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

    PoNa – Politiken der Naturgestaltung: Nachhaltigkeitsverständnis als Grundlage für die Analyse der Politikfelder Ländliche Entwicklung und Agro-Gentechnik

    Gottschlich, D., Mölders, T., Friedrich, B., Burandt, A., Sulmowski, J. A. & Szumelda, A. U., 2011, Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der wissenschaftlichen Politikanalyse. Weingarten, P., Banse, M., Gömann, H., Isermeyer, F., Nieberg, H., Offermann, F. & Wendt, H. (eds.). Münster-Hiltrup: Deutscher Landwirtschaftsverlag GmbH, p. 417-419 3 p. (Schriften der Gesellschaft für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften des Landbaues e. V.; vol. 46).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksPublished abstract in conference proceedingsResearch

  2. Published

    From Knowledge to Application: Dissemination of Sustainability Management Tools in Large German Companies

    Schaltegger, S., Windolph, S. E. & Herzig, C., 2011, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 32 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  3. Published

    Lokale Konflikte um Agro-Gentechnik als Folge von Entscheidungen zwischen Freiheit und Zwang

    Friedrich, B., 2011, Entscheidungen mit Umweltfolgen zwischen Freiheit und Zwang: Tagungsband der 7. Tagung der Nachwuchsgruppe Umweltsoziologie (NGU). Faber, F., Jay, M., Reinecke, S. & Westermayer, T. (eds.). Freiburg: Institut für Forstökonomie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, p. 17-26 10 p. (Arbeitsbericht / Institut für Forstökonomie der Universität Freiburg; no. 55-2011).

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

  4. Published

    Möglichkeiten und Grenzen der Steuerung gesellschaftlicher Naturverhältnisse: Über die Bedeutung von Natur-, Ökonomie- und Politikverständnissen für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Gottschlich, D. & Mölders, T., 2011, Natur und Gesellschaft: Sozialwissenschaftliche Perspektiven auf die Regulation und Gestaltung einer Wechselbeziehung. Kruse, S. & Baerlocher, B. (eds.). edition gesowip, p. 189-225 37 p.

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

  5. Published

    Social Conflicts on Agro-Biotechnology: Conflicting Interests and Conflict of Interest in the Debate on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

    Friedrich, B., Gottschlich, D. & Sulmowski, J. A., 15.06.2011, Conflict of Interest in Central and Eastern Europe. Burdziej, S. & Szalacha, J. (eds.). Zysk i S-ka Wydawnictwo, p. 33-52

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

  6. Published

    Veränderung von Staatlichkeit und öffentliche Güter – Voraussetzungen für Nachhaltigkeit, Geschlechtergerechtigkeit und Sicherung der Lebensgrundlagen (livelihood): Dokumentation der AG Frauen des Forums Umwelt & Entwicklung

    Gottschlich, D. (Editor), Grüning, J. (Editor), Mölders, T. (Editor) & Vinz, D. (Editor), 2007, Bonn, Berlin ua. : Forum Umwelt & Entwicklung. 49 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  7. Published

    Bakterien und Pilze haben keine Lobby: Gentechnisch veränderte Mikroorganismen und ihre Akzeptanz in der Lebensmittelproduktion

    Schmitt, H., 2011, Lüneburg: Leuphana Universität Lüneburg, 62 p. (PoNa-Paper ; no. 3).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  8. Published

    MännerWeltWald: Natur- und Geschlechterkonstruktionen in Handlungsmustern von Waldakteur/innen

    Katz, C. & Mayer, M., 2006, FrauenMännerGeschlechterforschung: State of the Art. Aulenbacher et al., B. (ed.). Verlag Westfälisches Dampfboot, Vol. 19. p. 241-253 (Schriftenreihe der Sektion Frauen- und Geschlechterforschung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Soziologie; vol. 19).

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

  9. Published

    Perspektiven gender_gerechten Wirtschaftens: Fachgespräch „Green Economy – Wirtschaften für nachhaltige Lebensbedingungen“

    Stiefel, E. & Gottschlich, D., 2011, In: Rundbrief Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung. 2011, 4, p. 39 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsOther (editorial matter etc.)Transfer

  10. Published

    Werte im Konzept einer Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 11.2011, Hier spielt die Zukunft. Kinder. Werte. Klimaschutz: Dokumentation zur Fachtagung vom 02.12. - 03.12.2010/Potsdam. Müller, A. (ed.). Frankfurt am Main: Leuchtpol, p. 10-18 9 p. (Schriftenreihe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Natur- und Umweltbildung Bundesverband e.V.; vol. 19)(Leuchtpol Bibliothek Sonderedition; no. 4).

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