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

    Trace Metal Dynamics in Floodplain Soils of the River Elbe: A Review (vol 38, pg 1349): A review

    Schulz-Zunke, C. & Krueger, F., 03.2013, In: Journal of Environmental Quality. 42, 2, p. 622-622 1 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  3. Published

    Woody vegetation of a Peruvian tropical dry forest along a climatic gradient depends more on soil than annual precipitation

    Muenchow, J., von Wehrden, H., Rodriguez, E. F., Rodríguez, R. A., Bayer, F. & Richter, M., 03.2013, In: Erdkunde. 67, 3, p. 241-248 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  4. Published

    Model choice and size distribution: a Bayequentist approach

    Engler, J.-O. & Baumgärtner, S., 28.02.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Lüneburg, 34 p. (Working Paper Series in Economics; no. 265).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  5. Published

    The issue of micropollutants in urban water management

    Kümmerer, K., 28.02.2013, Source Separation and Decentralization for Wastewater Management. Larsen, T. A., Udert, K. M. & Lienert, J. (eds.). London: IWA Publishing, p. 71-84 15 p.

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

  6. Published

    Comparative analysis of public environmental decision-making processes: A variable-based analytical scheme

    Newig, J., Adzersen, A., Challies, E., Fritsch, O. & Jager, N. W., 20.02.2013, Lüneburg: Institut für Umweltkommunikation der Universität Lüneburg, 65 p. (INFU Discussion Paper; no. 37).

    Research output: Working paperWorking papers

  7. Published

    Die Bedeutung der Privilegierung nach § 35 BauGB für die Finanzierung von Biogasanlagen

    Maly, C., 14.02.2013, 1 ed. Baden-Baden: Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. 107 p. (Lüneburger Schriften zum Wirtschaftsrecht; no. 26)

    Research output: Books and anthologiesBook

  8. Published

    The exotic shrub Rosa rubiginosa as a nurse plant: Implications for the restoration of disturbed temperate forests in Patagonia

    Svriz, M., Damascos, M., Zimmermann, H. & Hensen, I., 01.02.2013, In: Forest Ecology and Management. 289, Februar, p. 234-242 9 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

  9. Published

    The Future We Want: A Global Expert Discussion on the Future of Rio+20 Efforts on Higher Education

    Rowland, P., Carteron, J., Denby, L., Klepper, A., Mader, C., Sjerps-Jones, H., Smith, K. & Tilbury, D., 01.02.2013, In: Sustainability: The Journal of Record. 6, 1, p. 42-47 6 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsComments / Debate / ReportsResearch

  10. Published

    Biodegradability and genotoxicity of surface functionalized colloidal silica (SiO2) particles in the aquatic environment

    Schneider, M., Meder, F., Daberkow, T., Haiß, A., Treccani, L., Rezwan, K. & Kümmerer, K., 02.2013, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Experimentelle und Klinische Pharmakologie und Toxikologie e.V. : Abstracts of the 7 th Annual Meeting March 5 – 7, 2013 Halle/Saale, Germany. 1 ed. Springer, Vol. 386. p. 73 - 73 1 p. (Naunyn-Schmiedeberg´s Archives of Pharamcology; vol. 386, no. 1, Supplement).

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

  11. Published

    Biodiversity buffers pollination from changes in environmental conditions

    Brittain, C., Kremen, C. & Klein, A.-M., 02.2013, In: Global Change Biology. 19, 2, p. 540-547 8 p.

    Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review