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

    Characterizing commercial cattle farms in Namibia: risk, management and sustainability

    Olbrich, R., Quaas, M. F. & Baumgärtner, S., 08.2012, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 53 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics ; no. 248).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  2. Published

    Schutz, Nutzung und nachhaltige Gestaltung – Geschlechteraspekte im Umgang mit Natur

    Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 269-276 8 p.

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

  3. Published

    Wirtschaften und Arbeiten in feministischer Perspektive – geschlechtergerecht und nachhaltig?

    Biesecker, A. & Gottschlich, D., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 178-190

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

  4. Published

    Geschlechterverhältnisse & Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften

    Hofmeister, S. (Editor), Katz, C. (Editor) & Mölders, T. (Editor), 2013, Opladen, Berlin, Toronto: Verlag Babara Budrich. 403 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  5. Published

    Rechtsfragen des Landfill Mining - Weiterentwicklung des Deponierechts zur Rückgewinnung von Ressourcen

    Sanden, J. & Schomerus, T., 2012, In: AbfallR. 5, p. 194-201 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  6. Published

    Using ‘mixed methods’ in sustainable consumption research: approaches, challenges and added value

    Jäger-Erben, M., Schäfer, M., Dalichau, D., Dehmel, C., Götz, K., Fischer, D., Homburg, A., Schulz, M. & Zundel, S., 2012, The Nature of Sustainable Consumption and How to Achieve it: Results from the Focal Topic "From Knowledge to Action – New Paths towards Sustainable Consumption". Defila, R., D Giulio, A. & Kaufmann-Hayoz, R. (eds.). München: oekom verlag GmbH, p. 143–159 17 p. (Results of Social-ecological Research; vol. 14).

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

  7. Published

    Identification of ozonation by-products of 4- and 5-methyl-1H-benzotriazole during the treatment of surface water to drinking water

    Müller, A., Weiss, S. C., Beißwenger, J., Leukhardt, H. G., Schulz, W., Seitz, W., Ruck, W. K. L. & Weber, W. H., 01.03.2012, In: Water Research. 46, 3, p. 679-690 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Influences of the chemical structure of entrainers on the activity coefficients in presence of biodiesel

    Mäder, A., Fleischmann, A., Fang, Y., Krahl, J. & Ruck, W., 28.05.2012, In: Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 364, 1, 10 p., 012010.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearch

  9. Published

    Concentration measurements of biodiesel in engine oil and in diesel fuel

    Mäder, A., Eskiner, M., Burger, C., Ruck, W., Rossner, M. & Krahl, J., 28.05.2012, In: Journal of Physics: Conference Series. 364, 1, 7 p., 012018.

    Research output: Journal contributionsConference article in journalResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Occurrence and fate of the antidiabetic drug metformin and its metabolite guanylurea in the environment and during drinking water treatment

    Scheurer, M., Michel, A., Brauch, H.-J., Ruck, W. & Sacher, F., 01.10.2012, In: Water Research. 46, 15, p. 4790-4802 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review