Innovation for Sustainable Economy and Society. Huizingh, K., Conn, S., Torkkeli, M. & Bitran, I. (eds.). Lappeenranta University of Technology Press, 17 p.

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

  2. Published

    Die Backsteinstadt Lüneburg im Wandel der Baustile - eine Einleitung

    Seidel, A., 2014, Die Backsteinstadt Lüneburg: Ursprünge − Entwicklungslinien − Technikgeschichte. Pries, M. & Seidel, A. (eds.). Norderstedt: Books on Demand GmbH, p. 7-12 6 p. (Lüneburger Geographische Schriften; vol. 2).

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

  3. Published

    Bush encroachment control and risk management in semi-arid rangelands

    Lukomska, N., Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.12.2014, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 145, p. 24-34 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Aufbau und Führung von Nachhaltigkeitsmarken in Social Media

    Haller-Mangold, T. & Schaltegger, S., 2014, CSR und Social Media: Unternehmerische Verantwortung in sozialen Medien wirkungsvoll vermitteln. Wagner, R., Lahme, G. & Breitbarth, T. (eds.). Berlin: Springer, p. 25-39 15 p. (Management-Reihe Corporate Social Responsibility).

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

  5. Published

    Gatekeepers of Sustainability Information: Exploring the Roles of Accountants

    Schaltegger, S. & Zvezdov, D., 07.09.2015, In: Journal of Accounting and Organizational Change. 11, 3, p. 333-361 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Occurrence of the antidiabetic drug Metformin and its ultimate transformation product Guanylurea in several compartments of the aquatic cycle

    Trautwein, C., Berset, J.-D., Wolschke, H. & Kümmerer, K., 09.2014, In: Environmental international. 70, p. 203-212 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Woody plant phylogenetic diversity mediates bottom-up control of arthropod biomass in species-rich forests

    Schuldt, A., Baruffol, M., Bruelheide, H., Chen, S., Chi, X., Wall, M. & Aßmann, T., 09.2014, In: Oecologia. 176, 1, p. 171-182 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Kommunale Möglichkeiten zur Förderung regionaler Wertschöpfung bei Windenergieprojekten

    Maly, C., 2014, Recht und Finanzierung von Erneuerbaren Energien: Bürgerbeteiligungsmodelle. Degenhart, H. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). 1. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 47-58 12 p. (Lüneburger Schriften zum Wirtschaftsrecht; vol. 27).

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

  9. Published

    Einleitung: Recht und Finanzierung von Bürgerbeteiligungen

    Kahla, F. & Maly, C., 2014, Recht und Finanzierung von Erneuerbaren Energien: Bürgerbeteiligungsmodelle. Degenhart, H. & Schomerus, T. (eds.). 1. ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, p. 9-16 8 p. (Lüneburger Schriften zum Wirtschaftsrecht; vol. 27).

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

  10. Published

    UE4SD: Professionelle Unterstützung in Vorbereitung: Ein europaweites Projekt zur Bestandsaufnahme und Weiterentwicklung der Kompetenzbildung für Nachhaltigkeit unter Hochschullehrenden

    Mader, C., Mader, M., Michelsen, G. & Burandt, S., 2014, Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung Jahrbuch 2014: Krisen- und Transformationsszenarios. Frühkindpädagogik, Resilienz & Weltklimaprogramm. Sorgo, W. (ed.). Wien: FORUM Umweltbildung im Umweltdachverband, Vol. 2. p. 182-184 3 p. (Jahrbuch Bildung für Nachhaltige Entwicklung ; vol. 2014).

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