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

    Climate Change as an External Enabler of Entrepreneurial Activity

    Hirschmann, M., Farny, S. & Fisch, C., 01.08.2023, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023, 1, 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    The Power of Words: Formation of Partnerships through Circular Startups

    Böckel, A., Farny, S. & Bocken, N., 01.08.2023, In: Academy of Management Proceedings. 2023, 1

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Forest Restoration

    Resende, A. F., Krainovic, P. M., Brancalion, P. H. S., Weidlich, E. W. A., Rodrigues, R. R., Strassburg, B. & Loyola, R., 01.01.2024, Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Third Edition: Volume 1-7. Scheiner, S. M. (ed.). Third Edition ed. Oxford: Academic Press Inc., Vol. 4. p. 799-813 15 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  4. Published

    Learning from Safe-by-Design for Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design: Mapping the Current Landscape of Safe-by-Design Reviews, Case Studies, and Frameworks

    Sudheshwar, A., Apel, C., Kümmerer, K., Wang, Z., Soeteman-Hernández, L. G., Valsami-Jones, E., Som, C. & Nowack, B., 01.01.2024, In: Environment international. 183, 13 p., 108305.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Governing the co-production of nature's contributions to people: the road ahead

    Isaac, R., Albrecht, E., Felipe-Lucia, M. R., Piquer-Rodríguez, M., Winkler, K. J. & Martín-López, B., 2023, Advances in Ecological Research: Roadmaps: Part B. Bohan, D. A. & Dumbrell, A. J. (eds.). Academic Press Inc., p. 1-15 15 p. (Advances in Ecological Research; vol. 69).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Impact of green and blue-green light on the growth, pigment concentration, and fatty acid unsaturation in the microalga Monoraphidium braunii

    Helamieh, M., Reich, M., Rohne, P., Riebesell, U., Kerner, M. & Kümmerer, K., 01.05.2024, In: Photochemistry and Photobiology. 100, 3, p. 587-595 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The positive effect of plant diversity on soil carbon depends on climate

    Spohn, M., Bagchi, S., Biederman, L. A., Borer, E. T., Bråthen, K. A., Bugalho, M. N., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., Collins, S. L., Eisenhauer, N., Hagenah, N., Haider, S., Hautier, Y., Knops, J. M. H., Koerner, S. E., Laanisto, L., Lekberg, Y., Martina, J. P., Martinson, H., McCulley, R. L., Peri, P. L., Macek, P., Power, S. A., Risch, A. C., Roscher, C., Seabloom, E. W., Stevens, C., Veen, G. F., Virtanen, R. & Yahdjian, L., 01.12.2023, In: Nature Communications. 14, 1, 10 p., 6624.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Valuing electronic devices? User narratives and their role for durability

    Hipp, T. & Fischer, D., 18.10.2023, Durable Economies: Organizing the Material Foundations of Society. Jaeger-Erben, M., Wiesner, H., Marwede, M. & Hoffmann, F. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 131-157 27 p. (Labor and Organization; vol. 10).

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

  9. Published

    Resümee: Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – Impulse für die Hochschullandschaft

    Fischer, D., Michelsen, G. & Barth, M., 16.10.2023, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Michelsen, G., Barth, M. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 183-190 8 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE).

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

  10. Published

    Disziplinäre Perspektiven erweitern: Nachhaltigkeit als Nebenfach (Minor Sustainability Science)

    Fischer, D., Martín-López, B. & Keding, G., 16.10.2023, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Michelsen, G., Barth, M. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 99-114 16 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE).

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