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

    Biodiversity buffers pollination from changes in environmental conditions

    Brittain, C., Kremen, C. & Klein, A.-M., 02.2013, In: Global Change Biology. 19, 2, p. 540-547 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published

    Biodiversität - Perspektive für unternehmerisches Nachhaltigkeitsmanagement: Auswertung einer Unternehmensbefragung

    Wuczkowski, M., 2012, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 29 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Sight or scent: lemur sensory reliance in detecting food quality varies with feeding ecology.

    Rushmore, J., Leonhardt, S. & Drea, C. M., 03.08.2012, In: PLoS ONE. 7, 8, 11 p., e41558.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Seehäfen - Planung und Entwurf von Terminals

    Brinkmann, B., 11.2004, Rostock: Universität Rostock. 524 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesPost-doctoral dissertations

  5. Published

    More effective natural resource management through participatory governance? Taking stock of the conceptual and empirical literature – and moving forward

    Newig, J., 31.08.2012, Environmental governance: The challenge of legitimacy and effectiveness. Hogl, K., Kvarda, E., Nordbeck, R. & Pregernig, M. (eds.). Cheltenham et al.: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 46-68 23 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  6. Published

    Participation in environmental governance: legitimate and effective?

    Newig, J. & Kvarda, E., 2012, Environmental governance: The challenge of legitimacy and effectiveness. Hogl, K., Kvarda, E., Nordbeck, R. & Pregernig, M. (eds.). Cheltenham et al.: Edward Elgar Publishing, p. 29-45 17 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  7. Published

    Niche segregation in microhabitat use of three sympatric Cyrtodactylus in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Central Vietnam

    Loos, J., von Wehrden, H., Dang, K. N. & Ziegler, T., 06.05.2012, In: Herpetological Conservation and Biology. 7, 1, p. 101-108 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Hydraulic Fracturing: Zusammensetzung und Entsorgung anfallender Abwässer

    Olsson, O., Weichgrebe, D. & Rosenwinkel, K.-H., 09.2012, In: Wasser und Abfall. 14, 9, p. 10-15 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    Moving beyond unlearning unsustainable consumption

    Fischer, D., 2012, Beyond Consumption Pathways to Responsible Living: 2nd PERL International Conference. Fricke, V., Schrader, U. & Thoresen, V. (eds.). Hedmark University College, p. 239-252 14 p.

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

  10. Published

    Key competencies for sustainable consumption

    Barth, M. & Fischer, D., 2012, Beyond Consumption: Pathways to Responsible Living. Fricke, V., Schrader, U. & Thoresen, V. W. (eds.). Berlin: Hedmark University College, p. 65-79 15 p.

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