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

    Nachhaltigkeit als Verbandsaufgabe: Anforderungen aus dem Konzept der Nachhaltigkeit und Empfehlungen für die Interessenvertretung am Beispiel der deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft

    Gaedicke, M., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 133 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Ernährungskultur und Kulturlandschaft nachhaltig gestalten – Reflexionen aus der Perspektive Vorsorgenden Wirtschaftens

    Mölders, T., 2013, Wie Ernährung unsere Landschaften formt: Dokumentation der Tagung "Ernährungskultur und Kulturlandschaft - Wie Verbraucher zu Mitgestaltern einer attraktiven Landschaft werden. Gotzmann, I. (ed.). Bund Heimat und Umwelt, p. 44-48 5 p.

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

  3. Published

    Competition between honey bees and wild bees and the role of nesting resources in a nature reserve

    Hudewenz, A. & Klein, A.-M., 12.2013, In: Journal of Insect Conservation. 17, 6, p. 1275-1283 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    A systematic review of guiding principles for sustainable urban neighborhood development

    Lüderitz, C., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 10.2013, In: Landscape and Urban Planning. 118, October, p. 40-52 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  5. Published

    Nachhaltige Wissenschaft in der akademischen Ausbildung: Das Programm einer transformativen Bildung an NaWis-Institutionen

    Chrubasik, N., Ernst, A., Lang, D. J., Schneidewind, U., Simon, K.-H., Singer-Brodowski, M. & Vilsmaier, U., 06.2013, In: GAIA. 22, 2, p. 132-134 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  6. Published

    Land use changes and ground dwelling beetle conservation in extensive grazing dehesa systems of north-west Spain

    Garcia-Tejero, S., Taboada Palomares, A., Tarrega, R. & Salgado, J. M., 05.2013, In: Biological Conservation. 161, p. 58-66 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Complementarity, impatience, and the resilience of natural-resource-dependent economies

    Quaas, M. F., van Soest, D. P. & Baumgärtner, S., 01.07.2013, In: Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. 66, 1, p. 15-32 18 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Können Schutzgebiete ihre Schutzgüter verlieren?

    Vohland, K., Essl, F., Ellwanger, G., Hanspach, J., Kühn, I., Ssymank, A. & Schröder, E., 2013, Biodiversität und Klimawandel: Auswirkungen und Handlungsoptionen für den Naturschutz in Mitteleuropa. Essl, F. & Rabitsch, W. (eds.). Berlin Heidelberg: Springer, p. 295-303 9 p.

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

  9. Published

    Schutzgebiete Deutschlands im Klimawandel: Risiken und Handlungsoptionen

    Vohland, K. (Editor), Badeck, F., Böhning-Gaese, K., Ellwanger, G., Hanspach, J., Ibisch, P. L., Klotz, S., Kreft, S., Kühn, I., Schröder, E., Trautmann, S. & Cramer, W., 2013, Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag. 233 p. (Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt; vol. 129)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Öko-Innovation in KMU: Die Rolle von Public-Private Partnerships im Innovationsprozess

    Hansen, E. G., Klewitz, J. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, In: Industrie Management. 29, 5, p. 43-48 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesTransferpeer-review