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. 2023
  2. Published

    „Protonen bei chemischen Reaktionen?“ – didaktische Rekonstruktion des Säure-Base-Konzepts nach Brønsted für die Sekundarstufe II

    Krebs, R. E., Hofer, E. & Lembens, A., 12.2023, In: ChemKon. 30, 8, p. 334-340 7 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  3. Published

    Spatial characterization of social-ecological systems units for management in Tropical Dry Forests

    Santillán-Carvantes, P., Balvanera, P., Thomsen, S., Mora, F., Pérez-Cárdenas, N., Cohen-Salgado, D., Ramírez-Ramírez, R., Gavito, M. E. & Martín-López, B., 12.2023, In: Landscape Ecology. 38, 12, p. 4303-4323 21 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    “We are Rosas”: a case study on how identity matters in local food groups

    Pöggel, K. & Fischer, D., 27.11.2023, In: Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy. 19, 1, 17 p., 2278244.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  5. Published

    Welche Faktoren bedingen die Akzeptanz von Technologien zum digital-gestützten Üben durch Lehrkräfte? Eine systematische Literaturübersicht

    Kahnbach, L. & Lehr, D., 21.11.2023, Digitales Lehren und Lernen im Fachunterricht : Aktuelle Entwicklungen, Gegenstände und Prozesse. Michael, A., Michael, B., Christion, H. & Poldi, K. (eds.). Weinheim: Beltz Juventa Verlag, p. 133-158 26 p.

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

  6. Published

    Lost in translation? Tanzanian students’ views on sustainability and language, and the implications for the pledge to leave no one behind

    Ulmer, N., Divine, N. & Wydra, K., 13.11.2023, In: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 24, 7, p. 1381-1397 17 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  7. Published

    Substantial light woodland and open vegetation characterized the temperate forest biome before Homo sapiens

    Pearce, E. A., Mazier, F., Normand, S., Fyfe, R., Andrieu, V., Bakels, C., Balwierz, Z., Bińka, K., Boreham, S., Borisova, O. K., Brostrom, A., de Beaulieu, J. L., Gao, C., González-Sampériz, P., Granoszewski, W., Hrynowiecka, A., Kołaczek, P., Kuneš, P., Magri, D., Malkiewicz, M., Mighall, T., Milner, A. M., Möller, P., Nita, M., Noryśkiewicz, B., Pidek, I. A., Reille, M., Robertsson, A. M., Salonen, J. S., Schläfli, P., Schokker, J., Scussolini, P., Šeirienė, V., Strahl, J., Urban, B., Winter, H. & Svenning, J. C., 10.11.2023, In: Science Advances. 9, 45, 15 p., eadi9135.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  8. Published

    Pathways towards sustainable and just futures with and for disabled populations: a leverage points perspective

    Kosanic, A., Petzold, J. & Martín-López, B., 05.11.2023, In: Ecosystems and People. 19, 1, 5 p., 2274590.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    An IAD framework analysis of minigrid institutions for sustainable rural electrification in East Africa: A comparative study of Uganda and Tanzania

    Namujju, L. D., Acquah-Swanzy, H. & Ngoti, I. F., 01.11.2023, In: Energy Policy. 182, 17 p., 113742.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearch

  10. Published

    Present generation’s negotiators realize their interests at the cost of future generations

    Treek, M., Majer, J. M., Zhang, H., Zhang, K. & Trötschel, R., 01.11.2023, In: Journal of Environmental Psychology. 91, 102126.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  11. Published

    Within-individual leaf trait variation increases with phenotypic integration in a subtropical tree diversity experiment

    Castro Sánchez-Bermejo, P., Davrinche, A., Matesanz, S., Harpole, W. S. & Haider, S., 01.11.2023, In: New Phytologist. 240, 4, p. 1390-1404 15 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  12. Published

    Governing Agricultural Biotechnologies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany: A Trans-decadal Study of Regulatory Cultures

