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

    Long-term stream invertebrate community alterations induced by the insecticide thiacloprid: Effect concentrations and recovery dynamics

    Beketov, M. A., Marwitz, A., Paschke, A., Liess, M. & Schäfer, R. B., 01.11.2008, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 405, 1-3, p. 96-108 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  2. Published
  3. Published

    The European species of Chalarus Walker, 1834 revisited (Diptera: Pipunculidae)

    Kehlmaier, C. & Aßmann, T., 19.11.2008, In: Zootaxa. 1936, 1, p. 1-39 39 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    The footprint of pesticide stress in communities-Species traits reveal community effects of toxicants

    Liess, M., Schäfer, R. B. & Schriever, C. A., 01.12.2008, In: The Science of The Total Environment. 406, 3, p. 484-490 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Saproxylic beetle assemblages of three managed oak woodlands in the Eastern Mediterranean

    Buse, J., Levanony, T., Timm, A., Dayan, T. & Aßmann, T., 01.01.2008, In: Zoology in the Middle East. 45, 1, p. 55-66 12 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The Diversity of environmental justice: Towards a European Approach

    Elvers, H.-D., Heinrichs, H. & Groß, M., 01.12.2008, In: European Societies. 10, 5, p. 835-856 22 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Peer group influences on fifth graders' reading motivation

    von Salisch, M., Philipp, M. & Gölitz, D., 01.06.2008, In: International Journal of Psychology. 43, 3-4, p. 214 1 p.

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

  8. Published

    ZooKeys, unlocking Earth's incredible biodiversity and building a sustainable bridge into the public domain: From "print-based" to "web-based" taxonomy, systematics, and natural history ZooKeys Editorial Opening Paper

    Penev, L. D., Erwin, T. L., Thompson, F. C., Sues, H.-D., Engel, M. S., Agosti, D., Pyle, R., Ivie, M., Henry, T., Miller, J., Ananjeva, N. B., Casale, A., Lourenco, W., Golovatch, S., Fagerholm, H.-P., Taiti, S., Alonso-Zarazaga, M., van Nieukerken, E. & Aßmann, T., 04.07.2008, In: ZooKeys. 1, p. 1-7 7 p.

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

  9. Published

    Die Operationalisierung nachhaltiger Strategiepfade für die deutsche Energieversorgung unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der erneuerbaren Energien

    Unger, G., 2009, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 136 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  10. Published

    Ökonomische Bildung mit Kindern und Jugendlichen

    Bolscho, D. (Editor) & Hauenschild, K. (Editor), 2008, Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag. 241 p. (Umweltbildung und Zukunftsfähigkeit)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch