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. 2016
  2. Published

    Occupational e-Mental Health: Current Approaches and Promising Perspectives for Promoting Mental Health in Workers

    Lehr, D., Geraedts, A., Persson Asplund, R., Khadjesari, Z., Heber, E., de Bloom, J., Ebert, D. D., Angerer, P. & Funk, B., 01.01.2016, Healthy at Work: Interdisciplinary Perspectives. Wiencke, M., Cacace, M. & Fischer, S. (eds.). 1 ed. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG, p. 257-281 25 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published

    Participatory and collaborative governance for sustainable flood risk management: An emerging research agenda

    Challies, E., Newig, J., Thaler, T., Kochskämper, E. & Levin-Keitel, M., 01.01.2016, In: Environmental Science & Policy. 55, 2, p. 275-280 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Social Bots as algorithmic pirates and messengers of techno-environmental agency

    Leistert, O., 01.01.2016, Algorithmic Cultures: Essays on Meaning, Performance and New Technologies. Seyferth, R. & Roberge, J. (eds.). London: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 158 - 172 15 p. (Routledge advances in sociology; vol. 189).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  5. Published

    The role of scenarios in fostering collective action for sustainable development: Lessons from central Romania

    Nieto-Romero, M., Milcu, A., Leventon, J., Mikulcak, F. & Fischer, J., 01.01.2016, In: Land Use Policy. 50, p. 156-168 13 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  6. Published

    The Sustainability Balanced Scorecard: A Systematic Review of Architectures

    Hansen, E. G. & Schaltegger, S., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Business Ethics. 133, 2, p. 193-221 29 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    The value of time in biological conservation and supplied ecosystem services: A willingness to give up time exercise

    García-Llorente, M., Castro, A. J., Quintas-Soriano, C., López, I., Castro, H., Montes, C. & Martín-López, B., 01.01.2016, In: Journal of Arid Environments. 124, p. 13-21 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Using gender theories to analyse nature resource management

    Katz, C., 01.01.2016, Contemporary Perspectives on Ecofeminism. Phillips, M. & Rumens, N. (eds.). Oxford: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 193-209 17 p. (Routledge explorations in environmental studies).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  9. Published

    archiDART: an R package for the automated computation of plant root architectural traits

    Delory, B. M., Baudson, C., Brostaux, Y., Lobet, G., du Jardin, P., Pagès, L. & Delaplace, P., 01.2016, In: Plant and Soil. 398, 1-2, p. 351-365 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  10. Published

    Sustainability: Politics and Governance

    Heinrichs, H. & Biermann, F., 01.2016, Sustainability Science: An introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 129-137 9 p.

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

  11. Published

    Sustainability Science: An Introduction

    Heinrichs, H. (Editor), Martens, W. J. M. (Editor), Michelsen, G. (Editor) & Wiek, A. (Editor), 01.2016, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands. 367 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesEducation

  12. Published

    Sustainable Development and Material Flows

    John, B., Möller, A. & Weiser, A., 01.2016, Sustainability Science: An Introduction. Heinrichs, H., Martens, P., Michelsen, G. & Wiek, A. (eds.). Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, p. 219-230 12 p.

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

  13. Published

    20th EMAN Conference: Two Decades of Corporate Environmental and Sustainability Accounting – What has been achieved? Proceedings

    Schaltegger, S. (Editor), 2016, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management. 299 p.

    Research output: Books and anthologiesConference proceedingsResearch

  14. Published

    Advanced Treatment Technologies for Urban Waste Water Reuse

    Fatta-Kassinos, D. (Editor), Dionysiou, D. D. (Editor) & Kümmerer, K. (Editor), 2016, Cham: Springer Nature AG. 305 p. (The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry; vol. 45, no. 1)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  15. Published

    A Glue from Snail Slime?! Umsetzung und Evaluation eines bilingualen Moduls für den Biologieunterricht

    Rodenhauser, A. & Preisfeld, A., 2016, Bilingualen Unterricht weiterentwickeln und erforschen . Diehr, B., Preisfeld, A. & Schmelter, L. (eds.). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang Verlag, p. 221-243 23 p.

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

  16. Published

    An experience-based learning framework: Activities for the initial development of sustainability competencies

    Caniglia, G., John, B., Kohler, M., Leonie, B., Wiek, A., Rojas, C., Laubichler, M. & Lang, D. J., 2016, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 17, 6, p. 827-852 26 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  17. Published

    Application of non-target analysis with LC-HRMS for the monitoring of raw and potable water: Strategy and results

    Bader, T., Schulz, W., Lucke, T. & Winzenbacher, R., 2016, Assessing Transformation Products of Chemicals by Non-Target and Suspect Screening - Strategies and Workflows Volume 2. Letzel, T. & Drewes, J. E. (eds.). American Chemical Society, p. 49-70 22 p. (ACS Symposium Series; vol. 1242).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  18. Published

    Aufwachsen unter Risiko:Exekutive Funktionen der Kinder: Editoral

    Klein, A. M. & Salisch, M., 2016, In: Praxis der Kinderpsychologie und Kinderpsychiatrie. 65, 6, p. 384-388 5 p.

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

  19. Published

    Baumartenvielfalt und Ressourcennutzung - Ergebnisse eines Stickstoff-Tracer-Experimentes in Baumanpflanzungen im subtropischen China

    Härdtle, W., 2016, Jahrestagung der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft e.V: vom 4. bis 6. März 2016 in Hannover : zu Ehren von Professor Dr. Elgene Box (University of Georgia, Athens, USA). Pott, R. (ed.). Hannover: Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft , p. 75-86 12 p. (Berichte der Reinhold-Tüxen-Gesellschaft; vol. 28).

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

  20. Published

    Berücksichtigung von Ökosystemleistungen in privatwirtschaftlichen Entscheidungen

    Schaltegger, S., Beständig, U. & Wuczkowski, M., 2016, Ökosystemleistungen in ländlichen Räumen: Grundlage für menschliches Wohlergehen und nachhaltige wirtschaftliche Entwicklung. von Haaren, C. & Albert, C. (eds.). Hannover, Leipzig: Naturkapital Deutschland - TEEB DE, p. 308-325 18 p.

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

  21. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Michelsen, G. & Fischer, D., 2016, Handbuch Umweltethik. Ott, K., Dierks, J. & Voget-Kleschin, L. (eds.). Stuttgart: J.B. Metzler, p. 330-334 5 p.

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