    Ely, A., Friedrich, B., Glover, D., Fischer, K., Stone, G. D., Kingiri, A. & Schnurr, M. A., 11.2023, In: Science Technology and Human Values. 48, 6, p. 1292-1328 37 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  13. Published

    Nile Red as a Fluorescence Marker and Antioxidant for Regenerative Fuels

    Lichtinger, A., Poller, M. J., Türck, J., Schröder, O., Garbe, T., Krahl, J., Singer, A., Jakob, M. & Albert, J., 11.2023, In: Energy Technology. 11, 11, 9 p., 2300260.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  14. Published

    Nothing lasts forever: Dominant species decline under rapid environmental change in global grasslands

    Wilfahrt, P. A., Seabloom, E. W., Bakker, J. D., Biederman, L., Bugalho, M. N., Cadotte, M. W., Caldeira, M. C., Catford, J. A., Chen, Q., Donohue, I., Ebeling, A., Eisenhauer, N., Haider, S., Heckman, R. W., Jentsch, A., Koerner, S. E., Komatsu, K. J., Laungani, R., MacDougall, A., Martina, J. P., Martinson, H., Moore, J. L., Niu, Y., Ohlert, T., Venterink, H. O., Orr, D., Peri, P., Pos, E., Price, J., Raynaud, X., Ren, Z., Roscher, C., Smith, N. G., Stevens, C. J., Sullivan, L. L., Tedder, M., Tognetti, P. M., Veen, C., Wheeler, G., Young, A. L., Young, H. & Borer, E. T., 11.2023, In: Journal of Ecology. 111, 11, p. 2472-2482 11 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  15. Published

    Exploring fruitful links between real-world laboratory and disciplinary research Introduction of the DKN Future Earth working group LinkLab

    Weiser, A., Wanner, M., Stelzer, F., Lang, D. J., Berger, H., Förster, A., Liedtke, C., Micklitz, H. W., Niewöhner, J., Parodi, O., Potthast, T., Schneider, F., Sörgel, F., Ziehl, M. & Ziemer, G., 27.10.2023, In: GAIA - Ecological Perspectives for Science and Society. 32, 3, p. 335-337 3 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  16. Published

    Agriculture: reform the global food system

    Fischer, J., Bennett, E. & Pe’er, G., 19.10.2023, In: Nature. 622, 7983, p. 461 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  17. Published

    Valuing electronic devices? User narratives and their role for durability

    Hipp, T. & Fischer, D., 18.10.2023, Durable Economies: Organizing the Material Foundations of Society. Jaeger-Erben, M., Wiesner, H., Marwede, M. & Hoffmann, F. (eds.). Bielefeld: transcript Verlag, p. 131-157 27 p. (Labor and Organization; vol. 10).

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

  18. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

    Michelsen, G. (Editor), Barth, M. (Editor) & Fischer, D. (Editor), 16.10.2023, Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich. 193 p. (Schriftenreihe Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft der Kommission Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesCollected editions and anthologiesResearch

  19. Published

    Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg

    Barth, M., Fischer, D. & Michelsen, G., 16.10.2023, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Michelsen, G., Barth, M. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 9-12 4 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE).

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksOtherResearch

  20. Published

    Disziplinäre Perspektiven erweitern: Nachhaltigkeit als Nebenfach (Minor Sustainability Science)

    Fischer, D., Martín-López, B. & Keding, G., 16.10.2023, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Michelsen, G., Barth, M. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 99-114 16 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE).

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

  21. Published

    Resümee: Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung – Impulse für die Hochschullandschaft

    Fischer, D., Michelsen, G. & Barth, M., 16.10.2023, Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung in der Hochschule: Wege und Wirkungen am Beispiel der Leuphana Universität Lüneburg. Michelsen, G., Barth, M. & Fischer, D. (eds.). Leverkusen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 183-190 8 p. (Schriftenreihe "Ökologie und Erziehungswissenschaft" der Kommission Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der DGfE).

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