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. 2013
  2. Published

    Resilience or vulnerability? Vegetation patterns of a Central Tibetan pastoral ecotone

    Miehe, G., Miehe, S., Bach, K., Wesche, K., Seeber, E., Behrendes, L., Kaiser, K., Reudenbach, C., Nölling, J., Hanspach, J., Herrmann, M., Yaoming, M. & Mosbrugger, V., 2013, Steppe Ecosystems: Biological Diversity, Management and Restoration. Morales Prieto, M. B. & Traba Diaz, J. (eds.). Hauppage, New York: Nova Science Publishers, Inc., p. 111-151 41 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksChapterpeer-review

  3. Published
  4. Published

    Sachunterricht für das 21. Jahrhundert. Mit dem Konzept Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung arbeiten

    Stoltenberg, U., Asmussen, S., Golly, N., Holz, V., Kosler, T., Offen, S. & Uzun, B., 2013, Der Sachunterricht und seine Didaktik: Bestände prüfen und Perspektiven entwickeln. Fischer, H.-J., Giest, H. & Pech, D. (eds.). Bad Heilbrunn: Verlag Julius Klinkhardt, p. 99-120 22 p. (Probleme und Perspektiven des Sachunterrichts; vol. 23).

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

  5. Published

    Sachunterricht für das 21. Jahrhundert - Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung

    Stoltenberg, U., 2013, Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Praxis des Sachunterrichts in der Grundschule. Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 1. p. 13-45 33 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule. Lüneburger Beiträge.; vol. 1).

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

  6. Published

    Sachunterricht in Bildungslandschaften: Kooperation, Vernetzung, Partizipation: Und die Aus- und Weiterbildung von Lehrpersonen?

    Offen, S., 2013, Weltorientierung durch Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung: Theoretische Grundlagen und Praxis des Sachunterrichts in der Grundschule. Stoltenberg, U. (ed.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, Vol. 1. p. 119-128 10 p. (Bildung für eine nachhaltige Entwicklung in Kindergarten und Grundschule. Lüneburger Beiträge.; vol. 1).

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

  7. Published

    Same Play, Different Actors? Comparing the Research-Practice Gap in Management Accounting in Australia and Germany

    Tucker, B. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, APIRA KOBE 2013: The Seventh Asia Pacific Interdisciplinary Research in Accounting Conference, July 26-28, Kobe International Conference Center, Abstracts. Kokubu, K., Sawabe, N. & Sakaue, M. (eds.). Kobe University, p. 110 1 p.

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

  8. Published

    School children collect seed removal data as citizen scientists - a win-win-situation?

    Miczajka, V. L., Pufal, G. & Klein, A.-M., 2013, Building Bridges in Ecology – Linking Systems, Scales and Disciplines: Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Ökologie. Gesellschaft für Ökologie, p. 432 1 p. (Verhandlungen der Gesellschaft für Ökologie; no. 43).

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

  9. Published

    Schutzgebiete Deutschlands im Klimawandel: Risiken und Handlungsoptionen

    Vohland, K. (Editor), Badeck, F., Böhning-Gaese, K., Ellwanger, G., Hanspach, J., Ibisch, P. L., Klotz, S., Kreft, S., Kühn, I., Schröder, E., Trautmann, S. & Cramer, W., 2013, Münster: BfN-Schriftenvertrieb im Landwirtschaftsverlag. 233 p. (Naturschutz und Biologische Vielfalt; vol. 129)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesMonographsResearch

  10. Published

    Schutz, Nutzung und nachhaltige Gestaltung – Geschlechteraspekte im Umgang mit Natur

    Katz, C. & Mölders, T., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 269-276 8 p.

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

  11. Published

    Sharing Economy: Towards a New Culture of Consumption?

    Heinrichs, H. & Grunenberg, H., 2013, Lüneburg: Centre for Sustainability Management, 21 p.

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  12. Published

    Special Issue 'Communication for and about Sustainability'

    Barth, M. (Editor) & Michelsen, G. (Editor), 2013, MDPI AG. (Sustainability; vol. 2013, no. 05)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesSpecial Journal issueTransfer

  13. Published

    Stimulating sustainability implementation into higher education institutions in Central and Eastern Europe

    Adomßent, M. & Otte, I., 2013, Higher Education for Sustainable Development in Central and Eastern Europe. Adomßent, M. & Otte, I. (eds.). Bad Homburg: VAS Verlag für Akademische Schriften, p. 7-12 6 p. (Higher Education for Sustainability; vol. 8).

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

  14. Published

    Subsistenzansatz: Veronika Bennholdt-Thomsen, Maria Mies, Claudia von Werlhof und Vandana Shiva

    Hofmeister, S., 2013, Geschlechterverhältnisse und Nachhaltigkeit: Die Kategorie Geschlecht in den Nachhaltigkeitswissenschaften. Hofmeister, S., Katz, C. & Mölders, T. (eds.). Opladen: Verlag Babara Budrich, p. 123-129 6 p.

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

  15. Published

    Supporting sustainability transitions by enhancing the human dimension via empowerment, social learning and social capital

    Schäpke, N., Omann, I., Mock, M., Wittmayer, J. M. & von Raggamby, A., 2013, Pathways, Transitions and Backcasting for Low-Carbon and Sustainable Lifestyles : SCORAI Europe Workshop Proceedings, SCORAI Europe & InContext Workshop, 7-8 October 2013, Rotterdam, The Netherlands . Quist, J., Wittmayer, J., Umpfenbach, K. & Bauler, T. (eds.). Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative Europe, p. 277-293 17 p. (Sustainable Consumption Transitions Series; vol. 3).

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

  16. Published

    Sustainability Accounting

    Zvezdov, D. & Schaltegger, S., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Heidelberg, New York: Springer, p. 2363-2370 8 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  17. Published

    Sustainability Management

    Schaltegger, S., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Heidelberg, New York: Springer, p. 2384-2388 5 p.

    Research output: Contributions to collected editions/worksArticles for encyclopediaResearch

  18. Published

    Sustainability-Oriented Innovation

    Hansen, E. G. & Grosse-Dunker, F., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Heidelberg, New York: Springer, Vol. Volume 1. p. 2407–2417 11 p.

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

  19. Published

    Sustainable Entrepreneurship

    Schaltegger, S., 2013, Encyclopedia of Corporate Social Responsibility. Idowu, S. O., Capaldi, N., Zu, L. & Das Gupta, A. (eds.). Heidelberg: Springer, p. 2458-2462 5 p.

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

  20. Published

    Taking stock–Three years of addressing societal challenges on community level through action research: Pilot specific synthesis report

    Wittmayer, J. M., Mock, M., van Steenbergen, F., Baasch, S., Omann, I. & Schäpke, N., 2013, Berlin, 51 p.

    Research output: Working paperProject reportsResearch

  21. Published

    Teamarbeit: Honigbienen können nur gemeinsam mit wildlebenden Insekten die Bestäubung von Kulturpflanzen sichern

    Klein, A.-M., 2013, In: Deutsches Bienen-Journal. 21, 5, p. 12-13 2 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review