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. 2017
  2. Published

    From deforestation to blossom: Large-scale restoration of montane heathland vegetation

    Borchard, F., Härdtle, W., Streitberger, M., Stuhldreher, G., Thiele, J. & Fartmann, T., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Engineering. 101, p. 211-219 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Mapping and analysing historical indicators of ecosystem services in Germany

    Dittrich, A., von Wehrden, H., Abson, D. J., Bartkowski, B., Cord, A. F., Fust, P., Hoyer, C., Kambach, S., Meyer, M. A., Radzevičiūtė, R., Nieto-Romero, M., Seppelt, R. & Beckmann, M., 01.04.2017, In: Ecological Indicators. 75, p. 101-110 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Servicios Ecosistémicos en Latinoamérica: De la investigación a la acción

    Laterra, P., Martín-López, B., Mastrángelo, M. & Garibaldi, L. A., 01.04.2017, In: Ecología Austral. 27, 1, p. 94-98 5 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Socio-technical change linking expectations and representations: Innovating thermal treatment of municipal solid waste

    Levidow, L. & Upham, P., 01.04.2017, In: Science and Public Policy. 44, 2, p. 211-224 14 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The relationship between plant species richness and soil pH vanishes with increasing aridity across Eurasian dry grasslands

    Palpurina, S., Wagner, V., von Wehrden, H., Hájek, M., Horsák, M., Brinkert, A., Hölzel, N., Wesche, K., Kamp, J., Hájková, P., Danihelka, J., Lustyk, P., Merunková, K., Preislerová, Z., Kočí, M., Kubešová, S., Cherosov, M., Ermakov, N., German, D., Gogoleva, P., Lashchinsky, N., Martynenko, V. & Chytrý, M., 01.04.2017, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 26, 4, p. 425-434 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The reproductive potential and importance of key management aspects for successful Calluna vulgaris rejuvenation on abandoned Continental heaths

    Henning, K., von Oheimb, G., Härdtle, W., Fichtner, A. & Tischew, S., 01.04.2017, In: Ecology and Evolution. 7, 7, p. 2091-2100 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Energy transitions and national development indicators: A global review of nuclear energy production

    Gralla, F., Abson, D. J., Møller, A. P., Lang, D. J. & von Wehrden, H., 04.2017, In: Renewable & Sustainble Energy Reviews. 70, p. 1251-1265 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  9. Published

    Simulation of the fate of Boscalid and its transformation product 4-Chlorobenzoic acid in a vineyard-terraces catchment

    Vollert, D., Gassmann, M., Olsson, O. & Kümmerer, K., 04.2017, Proceedings from the 19th EGU General Assembly, EGU2017. Copernicus Publications, Vol. 19. p. 15167 1 p. (Geophysical research abstracts; vol. 19).

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

  10. Published

    The right to liberty and security according to article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights and facing threats to public safety and national security

    Bachmann, S. D. & Sanden, J., 04.2017, In: Tydskrif vir die Suid Afrikaanse Reg . 2017, 2, p. 320-336 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsScientific review articlesResearch

  11. Published

    Vasodilatierende Substanzen in Kläranlagenabläufen und Oberflächengewässern

    Hensen, B., Faubel, C., Palm, W.-U. & Steffen, D., 04.2017, Wasser, Energie und Umwelt: Aktuelle Beiträge aus der Zeitschrift Wasser und Abfall I. Porth, M. & Schüttrumpf, H. (eds.). Wiesbaden: Springer Verlag, p. 208-215 8 p.

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

  12. Published

    Socio-cultural valuation approaches

    Santos-Martín, F., Kelemen, E., García-Llorente, M., Jacobs, S., Oteros-Rozas, E., Barton, D. N., Palomo, I., Hevia, V. & Martín-López, B., 30.03.2017, Mapping ecosystem services. Burkhard, B. & Maes, J. (eds.). Sofia: Pensoft Publishers Ltd., p. 102-112 11 p.

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

  13. Published

    Social Bots als algorithmische Piraten und als Boten einer techno-environmentalen Handlungskraft

    Leistert, O., 27.03.2017, Algorithmuskulturen: Über die rechnerische Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit. Seyfert, R. & Roberge, J. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 215 - 234 20 p.

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

  14. Published

    Hochschulen und nachhaltige Entwicklung: Analysen, Konzepte, europäische Perspektiven

    Adomssent, M., Franz-Balsen, A. & Kruse-Graumann, L., 25.03.2017, In: GAIA. 16, 1, p. 78-80 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Towards a Sustainable Use of Phosphorus: A Transdisciplinary Scenario Analysis for the Administrative District of Lüneburg, Germany

    Sieveking, A., Weber, H., Riewerts, B. & Böhme, M., 23.03.2017, In: GAIA. 26, 1, p. 34-42 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Methodological Challenges in Sustainability Science: A Call for Method Plurality, Procedural Rigor and Longitudinal Research

    Wehrden, H., Lüderitz, C., Leventon, J. & Russell, S., 20.03.2017, In: Challenges in Sustainability. 5, 1, p. 35-42 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Phenotypic Plasticity Explains Response Patterns of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Saplings to Nitrogen Fertilization and Drought Events

    Dziedek, C., Fichtner, A., Calvo, L., Marcos, E., Jansen, K., Kunz, M., Walmsley, D., Von Oheimb, G. & Härdtle, W., 20.03.2017, In: Forests. 8, 3, p. 1-11 11 p., 91.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  18. Published

    A plea for multifunctional landscapes

    Fischer, J., Meacham, M. & Queiroz, C., 01.03.2017, In: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 15, 2, p. 59-59 1 p.

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

  19. Published

    Experimental evidence of two mechanisms coupling leaf-level C assimilation to rhizosphere CO 2 release

    Kayler, Z., Keitel, C., Jansen, K. & Gessler, A., 01.03.2017, In: Environmental and Experimental Botany. 135, p. 21-26 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  20. Published

    Generalist social bees maximize diversity intake in plant species-rich and resource-abundant environments

    Kaluza, B. F., Wallace, H., Keller, A., Heard, T. A., Jeffers, B., Drescher, N., Blüthgen, N. & Leonhardt, S. D., 01.03.2017, In: Ecosphere. 8, 3, 19 p., e01758.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  21. Published

    Innovating Corporate Accounting and Reporting for Sustainability: Attributes and Challenges

    Schaltegger, S., Álvarez-Etxeberria, I. & Ortas, E., 01.03.2017, In: Sustainable Development. 25, 2, p. 113-122 10 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review