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

    Integrating rural development and biodiversity conservation in Central Romania

    Newig, J., Milcu, A. I., Hartel, T., Mikulcak, F. & Fischer, J., 06.2013, In: Environmental Conservation. 40, 2, p. 129-137 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Bifunctional proteins as a therapeutic strategy for improved myocardial repair in cardiovascular diseases

    Ziegler, M., Schönberger, T., Baumer, Y., Ochmann, C., Jürgens, T., Elvers, M., Leder, C., Schlosshauer, B. & Gawaz, M., 04.2012, Clin Res Cardiol: Suppl 1. Vol. 101. p. V1086 1 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticle in conference proceedingsResearch

  3. Published

    Die Leuphana-Der Weg zur Nachhaltigkeit

    Michelsen, G., 2012, Wende überall?: Jahrbuch Ökologie. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, 9 p.

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

  4. Published

    Lehrerinnen und Lehrer als Akteure im Transformationsprozess

    Michelsen, G., 2012, Wende überall?: Jahrbuch Ökologie 2013. Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag, p. 87-93 6 p.

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

  5. Published

    Learning for change: an educational contribution to sustainability science

    Michelsen, G. & Barth, M., 01.2013, In: Sustainability Science. 8, 1, p. 103-119 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    Wende überall? Von Vorreitern, Nachzüglern und Sitzenbleibern ; in memoriam Günter Altner

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), Leitschuh, H. (Editor), Simonis, U. E. (Editor), Sommer, J. (Editor) & Weizsäcker, E. U. V. (Editor), 2012, Stuttgart: S. Hirzel Verlag. 256 p. (Jahrbuch Ökologie; vol. 2013)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  7. Published

    Die Verbreitung einer wegweisenden Idee: Der Beitrag der UN-Dekade für die Diffusion von Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G. & Rode, H., 2012, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung - Beiträge der Bildungsforschung. Berlin: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, p. 91-113 22 p. (Bildungsforschung; vol. 39).

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

  8. Published

    The ground beetle tribe Trechini in Israel and adjacent regions

    Aßmann, T., Buse, J., Chikatunov, V., Drees, C., Friedmann, A.-L.-L., Härdtle, W., Levanovy, T., Renan, I., Seyfferth, A. & Wrase, D. W., 08.2012, In: Spixiana - Zeitschrift für Zoologie. 35, 2, p. 193-208 16 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Steigert das Product-Service System Cloud-Computing die Ökoeffizienz?

    Froböse, K., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 81 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Learning for sustainable development in regional networks

    Dlouha, J., Barton, A., Huisingh, D. & Adomßent, M., 06.2013, In: Journal of Cleaner Production. 49, p. 1-4 4 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch